Agenda item

The Committee received a report which provided an overview of the role of the Combined Authority in planning.

Reactive vs proactive comments in planning applications:

•         The Combined Authority was a non-statutory consultee on planning applications. This means that Local Planning Authorities are not required to consult us. This position is resource efficient as it allows us and partners to identify the circumstances where consulting us adds value. The CA provided two types of response, a view on alignment with policy and where funding for transport measures /infrastructure was sought. 

•         Applications were monitored and judgements made on which applications would provide an impact and therefore trigger the CA to provide a response.

•         The CA created a developer guide, an online tool that indicated the types of applications that the CA would engage on and scale of interventions that the CA might request as a result of a new development.

Developer leverage, their wants vs community needs in terms of transport link:

•         Historically, take up of the residential metro card scheme and wider incentive schemes had fallen short of expectations in some locations, so these were continually kept under review. Success rate figures could be provided outside of the meeting.

Progress of promised devolution planning powers:

•         Planning powers were included in the ‘minded to’ West Yorkshire devolution deal but due to the national reforms to the planning system these were not carried forward in the devolution Order. A letter from the Minister for Regional Growth and Local Government proposed that these powers (or equivalent) will be conferred ‘when the position is clearer.

•         There remained uncertainty around national planning reforms, and the government’s position on the role of Combined Authorities in strategic planning.

•         The CA responded to the partial National Planning Policy Framework consultation in the previous week.

•         There were currently 5 local plans and the CA’s role was to support those local plans in coming forward and ensuring that cross-boundary implications were considered.

Inclusive growth element and overlap with other policy areas:

•         The importance of inclusive growth running through all aspects of planning was emphasised, ensuring transport links, amenities and access must be considered.

•         The Spatial Priority Area work included looking at the most strategic  locations in our region where there was likely to be significant change,  infrastructure in these locations would need to be planned in a coordinated way.

•         The CA worked jointly with district partners and there were some areas of service provision that sat wholly with partners. The CA hoped that the funding being put together to do active work around Spatial Priority Areas would help to drive delivery in some locations with the CA playing a more active role in partnership with Local Authorities.

Active travel in planning applications:

•         Active travel such as cycling and walking infrastructure were included in the Combined Authority’s responses to planning applications where appropriate.

Assurance process:

•         In the last few years, internally and at all authorities across the UK the Assurance Processes had been strengthened. This included best practice. It was important the Assurance Process had a level of rigour which was not always popular as projects sometimes had to be brought through at pace.

•         When the authority became a CA there was a lot more devolved money responsibility from the government to ensure delivery of the ‘right’ projects efficiently and effectively. This also meant that it was imperative an efficient assurance process was in place.

•         Internally processes included an Appraisal Team which reviewed internal and partner projects/business cases against an intensive set of criteria. Commentary was also provided as to whether projects were good to move forwards for approval.

•         Every couple of weeks meetings took place reviewing projects that went through, (there had been 150 projects in January to March 2023 thus far), projects then found their way into committees.

Resolved: That the content of the report be noted, and the committee’s feedback be considered further.