Agenda, decisions and minutes

In accordance with the Council's Code of Conduct, councillors are reminded that it is a requirement to declare interests where appropriate.

No disclosures of interests were made.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Cabinet held on 5 October 2022.

The minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 5 October 2022 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Leader.

To answer any questions asked by the public which are relevant to the functions of the Cabinet.

Public Question Time will be concluded by the Chair when all questions have been answered or on the expiry of a period of 15 minutes, whichever is the earlier.

There were no questions from the public.

To consider any matters referred to the Cabinet (whether by a scrutiny committee or by the Council) and those for reconsideration in accordance with the provisions contained in the Scrutiny Procedure Rules, the Budget Procedure Rules and the Policy Framework Procedure Rules set out in Part 4 of the Council’s Constitution.

It was confirmed that no matters had been referred to the Cabinet for further consideration.

Planning and Economic Development Portfolio

To consider report PES/419 of the Head of Economy and Planning, which was referred to the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Commission on 31 October 2022.

RESOLVED

That the Cabinet:

a)         i)        agrees that the area outlined in red in Appendix A of report PES/419 is an area of special architectural or historical interest, the character of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance; and

ii)       designates the area outlined in red in Appendix A of report PES/419 as a conservation area pursuant to Section 69(1) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, to be known as the “Queens Square and The Broadway Conservation Area”;

b)         i)        agrees that the area outlined in red in Appendix B of report PES/419 is an area of special architectural or historical interest, the character of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance; and

ii)       designates the area outlined in red in Appendix B of report PES/419 as a conservation area pursuant to Section 69(1) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, to be known as the “Gossops Green Neighbourhood Centre Conservation Area”;

c)         i)        agrees that those parts of the existing High Street Conservation Area (as outlined by the dashed blue line but excluding the hatched areas in Appendix C of report PES/419) plus the additional adjacent areas (collectively the area outlined in red in Appendix C of report PES/419) is an area of special architectural or historical interest, the character of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance; and

ii)       agrees to vary the designation of the existing High Steet Conservation Area to the area outlined in red in Appendix C of report PES/419, pursuant to Section 69(1) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990;

d)         i)        agrees that the existing St Peter’s Conservation Area (as outlined by the dashed blue line in Appendix D of report PES/419) plus the additional adjacent areas (collectively the area outlined in red in Appendix D of report PES/419) is an area of special architectural or historical interest, the character of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance; and

          ii)       agrees to vary the designation of the existing St Peter’s Conservation Area to the area outlined in red in Appendix D of report PES/419, pursuant to Section 69(1) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990;

e)         delegates authorised to the Head of Economy and Planning to take such steps as necessary, on behalf of the Council as Local Planning Authority, to give notice of each of the above designations and amendments as required by legislation

(Generic Delegation 7 will be used to enact this recommendation).

Reasons for the Recommendations

Queens Square and The Broadway, Northgate (Appendix A of report PES/419) is considered an area of special architectural or historic interest due to its distinctive new town character.  Conservation Area designation will enable the Council as Planning Authority to work with developers / stakeholders / planning applicants to preserve / enhance Crawley’s New Town character as a real design asset to attract investment and  ...  view the full decision text for item 5.

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development presented report PES/419 of the Head of Economy and Planning on Proposals to Introduce New Conservation Areas and Change Existing Conservation Area Boundaries. The report requested to implement changes in respect of the designation of Conservation Areas within Crawley, further to consultant recommendations and public consultation, including: - The designation of two new Conservation Areas namely: Queens Square and The Broadway Conservation Area, and Gossops Green Neighbourhood Centre Conservation Area. It also proposed changes to the boundaries of the High Street and St Peter's Conservation Areas respectively. 

Councillor Nawaz also presented report PES/419a of the Head of Economy and Planning, which included a risk assessment on the proposed Conservation Areas. It was acknowledged that the suggestion of the risk assessment came from advice from the Overview and Scrutiny Commission. The Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development also presented the views of the Town Centre BID, who confirmed their support for the proposed new Queens Square and The Broadway Conservation Area.

