Issue - meetings

Having stated that she had pre-determined this application, Councillor Brice left the meeting when it was discussed.

The Committee considered the report and the urgent update reports of the Head of Planning and Development.

Mr Quinn, the applicant, addressed the meeting.

It was noted that a £50,000 contribution in respect of the provision of a broadband connection to the wider village of Boughton Malherbe had been put forward by the applicants.  However, the Officers maintained that such a contribution was not a policy requirement of the Council and did not meet the tests of the CIL Regulations, and should be prioritised instead towards providing an overall affordable housing contribution totalling £290,000.  It was suggested that the provision of broadband would benefit the existing community and future occupiers of the development by reducing the need for car journeys and making the site and village more sustainable.  The provision of the broadband connection could be dealt with outside the S106 legal agreement, with a corresponding £50,000 reduction in the affordable housing contribution, reinforced by an informative regarding its delivery.

Contrary to the recommendation of the Head of Planning and Development, the Committee agreed that subject to the prior completion of a S106 legal agreement, including a reduced contribution of £240,000 towards affordable housing off-site having regard to the proposed provision of a broadband connection, the Head of Planning and Development be given delegated powers to grant permission subject to conditions and informatives.  In making this decision, the Committee felt that the amended proposal was a sustainable approach to the use of this redundant brownfield site and that the benefits for the local community, economy, landscape and wildlife were sufficient to outweigh any disbenefit arising from the development proposals.

RESOLVED:

1.  That subject to the prior completion of a S106 legal agreement in such terms as the Head of Legal Partnership may advise to secure the following summarised contributions:

·  A contribution of £240,000 towards affordable housing provision off-site;

·  A contribution of £33,053 towards the provision of primary education;

·  A contribution of £18,864 towards NHS provision;

·  A contribution of £22,050 towards off-site provision of public open space; and

·  A contribution of £672 towards library book stock,

  the Head of Planning and Development be given delegated powers to grant permission subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the report, as amended by the second urgent update report, and the additional condition set out in the first urgent update report, with an additional informative as follows:

  The Council expects to see the £50,000 reduction in the affordable housing contribution allocated towards the provision of the broadband connection for the benefit of the community.

2.  That the Head of Planning and Development be given delegated powers in consultation with the Head of Legal Partnership to negotiate and agree the precise details of the S106 legal agreement.

Voting:  12 – For  0 – Against  0 – Abstentions