Agenda and minutes

Members are requested to declare the existence and nature of any disclosable pecuniary interest and/or other interest in any item on the agenda.

Councillors S J Carr, R I Jackson and G Marshall declared a non-pecuniary in item10 due to being members of the Beeston Town Centre Board, minute number 35 refers.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the Council meeting held on 15 July 2020.

The minutes of the meeting were confirmed as a correct record subject to the amendment that under minute number 24.1 the amendment was proposed by Councillor S J Carr rather than Councillor B C Carr as stated in the minutes.

The Mayor gave a résumé of her time in office since the previous meeting.

There was no update on Youth Voice activities.

No petitions were presented.

The Leader gave an update to members which included information on the Council’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, local government reform, the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy, the Toton and Chetwynd Masterplan, housing issues, business growth and environmental issues. The Leader congratulated two Housing officers on winning the activities officer award, he stated that it was remarkable that so soon after their appointment they had made such a positive impact on the lives of older people living in the schemes in Broxtowe.

The were no questions from members of the public.

There were no amendments to committees or working groups.

To note the decisions made by the Council’s Committees.

Members noted the decisions made at Committee meetings.

There were no questions from members.

Councillor J W McGrath gave an update in relation to Stapleford South West with particular regard to HS2 engagement, whilst Councillor D K Watts updated the Council in relation to litter in Coventry Lane, Bramcote.

There were no questions on outside bodies.

“Broxtowe Borough Council notes that:

1. The Government is consulting on to overhaul the planning system.
2. The reforms to existing planning rules would allow fast track permissions for offices and retail centres to be converted to houses; and extra storeys to be added to existing housing and flats.  
3. The assessment of local housing need and the threshold below which developers are required to contribute to affordable housing will also be changed.
4. In the future reforms proposed in the Planning for the Future consultation published on the 6 August 2020, land will be categorised into growth, renewal or protection zones;

                           I.        ‘Growth’ areas will allow planning permission in principle if a site is designated a development site in the local plan.

                          II.        Renewal’ areas will be subject to a statutory ‘presumption in favour of development’

                        III.        ‘Protection’ areas will be where development will be discouraged.   

E.   The Government has already laid new regulations allowing Permitted Developments that do not provide adequate environmental standards to counter Climate Change dangers 

Broxtowe Borough Council recognises:

1.    The need to build more housing to prevent homelessness and provide adequate, affordable and suitable accommodation for everyone, and the failure of successive governments to address the issue.

2. That councils currently approve nine in ten applications.
3. That the Local Government Association findings show that over a million homes have planning permission but remain unbuilt.

Broxtowe Borough Council believes that:

1. The planning system is not the cause of low build-out numbers.
2. These proposals reduce democratic accountability and public scrutiny undermining the ability of councils to determine planning applications. 
3. These proposals significantly reduce the scope for public participation and influence on planning applications within local communities.
4. The proposed changes would favour development interests over those of local communities.
5. Delegation of detailed planning decisions to planning officers, rather than a democratically elected planning committee fails to recognise the role that public democratic scrutiny has in ensuring decisions are fair, transparent, with any impacts fully considered.
6. The reforms restrict a planning authorities' ability to set local planning policies in line with the needs of their area and community aspirations, undermining the plan-led system, disempowering councils and communities.
7. Replacing the Community Infrastructure Levy and Section 106 payments with centrally imposed housing targets and a national levy, will likely result in less money for affordable housing, sustainable transport and other critical infrastructure. 
8. The effort to speed up applications risk watering down or removing the requirement altogether for Strategic Environmental Assessments, Environmental Impact Assessments and similar assessments.  
9. The proposals do not sufficiently take into consideration the Climate Change Act 2008 provisions that address carbon dioxide emission standards for future housing stock.
10. The proposals put at risk archaeology and heritage by undermining pre-commencement archaeological conditions in the development process.

Broxtowe Borough Council commits to:

1. Empower local democracy.
2. Provide the infrastructure the borough needs.
3. Provide truly affordable good quality housing.
4. Support housing with high standards of design, amenity, space.
5. Achieve the smallest possible carbon footprint from housing.

Broxtowe Borough Council strongly objects to these proposals and rejects the  ...  view the full agenda text for item 39.1

“Broxtowe Borough Council notes that:

1. The Government is consulting on to overhaul the planning system.
2. The reforms to existing planning rules would allow fast track permissions for offices and retail centres to be converted to houses; and extra storeys to be added to existing housing and flats.  
3. The assessment of local housing need and the threshold below which developers are required to contribute to affordable housing will also be changed.
4. In the future reforms proposed in the Planning for the Future consultation published on the 6 August 2020, land will be categorised into growth, renewal or protection zones;

                           I.        ‘Growth’ areas will allow planning permission in principle if a site is designated a development site in the local plan.

                          II.        Renewal’ areas will be subject to a statutory ‘presumption in favour of development’

                        III.        ‘Protection’ areas will be where development will be discouraged.   

E.   The Government has already laid new regulations allowing Permitted Developments that do not provide adequate environmental standards to counter Climate Change dangers 

Broxtowe Borough Council recognises:

1.    The need to build more housing to prevent homelessness and provide adequate, affordable and suitable accommodation for everyone, and the failure of successive governments to address the issue.

2. That councils currently approve nine in ten applications.
3. That the Local Government Association findings show that over a million homes have planning permission but remain unbuilt.

