Minutes:
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 6th 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 other rents.
· The Chair would like to see a commitment of affordable homes.
· Councillor Watson stated the Local Plan is an ideological approach, the plan is fluid and that it is the residents plan.
· The Chair disagreed. The committee debated the pros and cons of the plan.
· The Chair asked about traffic modelling.
o A detailed model to show the impact has not yet been created but will be developed with stakeholders throughout the year.
· Councillor Watson asked if there is any way to improve the flow of traffic at junction 31 of the M25.
o Possibilities of moving traffic offences at the junction
o Traffic modelling work is the next stage.
· The Chair noted that traffic was a major concern, traffic improvements would improve the quality of life of residents.
· The Chair asked why he should vote for the Local Plan and informed the committee he was not happy with the progress framework prioritising growth over people.
o To give residents a say.
· Councillor Maney informed the committee that if the council does not vote for the plan, a plan would be forced upon the Local Authority.
· Councillor Watson stated you have to weigh up the risks and said the Council should take the risk.
· The Chair asked if there were concerns of cynicism from residents regarding health and medical services.
o Infrastructure delivery plan includes health, education and community facilities.
o Land cannot be allocated if infrastructure isn't there.
· The Chair asked how the Local Authority can make Thurrock more attractive for health professionals.
o The infrastructure plan sits alongside the Local Plan.
The Chair put the recommendation to vote.
RESOLVED:
That the Planning Transport & Regeneration Overview & Scrutiny note that Council will be recommended to approve the contents of the Thurrock Local Plan: Initial Proposals document (Regulation 18) for public consultation.
Supporting documents: