Members of the public who live or work in the district are invited to put one question or statement of not more than three minutes duration relating to items to be discussed in Part 1 of the agenda only. If a question is asked and answered within three minutes, the person who asked the question may ask a supplementary question that arises from the reply.
A person who wishes to speak must register at least 15 minutes before the time the meeting is scheduled to start. This can be done online by sending the request to democratic.services@westsuffolk.gov.uk or telephoning 01638 719237 or in person by telling the Committee Administrator present at the meeting. We would urge anyone who wishes to register to speak to notify Democratic Services by 9am on the day of the meeting so that advice can be given on the arrangements in place.
There is an overall time limit of 15 minutes for public speaking, which may be extended at the Chair’s discretion.
Minutes:
The following members of the public spoke under this agenda item in connection with Agenda Item 11 – Report number CAB/WS/22/053: Land at School Road (The Triangle), Great Barton: Draft Development Brief:
1. Councillor Maggie Dunn (Chair, Great Barton Parish Council)
Councillor Dunn addressed the Cabinet and referred to the history of the site in question, including the allocation within the Council’s Rural Vision 2031 document of 40 dwellings. The Parish Council were raising a number of concerns with regards to the content of this draft Development Brief, as it was considered that it did not deliver what was contained within the Great Barton Neighbourhood Plan for the development of this site, particularly with regards to the increased dwelling density and the reduction in land for community uses.
2. Elaine Read (Local Resident of Great Barton)
Elaine Read addressed the Cabinet in her capacity as a local resident of Great Barton resident and explained that she had only become aware of this issue when it had been reported in the local press and also discussed at the Great Barton Parish Council meeting on the evening on 17 October 2022. She also made reference to the site allocation within the Council’s Rural Vision 2031 document of 40 dwellings. She wished to ask the Cabinet why the Development Brief was proposing an increased housing density of up to 191 dwellings, when the Great Barton Neighbourhood Plan only had 150 dwellings allocated to this particular site.
In response, Councillor David Roach, Portfolio Holder for Planning acknowledged the concerns raised and further explained that the purpose of this report was to obtain agreement to undertake a consultation exercise within the local community with regards to the content of this draft Development Brief. Councillor Roach acknowledged the concerns raised around the increased site density and explained that the Planning Inspector had concluded that a higher quantum of development could come forward if it was demonstrated to be acceptable within a Development Brief. The final version of the Great Barton Neighbourhood Plan had been worded in such a way that it allowed for a higher amount of residential development, if a Development Brief demonstrated that a greater amount of development was acceptable.
Councillor Roach acknowledged that the draft Development brief had delivered all the aspirations of the Great Barton Neighbourhood Plan, except for the 2 hectares of community use space and a community building. However, the draft Brief did demonstrate 1.71 hectares of community use space. Additionally, the development would also deliver a serviced plot for a community building that could be delivered by other funding in the future.
In conclusion, Councillor Roach also wished to stress that the Development Brief, as set out within the agenda papers for approval this evening, was not the final version and that the comments/responses received from the consultation would assist with the formation of the final version of the Brief for adoption.
The Chair thanked the members of the public for addressing the Cabinet and noted the points which had been raised.
At this point in the meeting, the Chair changed the order of the agenda so that Item 11 (Land at School Road (The Triangle), Great Barton: Draft Development Brief) would be the next item of business to be considered.