Agenda and minutes

There were no disclosable pecuniary interests.

a)  To agree the Minutes of the previous meeting held on 13 July 2023

b)  Matters arising

The Minutes of the meeting held on 13 July, 2023 were agreed and signed as a true record.

There were no matters arising.

Briefing Note of the Head of Planning Policy and Environmental Planning

The Scrutiny Board considered a Briefing Note and received a comprehensive presentation from the Head of Planning Policy and Environmental Planning which provided an update on, and an opportunity for, the Board to contribute to the review of the Local Plan.

The City Council adopted its Local Plan and accompanying Area Action Plan for the City Centre in December 2017. These documents set out how much and what kind of development was needed up until 2021, where it should go and what policies should be applied to help the Council decide whether planning applications are acceptable or not.

It is a government requirement that the policies of the adopted Local Plan should be reviewed every five years to see if they are up to date or whether they need changing or even rewriting to reflect changes to national policy or other matters.

This is what the Council is now doing, carrying out a full review of every policy to see what needs changing and why, and whether there are any new policy areas we should be introducing.

The reviewed Local Plan would need to play its part in delivering the vision set out in the One Coventry Plan as well as having regard to the draft Climate Change Strategy which is due to be finalised and published by the end of 2023.

The draft Climate Change Strategy establishes a framework as to how the Council plans to work as a local authority and through its arm’s length operating companies, to meet sustainability objectives combatting waste and pollution, promoting biodiversity, focusing on the need to tackle climate change and adapt to the inevitable changes to the climate Coventry of and the UK.

In terms of the Local Plan review, the draft Climate Change Strategy states that ‘The Plan Review process will be wide ranging and should in particular consider opportunities to:

·  Further promote energy conservation in buildings and the development and use of renewables for energy generation

·  Further protect and enhance biodiversity

·  Promote high quality design that promotes active travel

·  Ensure accessibility to public transport and minimise the need for the private motor vehicle

·  Further reduce the risk of flooding and minimise the opportunities for heat gain’.

It is essential that the Local Plan is prepared in a way which delivers sustainable development and supports our journey to net zero. The National Planning Policy Framework, within Local Plans sets out that there are three overarching objectives:

-  An economic objective – to help build a strong, responsive and competitive economy;

-  A social objective – to support strong, vibrant and healthy communities;

-  An environmental objective - to protect and enhance our natural, built and historic environment.

The plan review takes these into account, alongside the need to consider changes to national planning policy and guidance and other relevant policy and guidance. These were detailed in the separate chapters of the plan which address different themes.

The briefing note further provided information on the area to be covered by the Coventry  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

Report of the Scrutiny Co-ordinator

The Scrutiny Board considered their Work Programme for the Municipal Year 2023/24.

RESOLVED that the Board:

1.  Notes that the next meeting will be held on Thursday 9November 2023 at 10.00am (rearranged from Thursday 26 October 2023).

2.  Local Flooding and Water Quality and Update on Empty Properties be brought to the next meeting of the Board.

3.  The update on School Streets be brought to the March 2024 meeting. 

There were no other items of urgent public business.