CONSERVATIVE GROUP AMENDMENT

PLANNING BY COMMITTEE, NOT BY GOVERNMENT

To amend the motion with the insertion of the final paragraph as shown below in bold italics.

That this Council notes supports the call of the Local Government Association to ‘Keep Planning Local’ with caveats and calls on the Chief Executive to write to Robert Jenrick, MP, welcoming the Planning White Paper, and the proposals for more homes and affordable ones to be built across the UK, but more importantly in Brighton & Hove and in the Greater Brighton area, whilst urging the Government to address flaws in the Government’s Planning White Paper heed the comments submitted in response to the White Paper and provide additional support for Local Planning Authorities, as follows:

1)   to consider reform of the Land Compensation Act of 1961, (as referenced in the 2018 Letwin Review of Build Outs) in order to which enshrines in law the right of landowners – in the case of compulsory purchase by the state – to be reimbursed not only for the value of their site in its current use but for any prospective use to which it might be put in the future, and prevent ‘land banking’ and ensure affordable housing provision [1];

2) to revise the 1961 Act, so that assessments of market value do not incorporate prospective planning permissions, would reframe incentives in the land market by enabling public authorities to acquire development sites at prices closer to its existing use value; and

3)   to look to provide additional support to local planning authorities to address the impact of long-term austerity cuts on local planning teams [2] and equip them with the resources needed to support local communities levers, tools and resources needed to support local communities including allowing them to have autonomy over planning fees they can charge.

4)   to remove the imposition of further ‘housing targets’ and ‘zonal’ plans that risk the status of green spaces in the city.

Proposed by: Cllr Miller                                       Seconded by: Cllr Bagaeen

Motion if carried to read:

That this Council notes the call of the Local Government Association to ‘Keep Planning Local’ with caveats and calls on the Chief Executive to write to Robert Jenrick, MP, welcoming the Planning White Paper, and the proposals for more homes and affordable ones to be built across the UK, but more importantly in Brighton & Hove and in the Greater Brighton area, whilst urging the Government to heed the comments submitted in response to the White Paper and provide additional support for Local Planning Authorities, as follows:

1)    to reform of the Land Compensation Act of 1961, which enshrines in law the right of landowners – in the case of compulsory purchase by the state – to be reimbursed not only for the value of their site in its current use but for any prospective use to which it might be put in the future, and prevent ‘land banking’ and ensure affordable housing provision [1];

2)    to revise the 1961 Act, so that assessments of market value do not incorporate prospective planning permissions, would reframe incentives in the land market by enabling public authorities to acquire development sites at prices closer to its existing use value; and

3)    to look to provide additional support to local planning authorities[2] and equip them with the levers, tools and resources needed to support local communities including allowing them to have autonomy over planning fees they can charge.