Bridport Area Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group Meeting
 
14 June 2017, 6pm, at Bridport Town Council Offices (Mountfield)

Present: Phyllida Culpin - Chair (Allington), Andrew Leppard (Bridport), Bob Driscoll (Symondsbury), Richard Nicholls (BLAP), Caroline Meredith (Bridport Chamber of Commerce), Glenn Crawford (Bridport).

Also in Attendance: Sal Robinson, Katy Graham (Project Manager), Gavin Fryer (Land Use), Richard Toft (Climate Change), Margaret Toft (Climate Change), Paul Bowditch (Allington Parish Council).

Phyllida reminded everyone of the Register of Interests.

1. Apologies.

Richard Freer (Transport).

2. Minutes of last meeting.

The minutes were AGREED.

3. Matters arising from the minutes.

• Vearse Farm – Bridport Town Council Planning Meeting 13 June

  • Bridport Town Council agreed to recommend refusal.

  • The West Dorset Planning Officer said that the developer is proposing 35% affordable housing.

  • A Community Land Trust could be involved taking 50 of the rented units.

  • The developer is reasonably positive regarding self build.

  • Richard Nicholls pointed out that owners of the new houses might have difficulty getting insurance due to potential flood issues.

  • Richard Toft said that when the Waste Transfer Site was developed a storm profile of +20% was assumed – for Vearse Farm +30% is assumed.

  • DCC Flood Management have yet to comment on the application – the response should cover things like whether the proposed attenuation tanks will cause problems further downstream, the capacity of the tanks and whether that capacity takes climate change into consideration.

  • There appears to be confusion amongst residents regarding Vearse Farm and the Neighbourhood Plan.

  • AGREED that there must be a statement in the Consultation Summary document which clearly states what can and can’t be covered in a Neighbourhood Plan and that NP policies can influence some aspects of strategic developments e.g. materials, appearance.

    Andrew suggested a Climate Change policy which states that any planning application for the development of more than 5 houses or covering more than a specified area, should prove that it can cope with a specified amount of rain. This is in line with the NPPF.

     

5. WDDC Response to Housing Draft Intentions and Feedback from the Parishes on the Draft Intentions.

• WDDC Response to Housing Draft Intentions

  • WDDC has responded.

  • Some comments have been accepted by the Working Group, others are being challenged, for example regarding “low cost” versus “affordable” housing.

  • A couple need to be referred to BLAP / POPP.

  • The revised Housing Draft Intentions will soon be ready for the Joint Council Committee.

• Feedback from the Parishes on the Draft Intentions.

  • All Working Groups are working to review the comments received and either accept them or reject them with reasons

  • Allington Parish Council has provided additional information about the response made – further information has been requested on a couple of points

  • The revised Draft Intentions will go to the Joint Council Committee meeting on Tuesday 20 June.

• Consultation Planning.
  • The Summary Document and Questionnaire will not be sent via Royal Mail as, on further investigation, this would cost considerably more than the £500 originally quoted as areas are based on the first four digits of the postcode, which in  our case would double the number of households needed.
  • Instead the Parish and Town Councils will make arrangements for it to be hand delivered.
  • The definitive version of the Summary will be released on 21 June.
  • It is up to the Parish and Town councils as to whether they hold surgeries / drop in events etc
  • Steering Group members will attend such events if invited by the Parish / Town Council – the Joint Council Committee will be informed of this offer
  • The Joint Council Committee has reviewed the Summary Document.
  • One Parish has objected to the new question asking if people want suitable sites which become available in the future to be allocated for low cost housing
  • Agreed that this be taken to the Joint Council Committee meeting on 20 June for resolution
  • In the meantime, this will be removed from the material being displayed at the Food Festival on 17 June.

6. Progress Update from Working Groups.

• Largely covered above.
• The Housing Working Group has some problems with the Evidence base.

7. Public Participation / Any Other Business.

None.

8. Next meeting.

The next Steering Group meeting will be on Wednesday 5 July, 6 pm at Mountfield.