Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence from those Members who are unable to attend the meeting.

Apologies were received on behalf of Jonathan Milner (Co-optee).

To approve the Minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 19^th July 2022.

RESOLVED – That the Minutes of the Meeting held on 19 July 2022 be approved as a correct record.

The Councillors will be asked to say if there are any items on the Agenda in which they have disclosable pecuniary interests, which would prevent them from participating in any discussion of the items or participating in any vote upon the items, or any other interests.

No interests were declared.

Most debates take place in public. This only changes when there is a need to consider certain issues, for instance, commercially sensitive information or details concerning an individual. You will be told at this point whether there are any items on the Agenda which are to be discussed in private.

It was noted that agenda item 13 would be considered in private session.

The Panel will receive any petitions and hear any deputations from members of the public. A deputation is where up to five people can attend the meeting and make a presentation on some particular issue of concern. A member of the public can also hand in a petition at the meeting but that petition should relate to something on which the body has powers and responsibilities.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10 (2), Members of the Public should provide at least 24 hours’ notice of presenting a deputation by emailing executive.governance@kirklees.gov.uk.

No deputations or petitions were received.

The Panel will hear any questions from the public.

No questions were asked.

The Panel will consider the work programme for the 2022/2023 municipal year.

The Panel considered the work programme for the 2022/23 municipal year.

The Panel noted some of the challenges in parts of Kirklees where bus services were being withdrawn due to bus companies going into administration, and requested that consideration be given to this when the Panel discussed the item ‘Update on Bus Stations / Future of Bus Patronage’.

RESOLVED –

1)    That the work programme for the 2022/23 municipal year be noted.

2)    That the October meeting of the Panel include a wider consideration of bus service withdrawals in the item ‘Update on Bus Stations’.

The Panel will note the outcomes of the public consultation on the Hot Food Takeaway SPD and proposed modifications to the document ahead of Cabinet 20 September 2022.

Contact:

Hannah Morrison, Senior Planning Officer - Planning Policy Group

The Panel considered the Hot Food Takeaway (HFT) Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPD) presented by Johanna Scrutton, Planning Policy Team Leader. Ms Scrutton was joined by Hannah Morrison, Senior Planning Officer, Lucy Wearmouth, Acting Head of Improving Population Health, Vicki Standnicki, Public Health Manager and Owen Richardson, Data and Insight Strategic Lead.

Ms Scrutton explained that the draft HFT SPD had previously been considered by the Panel, and the outcome of the public consultation and proposed modifications to the SPD were brought to the Panel for comment on before being considered at Cabinet.

Ms Scrutton shared a presentation which initially gave new members of the Panel an overview of the purpose and principles of the SPD as had previously been considered.  The presentation then gave a high-level overview of Kirklees Health facts as follows:

·       One in five (19%) adults ate fast food or takeaway meals at least once a week, and a further 64% ate fast food or takeaway meals sometimes but less than once a week.

·       Approximately one in four reception age children and one in three year six children had excess weight. Over half of all adults in Kirklees were overweight or obese.

·       Kirklees was ranked 87th most deprived area with a strong relationship between deprivation and childhood obesity. Obesity prevalence in the most deprived 10% of children was approximately twice that of the least deprived 10%.

·       There was a link between levels of deprivation and the proliferation of fast-food outlets. In Kirklees, the highest density of fast-food outlets was in the most deprived areas.

The Panel was advised that the public consultation on the draft document took place for a period of six weeks (Tuesday 9th November to Tuesday 21st December 2021). Prior to adoption of the SPD, a Statement of Consultation would be produced stating who the council consulted, a summary of main issues and how they were addressed.

Ms Scrutton informed the Panel that 25 comments from nine consultees had been received as was set out in Appendix 2 of the considered report.  A summary of the significant key issues requiring council response was set out within the report.

Ms Scrutton explained that the main objectors to some of the principles in the SPD were KFC and McDonalds and as a result, some minor changes had been made to the document. However, in most cases KFC and McDonalds were considered as restaurants under the Use Classes Order, therefore the SPD would not apply to them.  Ms Scrutton also advised that the representations made by these restaurants were of the same nature as received by other local authorities.