Broxtowe Borough Council believes that:

1. The planning system is not the cause of low build-out numbers.
2. These proposals reduce democratic accountability and public scrutiny undermining the ability of councils to determine planning applications. 
3. These proposals significantly reduce the scope for public participation and influence on planning applications within local communities.
4. The proposed changes would favour development interests over those of local communities.
5. Delegation of detailed planning decisions to planning officers, rather than a democratically elected planning committee fails to recognise the role that public democratic scrutiny has in ensuring decisions are fair, transparent, with any impacts fully considered.
6. The reforms restrict a planning authorities' ability to set local planning policies in line with the needs of their area and community aspirations, undermining the plan-led system, disempowering councils and communities.
7. Replacing the Community Infrastructure Levy and Section 106 payments with centrally imposed housing targets and a national levy, will likely result in less money for affordable housing, sustainable transport and other critical infrastructure. 
8. The effort to speed up applications risk watering down or removing the requirement altogether for Strategic Environmental Assessments, Environmental Impact Assessments and similar assessments.  
9. The proposals do not sufficiently take into consideration the Climate Change Act 2008 provisions that address carbon dioxide emission standards for future housing stock.
10. The proposals put at risk archaeology and heritage by undermining pre-commencement archaeological conditions in the development process.

Broxtowe Borough Council commits to:

1. Empower local democracy.
2. Provide the infrastructure the borough needs.
3. Provide truly affordable good quality housing.
4. Support housing with high standards of design, amenity, space.
5. Achieve the smallest possible carbon footprint from housing.

Broxtowe Borough Council strongly objects to these proposals and rejects the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 39.1

“Covid-19, Brexit, a global economic downturn and social security cuts are leaving Broxtowe citizens with financial uncertainty.  With the furlough scheme approaching its end and protections for tenants being loosened, the borough and nation are facing a crisis never seen before.  The Government hastily and inadequately implemented the furlough scheme, leaving too many people without financial support during lockdown.  We believe radical change is needed to stimulate the economic recovery and successfully transition to a green, low carbon, hi tech economy.  This requires widespread retraining of the workforce and our young people.  We need to ensure Broxtowe residents have the financial security to be able to undertake career changes, access training and establish new enterprise.

These issues combined with technological advances leading to further automation and changes in commerce, necessitate a flexible and supportive societal answer.  The present benefits system is not fit for purpose let alone the future, which warrants an ambitious response.  This Council knows that universal credit has led to an upsurge in rental arrears across the private and social housing sector.  The use of food banks has increased hugely in the past decade and much more in this pandemic. Means tested benefits are costly to administer and leave thousands of people navigating financial insecurity, not knowing what money they will get each month.  We believe a universal basic income would be the best way to provide income security to the population and stimulate economic recovery. 

The Liberal Democrats believe that no-one should be left with insufficient income to adequately feed, clothe and house themselves.   Studies on universal basic income show vast improvements in health, wellbeing and productivity.  People are more likely to find work when they have a guaranteed basic income.  Additional support should continue for those with further health or care needs, single parents and those with caring responsibilities. 

We call on this council to lobby the Government to establish universal basic income.  We believe that Broxtowe would be a good area for a pilot scheme.  Universal basic income should help boost the local economy and deal with the impending housing and unemployment crisis.   We ask members to support this motion.”

“Covid-19, Brexit, a global economic downturn and social security cuts are leaving Broxtowe citizens with financial uncertainty.  With the furlough scheme approaching its end and protections for tenants being loosened, the borough and nation are facing a crisis never seen before.  The Government hastily and inadequately implemented the furlough scheme, leaving too many people without financial support during lockdown.  We believe radical change is needed to stimulate the economic recovery and successfully transition to a green, low carbon, hi tech economy.  This requires widespread retraining of the workforce and our young people.  We need to ensure Broxtowe residents have the financial security to be able to undertake career changes, access training and establish new enterprise.

These issues combined with technological advances leading to further automation and changes in commerce, necessitate a flexible and supportive societal answer.  The present benefits system is not fit for purpose let alone the future, which warrants an ambitious response.  This Council knows that universal credit has led to an upsurge in rental arrears across the private and social housing sector.  The use of food banks has increased hugely in the past decade and much more in this pandemic. Means tested benefits are costly to administer and leave thousands of people navigating financial insecurity, not knowing what money they will get each month.  We believe a universal basic income would be the best way to provide income security to the population and stimulate economic recovery. 

The Liberal Democrats believe that no-one should be left with insufficient income to adequately feed, clothe and house themselves.   Studies on universal basic income show vast improvements in health, wellbeing and productivity.  People are more likely to find work when they have a guaranteed basic income.  Additional support should continue for those with further health or care needs, single parents and those with caring responsibilities. 

We call on this council to lobby the Government to establish universal basic income.  We believe that Broxtowe would be a good area for a pilot scheme.  Universal basic income should help boost the local economy and deal with the impending housing and unemployment crisis.   We ask members to support this motion.”

A recorded vote was called for by Councillor D Grindell and seconded by at least five councillors.

On being put to the meeting the motion was passed and the voting was as follows:

To approve the Council’s response to the Planning for the Future consultation.

As a planning authority, this Council had been invited to respond to the consultation and a draft letter has been included for members to consider.

At the Planning the Committee held on 30 September 2020 the Committee It was proposed by Councillor D K Watts and seconded by Councillor D Grindell: “that a draft letter of response to the Planning for the Future Consultation be submitted to a meeting of full Council on 14 October 2020.” On being put to the meeting the motion was carried. It was therefore resolved that a draft letter of response to the Planning for the Future Consultation be submitted to a meeting of full Council on 14 October 2020. A draft letter has been included for members to consider.

A recorded vote was called for by Councillor D Grindell and seconded by at least five councillors.

On being put to the meeting voting was as follows:

RESOLVED that the proposed response to the Planning for the Future consultation be approved and submitted.