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Planning and Transport Policy Committee

MINUTE of MEETING of the PLANNING AND TRANSPORT POLICY COMMITTEE held in the Town and County Hall, Forfar on Thursday 11 October 2001 at 4.00 pm.

Present: Councillors DAVID SELFRIDGE, JOHN HENDERSON, ALISTAIR GRAY, ALEX KING, IAN MACKINTOSH, ROBERT MYLES, GEORGE NORRIE MBE, HELEN OSWALD, KITTY RITCHIE, RICHARD SPEIRS and SANDY WEST.

Apologies: Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Provost Mrs FRANCES E DUNCAN OBE and Councillor STEWART McGLYNN.

Councillor SELFRIDGE, Convener, in the Chair.

1. MINUTE OF PREVIOUS MEETING

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 23 August 2001 was approved as a correct record and signed by the Convener.

2. REVIEW OF STRATEGIC PLANNING CONSULTATION PAPER

There was submitted Report No 1147/01 by the Director of Planning and Transport which commented on and provided a suggested response to the Scottish Executive Consultation Paper on the Review of Strategic Planning which included radical proposals aimed at modernising and streamlining the planning system in Scotland.

The Report indicated that in June 2001, the Scottish Executive had published a consultation paper on the Review of Strategic Planning. Under present arrangements, "structure planning" meant structure planning as part of the development plan system. However, the proposals in the Consultation Paper were radical and far reaching, extending considerably beyond structure plans alone. The Report summarised the main elements of the Consultation Paper and provided the suggested basis for the Council's response to the important issues which the Paper raised.

The Report concluded that the Consultation Paper on the Review of Strategic Planning was to be commended in raising issues to be addressed to ensure development plans realised their potential in contributing to the management of change in Scotland for the long term public good. Angus Council had the benefit of a recently adopted Council wide Local Plan and current direct experience in joint working on structure plan preparation. From that perspective, it was vital that any changes to the planning system should further assist development plan preparation and delivery in Angus as well as fully meeting national requirements. The current proposals of the Scottish Executive included some worthwhile changes but also raised particular concerns and uncertainties over who should prepare strategic development plans as well as their geographic boundaries.

The Committee, having heard a number of members express their concerns regarding the implications for future strategic planning, agreed:-

  1. to note the far reaching proposals of the Scottish Executive for the review of strategic planning in Scotland, and approve the Report, including detailed comments on key issues identified in Appendix 1, as the Council's formal response to the Consultation Paper;
  2. to advise the Scottish Executive that Angus Council:-
    1. welcomed the opportunity now available to reinforce and reinvigorate the core purposes and values of land use planning by further developing a coherent strategic national planning framework, which in turn supported subsidiarity in the tiers of plan making where decision making was retained at the most appropriate level;
    2. supported the general principles on diversity, consistency, focus, subsidiarity, inclusion, responsiveness and certainty identified in the Consultation Paper, together with proposals for developing National Planning Policy Statements and a Scotland wide spatial perspective document;
    3. supported the need for sub-national strategic planning and suggested that this could be developed on a partnership basis between the Scottish Executive and local authorities, in order to address genuine strategic planning issues, which should continue to include minerals and waste;
    4. questioned the basis on which city regions (as yet undefined) were proposed as the sole focus for strategic development plans, where this would introduce dual standards both in different parts of Scotland and, depending on geographical boundaries, within some individual Council areas;
    5. proposed that further consideration be given to more inclusive and widely drawn areas for delivering sub-national strategic development plans and that European Partnership areas could form a basis for the appropriate sub-national strategic planning areas; and
    6. suggested that local authorities be encouraged to prepare the minimum number of development plans/local development plans necessary to ensure complete geographical coverage of their area.
  3. to further advise the Scottish Executive, in the event that they concluded in favour of their current preference for strategic development plans to be prepared only for the four largest city regions, that Angus Council:
    1. would expect to be an equal partner in any joint committee set up to oversee the preparation of a strategic development plan relating to any part of Angus;
    2. notes that any city region boundary which dissected a local authority area would raise subsidiarity issues and require more problematic arrangements to secure compatibility between the respective Local Development Plan and the Development Plan covering the remainder of the Council area; and
    3. requests that further consultation be undertaken on the proposed city region boundaries and specifically any proposed city region boundary relating to Angus, prior to any final decision being taken.

3. DRAFT PERTH AND KINROSS STRUCTURE PLAN

There was submitted Report No 1148/01 by the Director of Planning and Transport advising the Committee of the publication of the draft Perth and Kinross Structure Plan together with the implications for strategic planning policy in Angus.

The Report indicated that Perth and Kinross Council had published for public consultation their first draft Structure Plan. The Report summarised key points from the draft Plan and highlighted areas of strategic planning interest for Angus as an adjoining authority and partner in the Dundee and Angus Structure Plan.

