(time limit 30 minutes)
Councillor Roberts to MOVE and Councillor Dean to SECOND:
Planning for the Future motion
This council notes the Government’s extension of permitted development rights and the recent publication of a white paper on planning reform, “Planning for the Future.”
The proposals in the white paper are to replace the established planning system with a new system whereby land is classified into “growth,” “renewal” or “protection” zones, with outline permission granted automatically where a development meets the criteria for the relevant zone. This will fundamentally undermine democratic local control.
This council notes the significant concerns raised by key bodies to the proposals. The Royal Institute of British Architects have suggested that the plans are “shameful” and would do “almost nothing to guarantee the delivery of affordable, well-designed and sustainable homes.” Homelessness charity Shelter have argued that social housing “could face extinction” if the proposals go ahead. The Town and Country Planning Association have noted the success of the current system for volume house builders, the huge number of permissions granted that remain undelivered, and the threat the proposals make to local democracy.
This council agrees that such a fundamental attack on democratic rights in the planning system demands cross party support and undertakes to consult all elected Members in formulating a response.
This council resolves to ask the Chief Executive to respond to the Planning for the Future consultation, to include the following;
· Oldham Council’s rejection of the proposals in the strongest form
· The range of sites in Oldham that have planning permission but are not currently being taken forward by developers
· The additional barriers to development arising from the cost of Brownfield land remediation and the need for sustainable subsidy to make sites viable
· The importance of a robust planning process, with democratic control at its heart, to safeguard local communities and promote local priorities
· The need for quality, affordable homes in Oldham, and the risk that the new proposals will fail to deliver, particularly with the removal of S.106 contributions that the National Housing Federation notes are the single biggest contributor to new affordable homes in the country
· That affordability varies across the country and that the proposals in the White paper offer nothing for those needing housing at a social rent.
· The outcomes agreed through the cross-party consultation.
Minutes:
Motion: Planning for the Future
The Mayor had received notice that Councillor Roberts wished to alter the Motion. The altered Motion had been circulated to Members. The motion could be altered with the consent of the Seconder and agreement of Full Council. Full Council agreed to the Motion being altered.
Councillor Roberts MOVED and Councillor Dean SECONDED the following ALTERED MOTION:
“This council notes the Government’s extension of permitted development rights and the recent publication of a white paper on planning reform, ‘Planning for the Future’.
The proposals in the white paper are to replace the established planning system with a new system whereby land is classified into ‘growth’, ‘renewal’ or ‘protection’ zones, with outline permission granted automatically where a development meets the criteria for the relevant zone. This will fundamentally undermine democratic local control.
This council notes the significant concerns raised by key bodies to the proposals. The Royal Institute of British Architects have suggested that the plans are ‘shameful’ and would do ‘almost nothing to guarantee the deliver of affordable, well-designed and sustainable homes’. Homelessness charity Shelter have argued that social housing ‘could face extinction’ if the proposals go ahead. The Town and Country Planning Association have noted the success of the current system for volume house builders, the huge number of permissions granted that remain undelivered, and the threat the proposals make to local democracy. This council agrees that such a fundamental attack on democratic rights in the planning system demands cross party support and undertakes to consult all elected Members in formulating a response.
This council resolves to ask the Chief Executive to respond to the Planning for the Future consultation, to include the following:
· Oldham Council’s rejection of the proposals in the strongest form
· The range of sites in Oldham that have planning permission but are not currently being taken forward by developers, and which are not included in the Government’s assessment of whether Oldham Council is delivering enough development.
· The additional barriers to development arising from the cost of Brownfield land remediation and the need for sustainable subsidy to make sites viable
· The importance of a robust, transparent planning process, with democratic control at its heart, to safeguard local communities and promote local priorities
· The need for quality, affordable homes in Oldham, and the risk that the new proposals will fail to deliver. Replacing section 106 and the Community Infrastructure Levy contributions, which the National Housing Federation notes are the single biggest contributor to new affordable homes in the country, with a much smaller Infrastructure Levy, will massively reduce the targets for contributions, rather than trying to find ways to reach the current targets, which are so badly needed.
· That affordability varies across the country and that the proposals in the White paper offer nothing for those needing housing at a social rent.
· The outcomes through the cross-party consultation.
Councillor Al-Hamdani spoke in support of the Motion.
Councillor H. Gloster spoke in support of the Motion.
Councillor Sheldon spoke against the Motion.
Councillor Harkness spoke in support of the Motion.
Councillor Curley spoke against the Motion.
Councillor Roberts exercised her right of reply.
On being put to the vote, 49 votes were cast in FAVOUR of the ALTERED MOTION and 3 votes were cast AGAINST with 1 ABSTENTION. The ALTERED MOTION was therefore CARRIED.
RESOLVED that the Chief Executive be asked to respond to the Planning for the Future consultation and that the following be included:
1. Oldham Council’s rejection of the proposals in the strongest form.
2. The range of sites in Oldham that have planning permission but were not currently being taken forward by developers, and which were not included in the Government’s assessment of whether Oldham Council was delivering enough development.
3. The additional barriers to development arising from the cost of Brownfield land remediation and the need for sustainable subsidy to make sites viable.
4. The importance of a robust, transparent planning process, with democratic control at its heart to safeguard local communities and promote local priorities.
5. The need for quality, affordable homes in Oldham, and the risk that the new proposals would fail to deliver. Replacing section 106 and the Community Infrastructure Levy contributions, which the National Housing Federation noted were the single biggest contributor to new affordable homes in the country with a much smaller Infrastructure Levy, would massively reduce the targets for contributions, rather than trying to find ways to reach the current targets, which were so badly needed.
6. That affordability varied across the country and that the proposals in the White paper offered nothing for those needing housing at a social rent.
7. The outcomes agreed through the cross-party consultation.
NOTE: Councillor S. Bashforth joined the meeting during this Item.