Local Development Framework Task Force

Task:

To oversee the preparation of the Local Development Framework (LDF) and to make recommendations to the Executive thereon.

Terms of Reference (application/pdf; 3kb)

Members

What is the Local Development Framework?

It is the way of controlling and planning future development for the area. Replacing the Local Plan, it has to follow government guidelines and it outlines how to:

Retain, support and encourage communities
Protect our environment
Accommodate new developments
Control and guide new development

Further information on the Local Development Framework at Mid Beds is available here.

The Task Force was initially a 'Members Advisory Group', set up to enable more Member involvement in the production of the Local Development Framework. It became a Task Force of the Overview Committee in July 2005.

Calendar of Meetings

LDF Calendar of Meetings 2008/09 (application/pdf; 50kb)

Time Line

Meeting - 16/10/08

The Task Force Members discussed the following:

Mid Bedfordshire Design Guide – consultation
Site Allocations DPD Issues and Options update
Community Infrastructure Levy
LDF Task Force Programme of Business
Settlement Envelope – additional site
How Task Force considers its business

Notes of the meeting 16-10-08 (application/pdf; 24kb)

Meeting - 04/09/08

The Task Force Members discussed the following:

South East Plan proposed Changes
Eco-town update
Core Strategy and Development Management Policies DPD – Draft Submission Version
Green Infrastructure Plan
LDF Task Force Programme of Business

Notes of the meeting 04-09-08 (application/pdf; 81kb)

Meeting - 17/07/08

The Task Force Members discussed the following issues:

Settlement Envelope Review
Core Strategy and Development Management Policies
Core Strategy - Key Issues
Milton Keynes Expansion
Marston Vale Eco-Town
Development Management Policies DPD - Draft Submission

Notes of the Meeting 17-07-08 (application/pdf; 104kb)

Meeting - 05/06/08

The Task Force Members discussed the following issues:

Saving Local Plan Policies
Settlement Envelope Review
Site Allocations
Eco-Towns
Employment
Transportation Infrastructure
Water Strategy

Notes of the Meeting 05-06-08 (application/pdf; 81kb)

Meeting - 08/05/08

Task Force Members received a presentation on a new District Wide Design Guide and the initial feedback received from Vision Twentyone on the numbers of responses to the Site Allocation Consultation.

Members then debated the proposed Gypsy & Traveller sites. They then voted and reached unanimous agreement on each proposed site and pitch numbers.

Notes of Meeting 08-05-08 (application/pdf; 21kb)

Meeting - 10/04/08

Task Force Members noted the information and progess on the Gypsy and Traveller Development Plan Documents (DPD). Members agreed to the policy approach suggested for each of the Core Strategy and Development Control Policies DPD. Members also noted the information on Eco-Towns Initiative and the revised LDF Task Force Programme of Business.

Notes of Meeting 10-04-08 (application/pdf; 35kb)

Meeting - 06/03/08

The Task Force received a review and update of the Milton Keynes growth issue. They also received presentations on the South East Milton Keynes Consortium’s plan to address the proposed growth in Milton Keynes, and also the work being undertaken by the Greensand Trust.

Members were provided with an updated programme of business for future meetings of the LDF Task Force Programme of Business.

Notes of Meeting 06-03-08 (application/pdf; 36kb)

Meeting - 07/02/08

The Task Force received a presentation on the Long-Term Investment Prospectus for the Bedford/Northern Marston Vale Sub-Regional Growth Area. They also received a progress update on Site Allocation Public Consultation.

Notes of Meeting 07-02-08 (application/pdf; 33kb)

Meeting - 24/01/08

The Task Force received a presentation on the Planning Obligations Strategy Working Draft Document and a report on the outcome of the Public Consultation exercise -available below.

Planning Obligations Adoption Report (application/pdf; 71kb)
Notes of meeting 24-01-08 (application/pdf; 27kb)

Meeting - 06/12/07

The Task Force received the Gypsy and Traveller - Issues and Options Policy Analysis report and considered each Issue in turn.
The Task Force also received the Local Development Framework Annual Monitoring Report.

Notes of Meeting 6-12-07 (application/pdf; 26kb)

Meeting - 28/11/07

The Task Force received a Supplementary Paper on the Waste Site Allocations Issues and Options Consultation. The Task Force then discussed sites.

Notes of Meeting 28-11-07 (application/pdf; 16kb)

Meeting - 08/11/07

The Task Force received and discussed the following:

A report on Future Member Involvement in Task Force Meetings
Gypsy and Traveller Development Plan Documents (DPD) – Second Issues and Options Consultation, Milton Keynes LDF Core Strategy Preferred Options
Planning Obligations Strategy
Waste Issues and Options Consultation
Minerals Core Strategy and Site Allocations Plan – Preferred Options Stage
Structure Plan 2001 ‘Saved’ Policies
Core Strategy & Development Control Policies DPD
Site Allocation DPD

Notes of Meeting 8-11-07 (application/pdf; 44kb)

Meeting-06/09/07

South East Plan Panel Report
The Panel do not support the need for a strategic gap/green belt extension between the growing city of Milton Keynes and Aspley Guise. The request for the gap/green belt had been very strongly argued by the Council at the Examination earlier this year. Members noted the formal recommendations of the Panel and after discussion agreed not to make any formal recommendations to The Executive at this early stage.

Gypsy and Traveller Development Plan Documents (DPD) – Second Issues and Options Consultation
This report sets out the response to the Issues and Options Consultation. The accommodation needs/pitches for Gypsies & Travellers and had been discussed in a number of different studies, each proposed a slightly different level of need. At Executive, Members accepted the East of England Regional Assembly's (EERA) gypsy and traveller accommodation needs assessment (GTANA) methodology and EERA’s estimate of need until 2011 of 22 pitches. However, as four caravans on two pitches had been granted permission at Magpie Farm, Upper Caldecote, the Council now has 20 pitches to find. In response to the Issues and Options consultation, the LDF Team received 724 consultation responses.The full results will be reported in detail to the Task Force in advance of the publication of the Preferred Options document.
Members noted that six sites identified by the County Council and landowners for consideration in the initial Issues and Options consultation had subsequently been withdrawn and a second Issues and Options consultation is now needed on a number of new sites.

Planning Obligations Strategy Supplementary Planning Document (SPD)
The Planning Obligations Strategy SPD sets out proposals for an improved approach to negotiating and securing planning obligations associated with new development in Mid Beds. Formal consultation on the draft SPD took place from 6th July. The consultation period was extended to 24th August to take account of the downtime on the Council’s website and the results and recommendations of the consultation will now be reported to Members at a future meeting.

Site Allocations DPD
Earlier this year landowners and agents had provided details of land that they wish to be considered for future housing and employment development. All the submitted sites were presented to Members for their initial consideration. Members suggested a course of action for the consultation process on the site submissions.Members asked that the draft letter to residents, the amended site detail sheet and programme of consultation be submitted to the next meeting for consideration.
Members noted that there had been a high number of sites submitted to the Council. Those sites not consistent with the Core Strategy, because for example, they fall within Green Belt will not ‘fit’ with the Core Strategy and can be discounted at an early stage. These sites will appear as an appendix to the Site Allocation DPD with an explanation as to why they will not be considered further.

Meeting-19/07/07

Plan this Place Questionnaire Response
Members received the final analysis of the “Plan this Place” questionnaire. The total number returned was 4,975 – a superb response rate, which would help inform future documents.
Members were happy to note the contents and would use the conclusions to inform consideration of the Core Strategy & Development Control Policies DPD during the remainder of the meeting.

Core Strategy & Development Control Policies DPD Process
Officers took Members through the process so far in production of the LDF and explained in detail the next steps before consultation on Preferred Options. Due to the amount of work still required consultation would now begin on 10th September.
Officers confirmed that although tight, they would meet the revised consultation deadline so as not to adversely impact the next phase of the process regarding the Site Allocations consultation timetable. Officers further confirmed that this slippage would cause no penalty in terms of PDG receipts.

