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The Committee received report ES/1356 of the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Planning and Coastal Management, which sought approval to publish the Council's Authority Monitoring Report (AMR) for the 2021/22 year.
Councillor Ritchie introduced the report and noted the AMR's importance, outlining its role in judging the implementation and effectiveness of policies contained within the two Local Plans and the numerous Neighbourhood Plans in East Suffolk. Councillor Ritchie considered that the AMR demonstrated significant progress had been made in 2021/22 and described the production of the AMR as one of the most important pieces of work undertaken by the Planning Policy, Delivery and Specialist Services team.
Councillor Ritchie invited the Principal Planner (Policy and Delivery) to address the Committee. The Principal Planner gave a presentation on the AMR which summarised the impacts of COVID-19, the progression of the Suffolk Coastal and Waveney Local Plans, climate change and sustainability, the Lowestoft Tidal Barrier, major infrastructure, health and wellbeing, Community Infrastructure Levy and Section 106 Agreements, neighbourhood plans, employment uses, town centre vacancy rates, housing (statistics, completions, affordable housing completions), housing land supply, planning appeals, site allocations, and the natural and historic environment. The presentation also gave an overview on the next steps for finalising and publishing the 2021/22 AMR and provided a summary of the Council's Open Data Portal.
The presentation highlighted that several Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) had been adopted during 2021/22, and that the Cycling and Walking Strategy developed during that period had been adopted by the Cabinet in October 2022. The Principal Planner noted that five neighbourhood plans had been made during 2021/22 in Bredfield, Kesgrave, Reydon, Beccles, and Southwold, and that several other neighbourhood plans were progressing well.
The Committee was advised that the Council had a five-year housing land supply, with the presentation detailing that there was a 6.47-year supply in the former Suffolk Coastal area, a 5.78-year supply in the former Waveney area, and a 6.15-year supply for the East Suffolk area as a whole.
The Chairman invited questions and comments to Councillor Ritchie and the officers.
In responses to several questions from Councillor Byatt, the Principal Planner advised that he would be able to provide him with a further breakdown on life expectancy in his Ward and additional information on free Wi-Fi in East Suffolk outside of the meeting. The Head of Planning and Coastal Management responded to Councillor Byatt's question on the proposed Two Villages bypass, explaining that it had been consented as part of the Sizewell C Development Consent Order (DCO) and the programme for delivery, subject to the final investment decision, anticipated the bypass being constructed in the first two years of the project.
Councillor Ritchie, in reply to Councillor Byatt's query regarding the brownfield site at Kirkley Waterfront, noted the history and current work in attempting to develop this site and the significant issues faced, including flooding, contaminated land, multiple land ownerships and viability. Councillor Ritchie considered the delivery of the Lowestoft Tidal Barrier to be pivotal in bringing Kirkley Waterfront forward as viable site for development.
On the proposition of Councillor Ritchie, seconded by Councillor Pitchers, it was by a unanimous vote
RESOLVED
1. That the East Suffolk Authority Monitoring Report covering the period 1st April 2021 to 31st March 2022 be published.
2. That the Head of Planning and Coastal Management Service, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Coastal Management, be given delegated authority to make any necessary minor typographical or presentational changes to the document prior to formally publishing it.