The Panel was informed that there were no blanket restrictions in relation to new applications, but each would be assessed with a toolkit.  In each case there would be opportunity to look at other material factors, balancing the economic support of the area with the health of the local community.

The Panel noted the presentation and the Chair invited questions from members.  The Panel welcomed the SPD and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

The Panel will consider the Draft Affordable Housing and Housing Mix SPD

Contact:
John Buddle, Team Leader Planning Policy

The Panel welcomed John Buddle, Team Leader – Policy and Planning Team to give a presentation to support the item Affordable Housing and Housing Mix Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPD). Mr Buddle was joined by Steven Wright, Planning Policy and Strategy  Group Leader and Mr Richardson.

Mr Buddle explained that he sought to give the Panel an early insight into the contents of the draft SPD document and also to provide information about the timeline for next steps and the public consultation.

The Panel was advised that the draft SPD provided guidance on the implementation of the Kirklees Local Plan Housing Mix and Affordable Housing Policy, which was appended to the report, and sought to ensure provision of affordable housing in new housing developments ensuring that the housing mix met local need.

The Panel noted that the SPD would be used as a material planning consideration when securing affordable housing as part of the determination of planning applications. 

Mr Buddle explained to the Panel that the draft SPD had been prepared with a view to consulting on it in Autumn 2022, with a Cabinet decision anticipated late 2022 or early 2023. The document had also been subject to critical friend review by Leeds City Council and the approach was viewed positively with minor suggested inclusions to reflect recent issues that Leeds had experienced.

Mr Buddle shared the presentations which gave further information as follows:

·       The draft SPD was subject to consultation but not an Examination in Public.

·       Kirklees would require 20% affordable housing on all qualifying developments of more than 10 dwellings.

·       The sub areas within Kirklees were (i) Batley and Spen, (ii) Dewsbury and Mirfield, (iii) Huddersfield North, (iv) Huddersfield South, (v) Kirklees Rural East and (vi) Kirklees Rural West.

·       Principle 1: Market Housing Mix (increased level of detail than the existing SPD).

·       Principle 2: Approach to affordable housing calculations (Existing SPD

refresh).

·       Principle 3: Affordable Housing types and Mix (increased level of detail

than existing SPD).

·       Principle 4: First Homes, Starter Homes and Discounted Market Sale (New section).

·       Principle 5: Design (Existing SPD refresh).

·       Principle 6: Affordable housing delivery (Existing SPD refresh).

·       Principle 7: Transfer Values (Existing SPD refresh and updating evidence).

·       Principle 8: Provision of affordable homes off-site (Existing SPD refresh).

·       Principle 9: Town Centres (New section to the SPD).

·       Principle 10: Huddersfield Town Centre (New section to the SPD)

·       Principle 11: Dewsbury Town Centre (New section to the SPD)

The Panel noted the presentation and the Chair invited questions from Members.  The Panel welcomed the finer detail that would appear within the draft SPD but felt that further clarity was needed around the concern, often voiced by residents, that the type of housing being built in a community was not necessarily the type of housing that was needed.

Mr Buddle explained that the local plan was the evidence basis on which further detail could be found around housing types for communities.  Mr Buddle also advised the Panel that a consultant had been employed who  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

The Panel will consider a presentation in respect of the Winter Maintenance Policy Review.

Contacts:
Mark Scar, Head of Highways

The Panel received a presentation on the Winter Maintenance Policy Review from Graham West, Service Director (Highways & Streetscene), Mark Scarr, Head of Highways and Nick Jenkin, Business Development Manager.

Councillor Will Simpson read a statement on behalf of Councillor Naheed Mather, Portfolio Holder - Environment in which she explained that the presentation reflected the considerations raised at a previous scrutiny meeting in September

2021 and highlighted where the policy or the supporting winter maintenance operational procedures had been updated to reflect those considerations.

Councillor Mather's statement advised that the presentation included the trialing of more volunteer groups to assist with snow clearance, the formalisation of the process for considering changes to existing winter maintenance routes and the formal confirmation of our resilient winter gritting network.