Councillor T Belben presented the Overview and Scrutiny Commission’s comments on the report to the Cabinet following consideration of the matter at its meeting on 31 October 2022 including stating she was pleased that the Cabinet had accepted the Commission suggestions of seeking the clarification from the Town Centre BID’s status on their position on the proposal and on having before them a risk assessment on the proposals.

Councillors C Mullins spoke as part of the discussion on the report especially in relation to Gossops Green Neighbourhood Centre Conservation Area proposal, commenting that, it was recognising the good and important design principles of a ‘New Town’ and as it had worked well and should be acknowledged accordingly.

Councillor Jones commented with specific reference to the proposed Conversation Area for the Queens Square and The Broadway, stating that it wasn’t about protecting the worse aspects of the current Town Centre design, but it was about ensuring that the Council had the control of the development of the Town Centre going forward. The installation of that Conservation Area, would stop permitted development, meaning that redevelopment applications must go via the planning system and potentially the Planning Committee, which would ensure the Council’s control of how the Town Centre develops for the benefit of our residents. 

RESOLVED

That the Cabinet:

a)         i)        agrees that the area outlined in red in Appendix A to these minutes is an area of special architectural or historical interest, the character of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance; and

ii)       designates the area outlined in red in Appendix A to these minutes as a conservation area pursuant to Section 69(1) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, to be known as the “Queens Square and The Broadway Conservation Area”;

b)         i)        agrees that the area outlined in red in Appendix B to these minutes is an area of special architectural or historical interest, the character of which it  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Planning and Economic Development Portfolio

To consider report PES/420 of the Head of Economy and Planning.

RESOLVED

That the Cabinet:

a)         approves the proposed amendments to the allocation and governance of the CIL Neighbourhood Improvement Strand monies set out in sections 6 and 7 of report PES/420, subject to the outcome of a public engagement exercise.

b)         delegates authority to Head of Economy and Planning, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development to undertake a public engagement exercise on the proposed amendments to the allocation and governance of CIL Neighbourhood Improvement Strand monies, as set out in Sections 6 and 7 of report PES/420. 

(Generic Delegation 5 will be used to enact this recommendation).

c)         delegates authority to the Head of Economy and Planning, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development, to implement any procedural modifications to the CIL Neighbourhood Improvement Strand, including any minor amendments in response to the public engagement exercise.

(Generic Delegation 7 will be used to enact this recommendation).

Reasons for the Recommendations

To unlock more CIL funds to invest in infrastructure which brings clear community benefits at neighbourhood level and to ensure best practice for the ongoing distribution of the Neighbourhood Improvement Strand CIL monies, in line with government regulations.

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development presented report PES/420of the Head of Economy and Planning.  The report provided Cabinet with an update on the collection and administration of the Neighbourhood Improvement Strand - Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) monies, and to sought Cabinet approval for proposed amendments to the governance of the CIL Neighbourhood Improvement Strand (NIS). It was noted that the Council was holding approximately £440k of in NIS contributions and the proposed was spend those contributions through the implementation of a hybrid model. That would retain funding projects delivered by community organisations through the crowdfunding website and the remainder used to fund those infrastructure projects being delivered at a neighbourhood level.

RESOLVED

That the Cabinet:

a)         approves the proposed amendments to the allocation and governance of the CIL Neighbourhood Improvement Strand monies set out in sections 6 and 7 of report PES/420, subject to the outcome of a public engagement exercise.

b)         delegates authority to Head of Economy and Planning, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development to undertake a public engagement exercise on the proposed amendments to the allocation and governance of CIL Neighbourhood Improvement Strand monies, as set out in sections 6 and 7 of report PES/420. 

(Generic Delegation 5 will be used to enact this recommendation).

c)         delegates authority to the Head of Economy and Planning, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development, to implement any procedural modifications to the CIL Neighbourhood Improvement Strand, including any minor amendments in response to the public engagement exercise.

(Generic Delegation 7 will be used to enact this recommendation).

Reasons for the Recommendations

To unlock more CIL funds to invest in infrastructure which brings clear community benefits at neighbourhood level and to ensure best practice for the ongoing distribution of the Neighbourhood Improvement Strand CIL monies, in line with government regulations.