Agenda item - Chair's Communications

3.1      Welcome everyone to today’s non-special meeting of Planning Committee. As you may know, we have had two special meetings over recent months, dealing with the outline application for the development at Toad’s Hole Valley. I am pleased to be able to report that, following Committee’s decision a fortnight ago to grant the duplicate application, the developers have withdrawn their appeal for non-determination of the original application, meaning the public inquiry, which was due to start tomorrow, has been cancelled.

Although a significant step forward has been taken on this project, there are likely to be many more to come. We can now look forward to receiving one or more detailed applications, and, perhaps, further variations to the outline application.

I was asked at the last ordinary meeting by Councillor Moonan and Councillor Shanks in regard to policy on affordable housing, in particularly in relation to Brighton and Hove City Council taking on affordable housing where other registered providers were not prepared to do so, and item A relates to this, which is why it was asked to be put back from last time. I have received a message stating that a review has been undertaken by the cross party Housing Supply Board and they have identified the need to increase the housing supply as a high priority other the coming months. A review of the business plan and criteria and financial modelling for achieving additional council housing was endorsed at the last Housing Member Supply Board and this in conjunction with strategic housing needs assessment will lead to a long term approach which could imbed a more buying of properties into the business plan. Fundamentally the co-chairs of TECC and Housing committee have been made aware of this committee’s fervent desire for the council to be more pro-active in taking up smaller quantities of affordable housing on the sites coming to this committee and has been taken up with the Housing committee Members.

Other than that, this being the first meeting since Annual Council, I can announce a change to the Committee’s makeup. As a result of Cllr Mary Mears’ current ill-health, Cllr Bridget Fishleigh has decided to stand down from the Committee in order to concentrate on work on behalf of residents in the ward she shares with Cllr Mears. We wish Cllr Mears a speedy recovery and thank Cllr Fishleigh for her contribution to this committee over the last three years.

In line with proportionality rules, Cllr Fishleigh’s seat has been given to the Green Group of Councillors, and I am delighted to announce that Cllr Elaine Hills will be joining us. Cllr Hills cannot be with us today, as she is still reorganising her weekly schedule to accommodate Wednesday afternoon meetings. Councillor Philips was to substitute however, they were not available.