Agenda item

Provision of bike lockers

Proposal – That this council investigates the feasibility and cost of the provision of bike lockers in the towns of South Somerset.

(Voting: 43 in favour, 8 against, 3 abstentions)

SSDC Five Year Housing Land Supply

Proposal – The Planning and Development group have now produced a paper to the District Executive that indicates in their judgement SSDC no longer can support a 5 year housing supply position, and that despite warnings to that group, Full Council and the relevant Planning Inspector by the Conservative Group; the Local Plan proposed by the current leadership and approved in March 2015 has quickly become deficient in that respect

In view of the serious impact this will have on Planning and Development Control this council agrees to take whatever action is necessary to urgently review the current housing supply targets and begin the process of adjusting that content in the Local Plan, keeping Council informed as to progress, and as part of this process to work with other local authorities to address the deficiencies in the process and procedures which have contributed to this problem.

(Voting: 27 in favour, 22 against, 2 abstentions)

The following motion was submitted by Councillor Graham Oakes:

Provision of bike lockers

Proposal – That this council investigates the feasibility and cost of the provision of bike lockers in the towns of South Somerset.

Councillor Oakes asked for Members support to look at the feasibility of installing bike lockers and report back to Council.  He said they were similar to small metal sheds and were often installed in Council car parks. 

A vote was taken and the majority of Members were in favour of supporting the Motion.

(Voting: 42 in favour, 8 against, 3 abstentions)

The following motion was submitted by Councillor Tim Inglefield:

SSDC Five Year Housing Land Supply

Proposal – The Planning and Development group have now produced a paper to the District Executive that indicates in their judgement SSDC no longer can support a 5 year housing supply position, and that despite warnings to that group, Full Council and the relevant Planning Inspector by the Conservative Group; the Local Plan proposed by the current leadership and approved in March 2015 has quickly become deficient in that respect

In view of the serious impact this will have on Planning and Development Control this council agrees to take whatever action is necessary to urgently review the current housing supply targets and begin the process of adjusting that content in the Local Plan, keeping Council informed as to progress, and as part of this process to work with other local authorities to address the deficiencies in the process and procedures which have contributed to this problem.

Councillor Tim Inglefield expressed his concern at the recent District Executive report which stated that the Council could no longer demonstrate a 5 year land supply.  He expressed concern that the Council was again in this position and he said that officers should be given every resource to review the Local Plan housing figure and shorten the time which the Council could not demonstrate this 5 year housing land supply.

Councillor Angie Singleton, Portfolio Holder for Strategic Planning (Place Making), advised that the housing supply figure in the Local Plan had been evidence based and had been approved by Council and so could not be easily altered.  The early review of the Local Plan would include the reformation of the Project Management Board with cross part membership.

The Leader of Council confirmed that 31% of Councils in England could not demonstrate a 5 year housing land supply which he felt was an issue with Government policy.  He confirmed that he would be taking this up with the District Councils Network.

During a lengthy discussion, varying views were expressed.  Some Members felt that the Council should have an achievable housing figure in the Local Plan whilst others said the formula to set the housing target was set by the Government and had not changed. 

Councillor Angie Singleton proposed an amendment to the Motion that: Council agreed that the Project Management Board monitor the already agreed work programme for the review of the Local Plan and investigate any ways that the process can be accelerated.

In response to a question the Assistant Director (Legal and Corporate Services) confirmed that it was possible to amend a Motion provided it was not a negative amendment. 

A vote was taken on the proposed amendment to the Motion and it was carried (voting: 26 in favour, 22 against, 3 abstentions).  A named vote on the substantive motion was then requested by more than 10 Members present and the voting was:

(Voting: 27 in favour, 22 against, 2 abstentions)