Agenda and draft minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

To authorise the Chair to sign the minutes of the previous meeting of the Committee held on 20 March 2020 as a correct record.

The Chair was authorised to sign the minutes of the meeting on 20 March 2020 as a correct record.

To receive any declarations of interest from Members relating to items to be considered on the agenda.

County Councillor M.J. Jones declared a prejudicial interest in Item 6 as he is a member of BBNPA, appointed by the Council.

County Councillor D. Selby, Scrutiny Committee observer declared an interest in Item 4, as he is a member of Newtown Town Council and has been involved in the development of the Plan.

To consider the draft Place Plan [SPG] and to agree a six week consultation process.  Representatives of the Town Council will make a presentation to the Working Group.  

The Chair welcomed Councillor Richard Edwards and Sorelle White, Democratic Services Manager [PM1] of Newtown Town Council to the meeting. 

The Working Group noted that the Planning Policy officers had worked closely with the Town Council in the development of the Plan.  The Working Group received a presentation on the Newtown and Llanllwchaiarn Place Plan “Our Town, Our Plan” from the Town Council’s representatives.

The Working Group was advised that the Place Plan would only gain prominence in planning decisions if it is adopted by the County Council as Supplementary Planning Guidance [SPG].   SPGs carry more significant weight as a “material consideration” in planning decisions.

The Chair thanked Councillor Richard Edwards and Sorelle White for attending the meeting.

To consider the draft response: Background paper, draft response and consultation document attached.

The Working Group considered the draft response to the consultation on the policy approach for the subordinate legislation required to establish the procedure for Strategic Development Plans (SDPs) to be prepared across Wales by Corporate Joint Committee (CJCs) and associated matters. 

The Working Group raised the following concerns:

·         the need for the development of an SDP for the Mid Wales region was questioned,

·         the cost of developing an SDP and of establishing a CJC was raised.  The source of these extra resources was also queried,

·         the outcomes of an SDP, which could not be achieved via existing plans,

·         the advantages of an SDP to the Powys area were considered to be limited, 

·         the linkages between the areas in the Mid Wales Region were limited as the area does not have the same type of interconnections as some of the more urban based regions and 

·         the impact of more plans, with which developers would need to comply, was a concern.

The Working Group noted that the Council would also be commenting on the consultation regarding the CJC.  

County Councillor M.J. Jones having declared an interest did not participate in the following item.

To consider and agree the draft response: Background paper, draft response and consultation documents attached.

The Working Group considered the draft response to the BBNPA Revised Preferred Strategy Consultation Document.

To agree the MoU and the signatory for the Council.

The Working Group noted the Memorandum of Understanding [MoU] between Herefordshire Council and Powys Council on aggregate minerals and waste planning matters.

In response to a question the Principal Planning Policy Officer advised that the safeguarding of railheads was added to the MoU as a result of the discussions at the last meeting.  The Working Group considered that the relevant Director should sign the MoU on behalf of the Council.

To receive updates on any issues relating to the LDP.

The Professional Lead, Planning advised that a LDP monitoring report would need to be prepared next year.  He advised that it was anticipated that Welsh Government would approve the National Development Framework [NDF]  in February 2021. 

The Working Group noted that a number of SPGs, which have been considered by the Working Group, would be considered for approval by the Cabinet, when the Newtown and Llanllwchaiarn Place Plan SPG is available for consideration.