Agenda

Delegated planning decisions for the week beginning 19 August 2024 are attached.  Contact for enquiries: Jean McPherson, Group Manager (Development Management) on jean.mcpherson@crawley.gov.uk.

The following documents are attached in relation to Temporary Traffic Regulation Orders:

·        List of Temporary Traffic Regulation Orders.

·        Celandine Close, Broadfield (Appendix A).

·        Pelham Drive & Creasys Drive, Broadfield (Appendix B).

·        Durham Close, Tilgate (Appendix C).

·        Bucksmans Road, West Green (Appendix D).

Under the Business and Planning Act 2020, as amended by the Levelling-Up and Regeneration Act 2023, from 31 March 2024, the Council assumed permanent responsibility for the placement of articles on the Highway.  This includes tables, chairs, dispense points and other temporary items, but excludes A Boards.

At its meeting in August 2024, the Licensing Committee considered the report HCS/081 report of the Head of Community Services in relation to the Council's approach to Pavement Licences under the Business and Planning Act 2020 as amended by the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023.  At that meeting, the Licensing Committee determined as follows:

a)        Agreed that where it is appropriate to grant a Pavement Licence, that it is ordinarily granted for a period of two years.

b)       Amended the Pavement Licence Policy as included at Appendix A to report HCS/081 (with the exception of the figures in paragraph 3.2), subject to delegating the final decision on the fees outlined in the policy to the Head of Community Services (in consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holder and the Chair of the Licensing Committee), subject to the considerations raised at the Committee meeting on 5 August 2024, such as the size of the business and the benefit derived from the licence to be issued.

Work was undertaken by the Council's Licensing Service following the above decision and delegation, with a view to determining the fees and charges levied in respect of pavement licences under the Business and Planning Act 2020, as amended by the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023.

The application process for a Pavement Licence is enshrined and broadly prescribed in legislation, however there are elements within the process which the Council may determine locally, this includes the setting of application fees, the period of time that a licence will have effect and conditions appended to licences which must be complied with.

The 2020 and 2023 Acts prescribe the overall statutory framework and the processes that must be followed when applying for, processing, or enforcing a Pavement Licence matter.  A summary of the key steps in the application process is outlined below.  Application – An application must be made in writing and in such form as the Council may specify (currently online).  It must include certain information such as specifying the premises and the part of the relevant highway to which the application relates.  It must include measurements of the proposed area, the days of the week and times when furniture is proposed to be sited, a description of the furniture proposed to be sited and the method by which the area will be delineated, including images of items   Supporting Documentation – A current Public Liability Insurance Certificate confirming that at least £5 million of cover is in place.  In addition, the Council requires that a plan clearly delineating the extent of the proposed licensed area is provided, and includes any proposed layout and structures be noted on the plan.  Publishing/ Advertising – It is a requirement that the Council publishes  ...  view the full agenda text for item 3.

Local Planning Authorities are required by the Local Plan Regulations 2012 to publish a report from time to time, known as an Authority Monitoring Report (AMR) detailing performance in the preparation and implementation of local planning policies.

They are required to describe:

·        Progress made with documents detailed in the Council’s Local Development Scheme (LDS).

·        Performance in the implementation of local planning policies, including identifying policies which have not been implemented and potential causes of/ solutions to non-implementation.

·        Details of any Neighbourhood Plans or Neighbourhood Development Orders made.

·        Details of Community Infrastructure Levy income and expenditure.

·        Details of co-operation undertaken with other councils/bodies in line with the Duty to Cooperate set out in section 110 of the Localism Act 2011.

In addition to these the Report details progress in relation to various indicators linked to the Sustainability Objectives set out in the Local Plan Sustainability Appraisal (SA), and sets out headline information related to the Council's Self-Build and Custom Housebuilding Register.

Publication of the Report fulfils the legal reporting requirements, as well as reinforcing the evidence base for existing and emerging local plan policies.  The Report includes an updated picture of recent and anticipated housing delivery in the Borough, and sets out that as of April 2023 the Council was compliant with the requirement under national housing policy to identify a 5-year supply of deliverable housing sites.  The report also provides an update regarding the Council's approach in respect of the Biodiversity Duty set out in the Environment Act 2021, confirming that the CBC Biodiversity Duty Report has been reviewed and found not to require updating.

Therefore, on 27 August 2024 the Head of Economy and Planning, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development, approved the Authority’s Monitoring Report.  Once published, the Report will be available on the Council’s website.

Press releases are available at www.crawley.gov.uk/news.