The draft Plan sought to provide a longer term development strategy and strategic guidance for Perth and Kinross in the period to 2020. Detailed land use policies and proposals would emerge through Local Plans and implementation of the strategy would also rely on partnership with other agencies and the community. When approved by Scottish Ministers, the new Structure Plan would repeal and replace that part of the Tayside Structure Plan 1993 (approved in 1997) which related to Perth and Kinross.

The draft Plan proposed for Perth and Kinross was in the main compatible with the approach adopted for Angus. However, a significant cross-boundary strategic issue for the Dundee and Angus area was the proposal for a new village at Errol which would have longer term implications for the Dundee Western Gateway proposal put forward in the Dundee and Angus Structure Plan. At this stage, the position with regard to Errol should be noted and kept under review for further consideration as part of the work to be undertaken by the respective Councils in finalising both the Dundee and Angus Structure Plan and the Perth and Kinross Structure Plan for submission to the Scottish Ministers.

The Committee agreed:-
  1. to note the publication of the first draft Structure Plan for Perth and Kinross; and
  2. to advise Perth and Kinross Council that Angus Council:-
    1. noted, at this stage, the terms of Sustainability Proposal 1 of the draft Perth and Kinross Structure Plan regarding the establishment of a new village at Errol Airfield; and
    2. would keep under review cross boundary issues of potential concern, arising from the proposal, in the course of the further work to be undertaken by the respective authorities in finalising both the Dundee and Angus Structure Plan, and the Perth and Kinross Structure Plan for submission to the Scottish Ministers.

4. SCOTTISH NATURAL HERITAGE ADVICE ON PROPOSED CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK

With reference to Article 6 of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 23 August 2001, there was submitted Report No 1149/01 by the Director of Planning and Transport which gave a summary of Scottish Natural Heritage's formal advice to the Scottish Executive on the proposed Cairngorms National Park. The Report also advised the Committee of the separate preparatory work being undertaken by the Cairngorms National Park Management Group in order to help pave the way for a Cairngorms National Park.

The Report concluded that the publication of the SNH advice to Government on the proposed Cairngorms National Park represented a further significant step in the process towards the establishment of a National Park. The terms of the SNH advice contained various helpful recommendations, but also raised concerns and uncertainty in relation to the operation of planning powers.

If, on the basis of the SNH Report, Scottish Ministers were satisfied that their proposal for a National Park in the Cairngorms had widespread support, they would prepare a draft Designation Order for the National Park which would be subject to a further period of consultation undertaken by the Scottish Executive. The draft Designation Order, if necessary in a modified form, would then be laid before the Scottish Parliament along with a report of the views expressed during the second consultation. The Government's intention was for these steps to be completed during early 2002, with the prospect of the formal establishment of a National Park in the Cairngorms during early 2003.

The Committee agreed:-
  1. to note the terms and content of Scottish Natural Heritage's formal advice to the Scottish Executive on the proposed Cairngorms National Park;
  2. to await the Scottish Ministers' response to the Scottish Natural Heritage advice, which was likely to include the preparation of a draft Designation Order for the National Park, which would be subject to a further period of consultation undertaken by the Scottish Executive;
  3. to note the terms of reference and work of the Cairngorms National Park Management Group which had been set up to help pave the way for a Cairngorms National Park;
  4. to recommend to the Council that Angus be represented on the Governing Board of the National Park authority by the Convener of the Planning and Transport Policy Committee; and
  5. to forward a copy of the Report to the Scottish Executive for the consideration of Scottish Ministers drawing particular attention to Angus Council's concern over planning arrangements proposed by SNH as discussed in paragraphs 5.4 and 5.8 of the report.

5. CAIRNGORMS LOCAL BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN PROJECT OFFICER

With reference to Article 9 of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 12 October 2000, there was submitted Report No 1150/01 by the Director of Planning and Transport which recommended that Angus Council contribute towards the fourth year of a post intended to co?ordinate and develop the Cairngorms Local Biodiversity Action Plan. The Report indicated that the post was considered the most effective means of taking this forward.

The Committee agreed to contribute up to £2,000 towards the cost of the Project Officer post, up to September 2002, subject to the balance of funding being secured and the expenditure being met from the Planning and Transport Department's Revenue Budget for 2001/02.

6. ANGUS RETAIL STUDY

There was submitted Report No 1151/01 by the Director of Planning and Transport which established the requirement for a review of retail trends, provision and prospects within Angus and set out a proposed project brief for the procurement of a specialist study. The study findings would assist in implementing and reviewing development plan policy and might provide a material consideration in the assessment of development proposals.

