25 July 2012 - East Devon District Council

*27 Motion 1 – Housing and strategic planning (continued)
26
Meeting of the Council, 25 July 2012
Councillor Mark Williamson thanked the proposer and seconder and said that the
issue raised was appropriate and timely. He said that future windfalls could not be
predicted. He proposed an amendment to the wording of the first paragraph:
“This Council believes that it should have the ability, subject to qualified
independent assessment, to decide the number of homes to be provided within its
boundaries as part of the strategic planning process”.
The amendment was seconded by Councillor Alan Dent who emphasised the
need for new homes in the district to meet local need. He said that growth figures
were an estimate which would be reviewed and up-dated over time. The Portfolio
Holder for Sustainable Homes and Communities referred to the housing shortfall
and the need for affordable homes to achieve balanced communities.
RESOLVED (1) that this Council believes that it should have the ability,
subject to qualified independent assessment to decide the
number of homes to be provided within its boundaries as
part of the strategic planning process;
(2) that key factors to be considered in arriving at the
appropriate level of housing provision include local need,
the views of residents of East Devon, and the
environmental, infrastructure and other constraints;
(3) that due to this Council‟s concern that windfall developments
can distort the agreed housing allocation, this Council calls
on Government to change the guidance to Councils
producing Local Plans so that windfall developments can be
included in the overall housing allocations, rather than
additional to the housing allocations.
*28 Motion 2 – East Devon Business Forum
The following motion (in the names of Councillors Derek Button, Geoff
Chamberlain, Roger Giles, Ben Ingham and Claire Wright), was proposed by
Councillor Claire Wright and Seconded by Councillor Ben Ingham:
“This Council recognises the need for fair and independent representation from
businesses in the district.
It also recognises that East Devon Business Forum has among its members, a
high proportion of major landowners and developers. This has prompted concern
among members of the public and business community, that the Forum is neither
independent nor representative of business in East Devon.
In addition, Council budgets have been slashed by 30 per cent and we are in a
time of financial austerity.
For these reasons this Council will now withdraw financial, officer and
administrative support from East Devon Business Forum, with the aim of
encouraging the evolution of an independent, representative, self-financing body,
managed by a chairman, independent of this Council.”