Agenda and minutes

Venue: via REMOTE VIDEO LINK

Contact: Email: committees@midsussex.gov.uk 

Items
No. Item

1.

Roll Call and Virtual Meeting Explanation.

Minutes:

The Chairman carried out a roll call to establish attendance at the meeting.  The Chairman proposed Cllr Marsh is elected as Vice-chairman for the meeting, this was agreed by a vote.  The Solicitor to the Council provided information on the format of the virtual meeting.

 

2.

To note Substitutes in Accordance with Council Procedure Rule 4 - Substitutes at Meetings of Committees etc.

Minutes:

Councillor Dabell substituted for Councillor Walker and Councillor Pulfer substituted for Councillor Cromie.

 

3.

To receive apologies for absence.

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Councillors Cromie and Walker.

 

4.

To receive Declarations of Interests from Members in respect of any matter on the Agenda.

Minutes:

Councillor Laband declared a non-prejudicial interest in item 7 as he is a Ward Member and Member of Haywards Heath Town Council. Councillor Pulfer declared a non-prejudicial interest in item 7 as he is a Member and the Leader of Haywards Heath Town Council. Councillor Bates declared a non-prejudicial interest in item 7 as he is a Member of  Haywards Heath Town Council. Tom Clark, Solicitor declared a non-prejudicial interest in item 7 as he owns a flat within the area identified on Haywards Heath Town Centre’s Master Plan.

 

5.

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting of the Scrutiny Committee for Housing, Planning and Economic Growth held on 22 October 2020. pdf icon PDF 218 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 22 October 2020 were agreed as a correct record.  These were electronically signed by the Chairman.  

 

6.

To consider any items that the Chairman agrees to take as urgent business.

Minutes:

None.

 

7.

Haywards Heath Town Centre Masterplan Supplementary Planning Document - Response to Consultation. pdf icon PDF 260 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Andrew Marsh, Business Unit Leader for Planning Policy introduced the report.  He reminded the Committee that they scrutinised the draft town centre Masterplan on 22 October 2020 prior to the public consultation held for six weeks from 9 November to 21 December 2020.  The report summarises the responses, the proposed changes to the Masterplan and the next steps prior to adoption.  He confirmed that the role of the Masterplan is to strengthen and build on the positive aspects of Haywards Heath Town Centre such as its strong sense of community, attractiveness and good links.  He reminded Members that the Masterplan is not the vehicle for making decisions on the future of specific sites, those decisions are taken elsewhere. However, the Masterplan will set the framework and planning principles should schemes come forward. In addition, the Masterplan is a useful tool to support growth and recovery and attract inward investment.

 

The Business Unit Leader noted that the public consultation was completed in accordance with the Statement of Community Involvement and 243 responses were received. This was a good level for a supplementary planning document by comparison to other SPDs. The interactive map also had a high level of engagement with 7,500 views. The majority of the comments were positive with strong agreement to proposals to support economic recovery and investment.  He noted that a number of the objections were to matters which were out of the scope of the Masterplan.

 

Judy Holmes, Assistant Chief Executive reminded the Members that the principles of the draft Haywards Heath Masterplan had been discussed and agreed at the previous meeting of this Committee and the purpose of the meeting was for the Committee to consider the responses and the proposed changes following the public consultation.  

 

The Chairman took the Committee through each section of Appendix 1, noting the number of responses, the way the respondents voted and the proposed changes to the Masterplan following consideration of the comments and the general support for the proposals.

 

Some Members expressed concern regarding the consultation arrangements, the lack of references to sustainable transport and aspirations towards climate change.  The Business Unit Leader advised that objective 3 would be amended to refer to Public Transport.  He reminded Members that climate change is a strategic matter and is not within the scope of the Masterplan.  He confirmed that map on page 31 was out of date in relation to Perrymount Road and would be updated.

 

Members discussed public realm and transport improvements for each location and expressed concern on traffic, parking, signage in the town, provision for cycling, pedestrianisation, speed limits and funding, usage of the relief road, car parking and the possible future provision of a multi storey or decked cark park at The Orchards.

 

The Business Unit Leader confirmed that some consultation responses related to matters outside the scope of the Masterplan.  Officers have engaged with WSCC and they will seek further information to make references to cycle improvements clearer. The draft Masterplan refers to enhanced town  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

8.

Scrutiny Committee for Housing, Planning and Economic Growth - Work Programme 2020/21. pdf icon PDF 190 KB

Minutes:

Tom  Clark, Head of  Regulatory  Services  introduced  the  Committee’s  Work

Programme. He noted that currently there was no business scheduled for the next meeting and this would be updated as appropriate.

 

RESOLVED

 

The Committee noted the Committee’s Work Programme as set out at paragraph 5 of the report.

 

9.

Questions pursuant to Council Procedure Rule 10.2 due notice of which has been given.

Minutes:

None.