The Interim Assistant Director Planning, Transport and Public Protection presented the report explaining the first part of the report looked back over the previous few months with regards to COVID-19 and the impact of that on local processes. 

He advised the Committee that Officers were currently focussed upon the logistics of future community engagement and the roll out of further Design Charrettes across the Borough. Discussions were well underway with the Princes Foundation and the Council’s coms team to work out the best and safest ways to continue engagement with residents, land owners and businesses.

The Committee heard the key success to any local plan was a joint working and a sound evidence base, and how the Council would work with key stakeholders and local businesses with the use of Planning Performance Agreements.

The Interim Assistant Director Planning, Transport and Public Protection advised Members that the Government had published a white paper in August which set out proposals for the reform of the planning system. Members were advised that Officers were currently working their way through the proposed changes and a verbal update would be provided at the next meeting but first impressions of the reforms were broadly positive; in many ways the approach that the Council has already adopted is aligned to the approach now being promoted by Government. In particular, the Council’s work with the Princes Foundation in rolling out Design Charrettes is strongly supported by the reforms; the concept of working with communities, landowners, and developers to create locally distinctive master plans for development on town by town basis forms a core plank of the government’s design coding ambitions. Members were advised that the Council is very much ahead of the curve in that respect. 

Members were advised that the next steps included:

·         The roll out of Design Charrette events in association with the Princes Foundation,

·         Setting up of ‘Development Teams’ involving landowners scheme promoters, the Council and key delivery partners such as Homes England, Highways England etc.

·         The evolution and development of the Your Place, Your Voice community engagement events and on-going informal engagement with local communities.

·         The development of a Transport Strategy to serve as an evidence base for large scale strategic infrastructure. Members were informed that Officers are due to present a report to the October meeting on the Transport Strategy. 

The Chair of the Committee thanked for the Assistant Director for the report. He commented on the proposed 32,000 homes to be built within the borough over the next 20 years. He then commented on transport links within the borough and how additional uses for the river should be investigated. He further remarked on health and well-being within the borough and stated that the infrastructure that goes with building homes such as doctors and the health hubs, was also important. He suggested the possibility of Thurrock having its own hospital.

Councillor Kerin queried the timeline within the report and asked what types of homes were to be built and when members would see the principal behind such designs. The Interim Assistant Director explained that the approach to place making was an iterative process based upon evidence with input from the community. It is important not to plan by numbers and create places that are responsive to context; the housing types and tenure would be driven by the needs of individual places.

During discussions, it was observed that currently there were still 8000 people on the Councils Housing waiting list. Officers agreed through consultations for the local plan a range of housing would be delivered to meet all resident’s needs. The Chair of the Committee sought through the Director of Place as to the proposed percentage of affordable homes to be included within the local plan. The Director of Place explained that the policy requirement for affordable housing is currently 35%, though this requirement would be considered as part of the new Local Plan.

Councillor Gerrish agreed with Members who had previously expressed their concerns over health wellbeing within the borough and council homes, he suggested that it seemed to be an opportunity for the Committee to do more and perhaps agree to two additional recommendations, in that the planning process included planning for an accident and emergency local hospital within the borough and that of the homes to be developed under the local plan 35% of these were to be of council homes. The Chair of the Committee welcomed the additional recommendations and thanked Councillor Gerrish for his suggestion.

Councillor Van Day commented that not only was housing required but also the infrastructure to go with it along. ­Councillor Anderson observed it was slightly premature to call for a new local hospital without exploring processes and speaking with key stakeholders such as the NHS.

Officers advised they were happy to approach health providers to discuss options for improved healthcare as part of the new Local Plan. The Director of Place further stated Officers were happy to investigate issues raised by Members, however as previously discussed they would need to contact health providers to seek their expertise. He further stated that if Members were happy; Officers could report back at the December meeting after engaging with health services to seek their views on an additional health service.

Members moved to the vote on the following additional recommendations:

·         Planning Transport and Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny Committee request a report back to a future meeting on how health care needs will be addressed as part of the local plan process.

·         Planning Transport and Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny Committee seek a target 35% of housing within the local plan to be council or housing association homes.

For: Councillors Allen, Kerin, Gerrish and Potter

Against: Councillors Anderson and Van Day

RESOLVED That the Planning, Transport and Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny Committee:

1.    Provided comments on the contents of this report and the approach to preparing a new Local Plan.

2.    Request a report back to a future meeting on how health care needs will be addressed as part of the local plan process.

3.    Seek a target 35% of housing within the local plan to be council or housing association homes.