To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Planning, Transport, Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny Committeemeeting held on 15^th November 2023.

The minutes of the Planning, Transport, Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 15^th November 2023 will be presented at the February 2024 meeting of the Committee.

To receive additional items that the Chair is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency, in accordance with Section 100B (4) (b) of the Local Government Act 1972. To agree any relevant briefing notes submitted to the Committee.

There were no items of urgent business.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Director of Place presented the application and highlighted the following points:

·       There is a statutory requirement placed on all local authorities to have an up-to-date Local Plan.

·       The current Local Plan was adopted 8 years ago.

·       A report seeking approval to commence consultation on the Thurrock Local Plan: Initial Proposals document and the Initial Proposals Integrated Impact Assessment will be presented to an extraordinary meeting of Council on 6^th December 2023.

·       The consultation will run for a minimum of 8 weeks.

Members asked the following questions to the Director of Place and the Local Plan Manager:

·       The Chair questioned how the figures were reached in the Local Plan and if those figures are tangible.

o   Figures would be fleshed out throughout the year.

o   Biodiversity is new and only published on recently.

·       The Chair wanted to see more information on biodiversity in the report.

o   Biodiversity of 20% is appropriate for the Local Authority.

·       Councillor Anderson asked if local authorities cooperate with one another in the creation of Local Plans near border areas, for example West Horndon.

o   Thurrock Council cannot plan for other local authorities but there is a duty to cooperate and review impacts on the Greenbelt.

Councillor Watson arrived at the meeting at 19:16pm

·       Councillor Anderson asked what the Local Plan would do to level the playing field.

o   Housing and health are the main concerns. There is a need for affordable housing. The Local Authority is not a provider of GP’s but needs to think of facilitating health needs of people where they live.

·       Councillor Anderson asked how similar the plan will look actualised on the map.

o   Plan for 17,000 new homes

o   Lower Thames Crossing could add time.

o   Plan contains many options.

·       Councillor Anderson asked what would happen if the Lower Thames Crossing were cancelled.

o   Plan has factored in the Lower Thames Crossing but is flexible.

o   Other sites may need to be revisited.

·       Councillor Watson asked why no sites are going through Planning.

o   Wating for approval and permission.

·       Councillor Watson further asked if it would cause an impact.

o   Not a direct impact, if approved it would need to be considered.

·       The Chair asked what net-zero means for the Local Authority.

o   Net-zero carbon emissions.

·       Councillor Anderson asked what net-zero means in practice.

o   A result of no additional carbon emissions when building homes.

o   Net-zero homes are more expensive to build but cheaper to run.

o   Net-zero will be more clearly defined in future reports.

·       The Chair noted the cost to build a net-zero home being £20,000-£30,000 more expensive and an impact on affordability.

o   New technology is hoped to bring the price down.

·       Councillor Anderson asked if all homes in the plan are net zero.

o   Only homes in new neighbourhoods.

·       The Chair asked what affordable housing means and if there were plans for social housing.

o   Social housing is included as well as first time buyer homes.

o   The plan is to blend social and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.

Members discussed the work programme.

·       Members sort updates on regeneration projects (Grays underpass, Stanford-le-Hope station)

·       Members sort an update on the Towns Fund for Grays and Tilbury

·       Members sort an update on Purfleet-on-Thames funding.