Shadow Housing and Local Government Minister, and North Wales MS, Mark Isherwood, raised a number of issues regarding housing and planning in Flintshire in the Welsh Parliament yesterday – including concerns raised with him that Flintshire County Council is “closing down” its Local Development Plan (LDP) and reports of unauthorised developments.
Mr Isherwood raised the matters when questioning the Minister for Housing and Local Government, Julie James MS.
He also challenged her over the Welsh Government’s revised household projection figures.
Speaking remotely from his home in Flintshire, he said:
“Letters from you and your Department to Flintshire County Council over years state “I find it extremely disappointing that your Authority has submitted a further request to extend the time taken to prepare your Local Development Plan - LDP, especially in light of previous assurances”.
“The Local Authorities (Coronavirus) (Meetings) (Wales) Regulations 2020 make temporary provision for the conduct of local authority meetings safely, effectively and lawfully, while retaining the principles of openness and accountability.
“However, concerns have been expressed to me that Flintshire is, quote, ‘closing down its Plan’, and that although arrangements have been made to provide Councillors with briefing sessions on the LDP, and Members
have asked for the conclusion to the consultation on the Deposit version, they have been told that the contents and LDP statement are not for discussion - ‘and it appears that the Officers version will be all that is on the table’. What is your expectation in such circumstances?”
Questioning her over planning in Flintshire, he said:
“Letters sent by your Chief Planner to Local Authority Heads of Planning from 27th March provided guidance on how local planning authorities maintain services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“These stated “Those breaches of planning control which would merit the use of a stop notice or temporary stop notice require immediate attention from the local planning authority. Site visits in … such cases are essential travel” and “site visits, either in relation to posting site notices or for the purpose of assessing and analysing site conditions, including enforcement….cannot be undertaken from home so are a reasonable excuse to travel for the purpose of the Coronavirus Regulations…..carried out in compliance with the requirements of the Coronavirus Regulations”.
“How, therefore, do you respond to the several constituents in Flintshire who, having reported separate unauthorised developments, copied me on Council responses stating that ‘Within the planning service, officers were prevented from carrying site visits ….. to comply with Welsh Government guidance’, or making equivalent statements.”
The Minister said she was unable to address the matters raised during the Plenary Meeting, but would welcome a meeting with Mr Isherwood to go through specific concerns he raised.
Questioning the Minister on housing projection figures, he said:
“The Welsh Government’s recently revised household projection figures show a smaller rise in Flintshire than previously projected, and a fall in Wrexham, although the number of single parent households and single person households are still projected to increase in both.
“When I wrote asking you what effect this will have on the expected future housing build figures and types within local authority Local Development Plans, or LDPs, you replied:
“There is not a simple correlation between the Welsh Government’s household projections and local planning authorities’ housing requirements set out in Local Development Plans…… The projections should be considered alongside an authority’s latest assessment of the need for both market and affordable housing in their area”.
“However, Councils such as Wrexham and Denbighshire have previously been forced to include higher housing figures in their local development plans based on the Welsh Government’s preceding statistics.
“How, therefore, do you expect to see the new projections reflected in developing LDP revisions?
The Minister replied:
“The letter points out, Mark, it's neither a target nor a guide; it is based on the statistical projections that we have. And the local authorities have a set of guidance that they are supposed to take into account around local arrangements that they should put in place to develop their LDP.”