Core Strategy – Preferred Options
Members were introduce to a working draft of the Core Strategy, which was the most important document in the LDF. The Strategy set the spatial vision, principles and strategies that guided other, subservient DPD’s and SPD’s and contained 27 separate preferred options. Members considered each option in turn and supported all, subject to officers noting the comments made – see full notes of meeting below.

Development Control Policies DPD – Preferred Options
Members were introduce to a working draft of the Development Control Policies DPD, which was an essential part of the LDF providing the detailed policy framework against which planning applications would be assessed. The DPD contained 21 separate preferred options. Members considered each option in turn and supported all, subject to officers noting the comments made – see full notes of meeting below.

Notes of Meeting 19-07-07 (application/pdf; 45kb)

Meeting - 31/05/07

Gypsy and Traveller Development Plan Document
Members of the Task Force recieved an update of the progress made towards preparing the Gypsy and Traveller Development Plan Document.
During the six week consultation, 6 sites were withdrawn by the owners. 16 sites remain. In light of the withdrawal of these sites, Officers have been investigating whether further sites can be identified and consulted upon prior to moving forward to Preferred Options stage. Following a meeting with the DCLG to discuss the progress, the DCLG and Go East agreed to extend the LDS timetable. The publication of the Preferred Options will be delayed to February 2008.
EERA is holding a public meeting on its single issue review of Gypsy and Travellers accommodation across the region, at the Mid Beds offices on 4 June 07.

Plan this Place Questionnaire Analysis

The "Plan this Place" consultation had taken place and over 4,000 questionnaires have been returned. A sample of 900 responses have been analysed to gauge the public's view. Members were presented with the key question results. A full analysis will be presented at the next meeting.

Preferred Options document – Core Strategy
Members were asked to consider the likely structure of the Core Strategy element of the Preferred Options document, due to be published for consultation in August.

Development Control Policies DPD – Issues and Options stage

Members received a list of the four workshops (Commercial Activity and Transport; Housing and Development; The Environment & Climate Change; and Countryside and Recreation). Members were informed of the key topics for discussion as part of the Issues and Options stage of the LDF. Two of the workshops had recently taken place (Commercial Activity and Transport; and Housing and Development) and members were appraised of the key issues raised.

Notes of Meeting 31-05-07 (application/pdf; 38kb)

Meeting - 24/05/07

Draft Planning Obligations Strategy
The Task Force received a Powerpoint presentation on Planning Obligations and what the Planning Obligations Strategy Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) was trying to achieve, its status, the process and next steps to adoption. In summary, the SPD was intended to simplify and improve the present Council practice of negotiating planning obligations associated with new development. The SPD would form an important part of the LDF.

During the course of the presentation Members of the Task Force raised a number of issues and concerns, which are detailed in the notes of the meeting.

Notes of Meeting 24-05-07 (application/pdf; 34kb)

Meeting - 05/04/07

Members of the Task Force approved the Landscape Character Assessment Consultation Draft for continued LDF preparation.

Officers explained the programme for producing the Preferred Options version of the Core Strategy/ Development Control Policies DPD and set out a challenging timetable from April to August 2007, which would mean Task Force meetings in May and July would need to consider a significant volume of work.

Members received a presentation which introduced the Core Strategy consultation questionnaire and explained key issues. The questionnaire has been sent out to every household in the district with a closing date of 07/05/07. The Task Force debated each question in turn and made comments.

Officers provided the Task Force with an update on progress regarding the site Allocations DPD. Seventy proposals had been received for potential employment sites and more than 250 for potential housing sites. A full list of submissions would be brought to the Task Force in early autumn with public consultation thereafter. The Task Force confirmed that a bus tour of the sites would be beneficial.

The Task Force received a summary of the South East Regional Plan Examination in Public event held in Reading. They also received an outline of the various proposals regarding East West Rail.