The Report indicated that the approved Tayside Structure Plan 1993 and National Planning Policy Guideline (NPPG8) (Revised) Retailing and Town Centres set the strategic context for the retail policies in the Angus Local Plan and the draft Dundee and Angus Structure Plan. The Angus Local Plan adopted in November 2000, applied the national and strategic policies at local level, to protect the vitality and viability of Angus town centres while maintaining consumer choice and competition.

The retailing industry remained dynamic, which resulted in pressure for change in both distribution and supply of food and non food retail floor space. A specialist study to examine retail trends, provision and prospects across Angus would assist in policy implementation and development, and would contribute to monitoring and supporting the health of the town centres.

The Committee agreed:-
  1. to note the requirement for a review of retail trends, provision and prospects within Angus as an input into development plan policy implementation and review, and as a material consideration in the assessment of development proposals; and
  2. to commission a consultancy study to evaluate current and possible future retail provision with up to £15,000 to be allocated for this purpose.

7. MONIFIETH SEAFRONT DEVELOPMENT

With reference to Article 8 of the minute of meeting of the Planning and Transport Policy Committee of 14 June 2001, there was submitted Joint Report No 1124/01 by the Director of Planning and Transport and the Director of Recreation Services advising the Committee on the proposed improvement works at Monifieth Seafront and recommending how these proposals could be taken forward.

The Report indicated that proposals for the re-development of the central area of the Monifieth Seafront and the upgrading of the football pitches and associated facilities had been prepared using an in-house design team from members of the Recreation Services and Roads Departments. It was proposed that the seafront be redeveloped on the basis of the existing use of outdoor play and recreation, with the essential elements of these proposals outlined in the Report.

European funding through the Eastern Scotland Objective 2 Programme (2000/2006) was required if all the works outlined in the Report were to be funded from the total available budget. The next deadline for applications was 19 October 2001 but a decision would not be taken by the Programme Management Committee (PMC) until 1 February 2002. As funding would not be approved in retrospect, a contract could not be let until after that date. It was therefore proposed that, subject to Committee agreement, the Acting Director of Roads be authorised to seek competitive tenders for the proposed improvement works for the central area only at this stage, with a view to the tender report being presented to the Roads Committee on 24 January 2002 and an envisaged site start date of early March 2002.

The Report recommended that the upgrading of the football pitches and the associated car park be undertaken as a separate contract, the timing of which would largely be determined by the source of funding. It was a requirement of European funding that all permissions including planning permission be in place prior to consideration by the PMC although not necessarily by the date of submission. Due to the nature and scale of the proposed works for the central area, it would be necessary therefore to instigate Notice of Intention to Develop procedures and it was recommended that these be done as soon as possible.

The Committee, for its interest, agreed to approve the recommendations, as detailed in the Report.

8. DRAFT DEVELOPMENT BRIEFS

(a) Land at Orchardbank, Forfar

With reference to Article 5 of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 25 January 2001, there was submitted Report No 1153/01 by the Director of Planning and Transport which established, for consultation purposes, the draft planning requirements that would guide the development of a site allocated in the adopted Angus Local Plan for business and industrial land at Orchardbank, Forfar.

The preparation of a development brief would assist in the implementation of the Angus Local Plan proposal and also guide developers towards a successful planning submission. Circulation of the draft brief would enable community involvement in the process and seek endorsement of the planning principles and site specific requirements.

The Committee, having heard Councillor Glennis Middleton, local member, welcome the proposals, agreed:-

  1. to the draft development brief, as appended in Appendix 1 to the Report, being the basis for consultation; and
  2. to note that a further Report, detailing consultation responses together with a finalised brief, would be submitted for approval to a future meeting of this Committee.

(b) Land at Newton Road, Carnoustie

With reference to Article 5 of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 25 January 2001, there was submitted Report No 1152/01 by the Director of Planning and Transport which established, for consultation purposes, the draft planning requirements that would guide the development of a site allocated in the Angus Local Plan for housing at Newton Road, Carnoustie.

The preparation of a development brief would assist in the implementation of the Angus Local Plan proposal and also guide developers towards a successful planning submission. Circulation of the draft brief would enable community involvement in the process and seek endorsement of the planning principles and site specific requirements.

The Committee agreed:-
  1. to the draft development brief, as appended in Appendix 1 to the Report, being the basis for consultation; and
  2. to note that a further Report, detailing consultation responses together with a finalised brief, would be submitted for approval to a future meeting of this Committee.

9. TAYSIDE AREA WASTE PLAN ­ PROGRESS REPORT

With reference to Article 26 of the minute of meeting of the Development Control Committee of 27 September 2001, there was submitted Joint Report No 1085/01 by the Director of Planning and Transport and the Director of Environmental and Consumer Protection updating the Committee on progress being made by the Tayside Area Waste Member/Officer Group towards preparation and publication of a Draft Area Waste Plan.

The Committee, for its interest, agreed to approve the recommendations, as detailed in the Report.

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