Cabinet received Minute OSC22/20 arising from the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC) held on 29 September 2022 that had considered the publication of Technical Advice Notes (TANs) to support the Adopted Development Plan (Core Strategy 2011-2028; Development and Site Allocations Plan; and made Neighbourhood Plans) and TANs relating to First Homes; 100% Affordable Housing; and Bexhill Town Centre Conservation Area.  It was noted that they were not adopted policy documents but could be used to explain how existing adopted policy should be interpreted in specific scenarios.

The OSC had also considered proposed amendments to the Planning Committee scheme of delegation, to enable proposed increases in affordable housing to be delegated to the Director – Place and Climate Change and determined in accordance with adopted planning policy, as detailed in the 100% Affordable Housing TAN.  This would speed up the determination of such applications, give confidence to affordable housing providers seeking to take on sites and in turn, assist with the Council achieving the affordable housing priority set out in the Corporate Plan. 

Members of the OSC considered transparency to be key and that decisions on proposed increases to affordable housing should remain with the Planning Committee to debate thoroughly.  The OSC therefore recommended to Cabinet that the amendments to the Planning Committee scheme of delegation not be delegated to the Director – Place and Climate Change.

The OSC had been happy to recommend the TAN relating to First Homes to Cabinet for onward recommendation to full Council for publication, but not publication of the TANs relating to 100% Affordable Housing and Bexhill Town Centre Conservation Area at this time.  The OSC had resolved to set up a Task and Finish Group to consider the Bexhill Town Centre Conservation Area TAN.

Cabinet was supportive of the OSC’s recommendations not to amend the Planning Committee scheme of delegation, to publish the TAN relating to First Homes and not to publish the TAN relating to the Bexhill Town Centre Conservation Area at this time; Cabinet recommended and agreed it be deferred subject to the results from the Task and Finish Group set up by the OSC.

Cabinet felt  that the TAN relating to 100% Affordable Housing was clear / concise and fully supported the Council’s planning policies and made Neighbourhood Plans and recommended that it also be published.  Members suggested that a previous presentation by officers to Members on Affordable Housing, could be repeated.

RECOMMENDED: That:

1)   amendments to the Planning Committee scheme of delegation, to enable proposed increases in affordable housing not be delegated to the Director – Place and Climate Change and determined in accordance with adopted planning policy, as detailed in the 100% Affordable Housing Technical Advice Note; and

2)   the publication of Technical Advice Notes relating to First Homes and 100% Affordable Housing to support the Adopted Development Plan, be agreed;

AND

*RESOLVED: That the publication of a Technical Advice Note relating to Bexhill Town Centre Conservation Area be deferred subject to the results from the Task and Finish group set up by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

*The RESOLVED part of this Minute is subject to the call-in procedure under Rule 16 of the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules.