Agenda and minutes

The opening prayer was read by the Vice-Chairman.

None.

The minutes of the meeting of Council held on 29 June were agreed as a correct record of the meeting.

Councillor Gibson declared a personal interest in item 7 as he is a West Sussex County Councillor for Imberhone Division.  Cllr Eggleston declared a personal interest in item 7 as he is the signatory to the letter of claim.

None.

The Chairman highlighted the Chairman’s Charity Fundraising Music Night taking place on October 20^th inviting all Members to help support the Kangaroos Fun Disability Clubs charity.

The Cabinet Member for Planning moved the item noting the document was being brought back to the Council for reaffirmation due to a technical matter. He advised that a resident had enquired whether the Members had been directed to read the papers relating to the recommendation on the Sites Allocation Development Plan Document on 29 June 2022, and that the relevant papers were not physically appended to the Council papers for that meeting.   He asked the Members to reaffirm the decision made by the Council on 29 June 2022 to adopt the Sites Allocation DPD.    He highlighted that Members were directed to the Sites Allocation DPD Sustainability Appraisal incorporating the Strategic Environmental Assessment  attached with the consultation response.  This was seconded by Councillor Ash-Edwards.

Councillor Eggleston proposed an amendment to the recommendations due to the way the adoption took place.  He highlighted that the Council had no powers to unadopt or change the Sites Allocation DPD, his amendment was to enable the Secretary of State to exercise his call-in powers regarding the Sites Allocation DPD.  He advised if he had not submitted the letter of claim, a local resident would have.  The amendment was seconded by Cllr Gibbs.

The amendment is as follows:

Council refers to the decision to adopt the Site Allocations Development Plan Document (“the Document”) on 29^th June 2022 and resolves that the Head of Regulatory Services writes to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities requesting that the Secretary exercises the powers available to him under s25 (a) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 to revoke the Document and that the letter, with reasons for the revocation, be sent no later than Tuesday 16^th August 2022.

Members discussed the location and types of houses being proposed in the district

which did not meet the local need, the lack of freedom for local authorities to decide on housing policy within their districts, the benefits of a five-year housing supply and the cost to the taxpayer of houses being developed on appeal as a result of not having a five-year land supply.

A Member commented that they did not support the current District Plan as it did not

deliver the sustainable development the district required.

A Member noted the amendment and comments made by Cllr Eggleston.  They expressed concern that the amendment was not a proportionate response considering the time taken to complete the Sites Allocation DPD.  He was content with the level of debate on the report on 29 June 2022, noting there are some contentious sites.

A Member indicated that he had now read the sustainability appraisal twice and went on to note the risks of unwanted development if we did not have a five-year land supply. He stated that the amendment would be a disservice to the residents of Mid Sussex.

A Member highlighted that the Planning Inspector talked of sustainability in robust terms in his report and reminded Members of the Council motto: [insert motto here  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.