Notes of Meeting 05-04-07 (application/pdf; 24kb)

Meeting - 01/02/07

The Task Force received a draft Executive report on the Local Development Scheme Second Revision, which outlines the need to re-timetable some LDF work. The main changes will combine the Core Strategy and Development Control Policies documents into a single document to be adopted in August 2009.
Core Strategy – Arrangements for additional consultation. Members considered the five consultation options. The Task Force that an incentive to complete the questionnaire should be offered and Members learnt of various methods used by other authorities.

The Task Force received a presentation on The Bedfordshire and Luton Green Infrastructure Plan (GI Plan). Members noted the issues raised in the Bedfordshire and Luton GI Plan and approved the report as the basis to assist continued LDF preparation.

Gypsies and Travellers – Issues and Options Consultation. The LDF Team had received 16 Site submissions, the plans of which were circulated to the Task Force. Consultation on the Issues and Options document will commence on 12 March 2007 for a 6 week period.

Notes of Meeting 01-02-07 (application/pdf; 22kb)

Meeting - 14/11/06

The Task Force examined the conclusions of the Infrastructure Audit: Progress Report. This report would inform preparation of all LDF documents and in particular the Planning Obligations Strategy.

The Task Force then looked at the current practice and the fundamental principles behind the negotiation of planning obligations. It then considered the Planning Gain Supplements (PGS) & Local Tariffs.

The Task Force approved the Town Centres & Retailing Technical Report, and the Affordable Housing Technical Stage 1 Report. In addition it received an update on Local Development Framework Progress.

Notes of Meeting 14-11-06 (application/pdf; 42kb)

Meeting - 12/10/06

The Task Force considered the Employment Land Review: Stage 1 Report, and concurred with the review's findings.The Task Force considered and approved the Urban Potential Study and the Landscape Character Assessment, Volume 1, as a basis to assist continued LDF preparation.

Notes of Meeting 12-10-06 (application/pdf; 42kb)

Meeting - 28/09/06

The Task Force considered and approved the: Gypsy & Traveller Housing Needs Assessment; State of the Environment Report; Strategic Flood Risk Stage 1 Report and Settlement Hierarchy Report. In addition it also noted the results of the consultation exercise regarding MK2031/Aspley Guise Protection and received updates on a number of other Technical Reports and the LDF project timetable.

Notes of Meeting 28-09-06 (application/pdf; 42kb)

Meeting - 07/06/06

The Task Force received refresher training on the LDF, an update on the work being undertaken regarding the Gypsy & Traveller Development Plan Document and further details regarding the consultation on the Core Strategy: Issues and Options document.

Notes of Meeting 07-06-06 (application/pdf; 47kb)

Meeting - 19/04/06

The Task Force received a report detailing progress on Milestones in the preparation of the Local Development Framework.
The Task Force considered the responses to consultation on the LDF's Core Strategy Issues and Options.

Notes of Meeting 19-04-06 (application/pdf; 48kb)

Meeting - 26/01/06

The Task Force reviewed a report on progress against all technical documents required to support the Local Development Framework and received an update on the East of England Plan.

Notes of Meeting 26-01-06 (application/pdf; 51kb)

Meeting - 23/11/05

The Local Development Scheme is adopted formally by the Executive.

Meeting - 10/11/05

The Task Force considered the submission version of the Local Development Scheme which details the plan for the production of the whole Framework and received the Annual Monitoring Report.

Notes of Meeting 10-11-05 (application/pdf; 32kb)

Meeting - 20/10/05

Overview Committee discussed the membership and powers of the Local Development Framework Task Force. It agreed to increase membership by 1 Executive and 2 non-Executive members. Councillors Ken Matthews, Dennis Gale and David Lawrence join the Task Force.

Meeting - 28/09/05

The Task Force are provided with an update on the consultation process of the Framework.

Notes of Meeting 28-09-05 (application/pdf; 20kb)

Meeting - 28/07/05

The Task Force are consulted on the progression of the Local Development Framework.

Notes of Meeting 28-07-05 (application/pdf; 16kb)

Please Contact Overview and Scrutiny if you would like to know more about this task force.

“challenging, influencing, making a difference”

Linked documents:

* Download Local Development Framework Terms of Reference (application/pdf; 3kb)