Agenda and minutes

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In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City and County of Swansea, the following interest was declared:

Councillor P Lloyd – Agenda Item 4 - New Supplementary Planning Guidance: Revised Gower AONB Design Guide (Consultation Draft) – Personal.

The Head of Planning and City Regeneration presented a report which provided Committee with a summary of the revised Gower AONB Design Guide and outlined a new version of the Design Guide which is intended to  replace the current adopted version, and sought approval from Members to undertake a  wide public and stakeholder consultation exercise on the proposed document.

Officers provided Committee with a detailed and comprehensive visual presentation on the revised document which included the following areas:

·       Introduction and reasons for the revised document;

·       Changes and updates in Planning Framework, Planning Policy Wales and Technical Advice since the initial document adopted;

·       Adoption of the Local Development Plan (LDP) in 2019;

·       Background and context to the proposed changes;

·       Development pressures in Gower;

·       Aims and objectives of the revised policy;

·       Main substantive changes to new document including adverts and advertising, residential chalet guidance and dark sky lighting;

·       Key issues and challenges

Following the extensive presentation, Members of the Committee asked questions regarding the revised SPG, officers responded accordingly.

Officers also outlined and detailed the proposed timescales for the consultation exercise that would include press & media coverage, targeted e mails, website, surveys, questionnaires and referred to the potential for face to face meetings and events which would have to be in line with any Covid 19 regulations.

Resolved that the draft SPG (as attached at Appendix A to the report) be approved for the purpose of public consultation and further stakeholder engagement.

The Head of Planning and City Regeneration presented a report which provided Committee with a summary of two new draft Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) documents relating to Development and Biodiversity & Trees and Woodlands & Hedgerows, and sought approval from Members to undertake a wide public and stakeholder consultation on the two documents.

Officers again provided Committee with a detailed and comprehensive visual presentation on both revised documents which included the following areas:

·       Introduction and reasons for the revised documents;

·       Background and context to the proposed changes;

·       Wide ranging changes to legislative framework in recent years;

·       Corporate commitments to nature and biodiversity;

·       Natural heritage and uniqueness of Gower;

·       80% of Swansea Council area is natural environment;

·       Main purposes of the SPGs and sequential approach to the four main aims of the documents;

·       Stepwise approach to biodiversity;

·       Public awareness of the importance of trees and their impact on the environment;

·       Main substantive changes to the two new documents;

·       Aims and objectives of the revised policies;

·       Key issues and challenges

Councillor P K Jones (Councillor Champion for Environment & Diversity) addressed the Committee and spoke in general support of the proposals and indicated that the Natural Environment Scrutiny Panel which he Chaired would review the two revised documents and take part in the consultation exercise.

Again following the extensive presentation, Members of the Committee asked various questions regarding the two revised SPGs, officers responded accordingly.

Officers again outlined and detailed the proposed timescales for the consultation exercise that would be similar to those outlined in the previous item.

Resolved that the two draft SPGs (as attached at Appendix A-C to the report) be approved for the purpose of public consultation and further stakeholder engagement.