Agenda and draft minutes

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The Chair referred to the notice of filming at meetings and this information was noted.

To receive any apologies for absence.

There were no apologies for absence.

The Chair will consider the admission of any late items of urgent business.  (Late items will be considered under the agenda item where they appear. New items will be dealt with under item 8 below).

There were no items of urgent business.

There were no declarations of interest.

To consider any requests received in accordance with Part 4, Section B, paragraph 29 of the Council’s constitution

There were no deputations/ petitions/ presentations/ questions.

To confirm and sign the minutes of the Strategic Planning Committee meeting held on 13^th July as a correct record.

TO FOLLOW

RESOLVED

To confirm and sign the minutes of the Strategic Planning Committee held on 13^th July as a correct record.

The Local Plan is the Council’s principal statutory planning document for the borough which: 

• Planning applications are determined in accordance with (unless material considerations indicate otherwise); 

• Sets out a positive spatial strategy for managing growth, development and land use; 

• Reflects and supports the Council’s broader corporate strategies and policies; and 

• Facilitates early and meaningful community engagement in the planning process. 

Bryce Tudball, Head of Spatial Planning introduced the report for this item. The Local Plan is the Council’s principal statutory planning document for the borough which: 

• Planning applications are determined in accordance with (unless material considerations indicate otherwise); 

• Sets out a positive spatial strategy for managing growth, development and land use; 

• Reflects and supports the Council’s broader corporate strategies and policies; and 

• Facilitates early and meaningful community engagement in the planning process. 

The following was noted in response to questions from the committee:

• Members raised a number of questions and observations regarding the Green and Blue Infrastructure chapter, particularly the protection and enhancement of the Moselle Brook. Concerns were raised about the ongoing issues associated with the culvert, including its potential contribution to the closure of Tottenham swimming pool and the collapse of the culvert on the High Road. Reference was also made to the improvements to the watercourse within Lordship Recreation Ground, and the importance of giving the Moselle Brook greater prominence within the Local Plan.
• In response, officers advised that significant feedback had been received from residents and community groups regarding the importance of the Moselle Brook. The Proposed Submission Local Plan therefore included an enhanced watercourses policy within the Green and Blue Infrastructure chapter, alongside additional references to opportunities for deculverting. These references had also been incorporated into the strategic policies for the neighbourhoods through which the Moselle Brook flowed, encouraging developers to explore opportunities to deculvert or, where this was not feasible, improve the condition of the watercourse. Officers explained that the Local Plan provided the framework for securing improvements through future development proposals and considered the policies to be robust. Relevant statutory consultees, including the Environment Agency and Thames Water, would also be consulted on planning applications where appropriate.
• In response to a question regarding the weight that could be afforded to the emerging Local Plan and the draft London Plan when determining individual planning applications, officers explained that this was dependent on the stage of preparation of the relevant plan, in accordance with the National Planning Policy Framework. The closer a plan was to adoption, the greater the weight that could be afforded to its policies, provided there were no outstanding objections. Officers confirmed that committee reports would identify the appropriate weight to be given to emerging policies and provide recommendations to Members accordingly. The draft London Plan, which had been published over the summer, was considered to carry very limited weight at that stage, given that it remained at an early stage of preparation and had yet to progress through consultation and examination.
• Members also queried the relationship between the Proposed Submission Local Plan and the emerging London Plan, particularly regarding the protection of employment land. Officers explained that the Council had prepared the Local Plan in general conformity with the adopted 2021 London Plan, while also seeking to align it with the emerging London Plan where possible. However, a key area of disagreement related to employment land, with the Council taking  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

There were no new items of urgent business.

To note the dates of future meetings:

2 February 2027

It was noted that the dates of the next meeting was 2^nd February.