The statement informed the Panel that ensuring compliance with the Department for Transports Code of Practice for "Well-Managed Highway Infrastructure" had been a key consideration. Councillor Mather’s statement continued that officers believed the winter maintenance policy to be fit for purpose, albeit with some minor adjustments.

Councillor Mather concluded that she was supportive of the proposals and the minor updates to the policy proposed by the service.

Mr Scarr shared the presentation and provided an overview of the winter maintenance policy and the work of an officer Highways Working Group established to undertake the required review as follows:

•   The budget for winter maintenance had been increased from £1.2m to £1.Sm in 2021/22.

•   The comparison gritting lengths, treatments times and grit bin provision for the West Yorkshire area.

•   Kirklees had the shortest treatment time (on par with Leeds Council) •

•   Kirklees gritted a higher percentage of the carriageway network.

•   Kirklees had the highest number of grit bins on its untreated carriageway network.

•   The Local climate Change Impact Profile (LCLIP), noting more extreme and complex weather events with more frequent storms.

•   The trend for warmer winters with less frequent but more intense rainfall, and the anticipated decline in the number of snow events.

•   Recent service improvements including (i) automated grit bin process, (ii) extending winter standby by three weeks, (iii) effective social media communications and (iv) the review of the existing volunteer scheme.

•   The positive responses, photos and videos received relating to the 'Gritter Twitter' account.

•   The Snow Warden scheme including its aims.

•   The protocol and considerations for requesting changes to routes.

•   The approach relating to planning approval and winter maintenance provision from the Head of Planning and Highway Development Management.

•   The considerations in relation to the gritting of active travel routes.

Mr Scarr advised the Panel that in recent years Kirklees had seen some extreme weather events with one Saturday in February where Kirklees experienced flooding, high winds, and snow all at the same time. Mr Scarr advised the Panel that most days in May 2021 the service had to respond due to the icy conditions which was highly unusual.

Mr Jenkins showed the Panel the kit that would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

The Panel will consider a report setting out the outcomes of the Huddersfield District Energy Network Outline Business Case Study, the draft Cabinet report and proposed next steps ahead of Cabinet considering this issue on 20^th September 2022

Contacts:

John Atkinson, Group Leader – Energy and Climate Change

The Panel received a presentation by John Atkinson, Group Leader Energy and Climate Change in relation to the Huddersfield District Energy Network (HDEN). Mr Atkinson was joined by Katherine Armitage, Service Director, Environment Strategy and Climate Change and Rob Green, Environment Officer, Climate Change.

Councillor Will Simpson introduced the item by thanking the climate change team for the work completed in relation to the Climate Change Action Plan and the Environment Plan.

Cllr Simpson informed the Panel that the HDEN had been at the planning stage for some time, but in a short period of time, a huge amount of progress had been made.   He advised the Panel that the Department for Energy, Business and Industrial strategy had acknowledged the exciting opportunity the HDEN would bring.

Cllr Simpson explained that the project would maximise the benefit from Energy from Waste (EfW) and minimised the waste from it, contributing to the work the Council was making towards decarbonisation and ensuring the climate change objects were being met.

Cllr Simpson advised the Panel that ambitions were high, but the outcomes could not be delivered all at the same time, and the HDEN was a manageable project which could be built upon in the future.

Cllr Simpson read a statement from Councillor Naheed Mather, Portfolio Holder for Environment in which she explained that the HDEN project provided an excellent opportunity to reduce carbon emissions associated with our largest town and helped improve our future energy resilience, linked to how we processed waste in the district.

Cllr Mather advised that establishing a heat network would help ensure energy customers in Huddersfield had access to lower carbon and fair priced energy. Establishing the network as set out in the Outline Business Case was the first step, and that she intended to look at opportunities for how the network could expand and help Huddersfield further reduce its emissions for Council to address its priorities in future.

Cllr Mather continued that the project had been developed over several years and was supported by the Government's Heat Networks Delivery Unit.

Cllr Mather’s statement explained that she was pleased to support the initiative in terms of its ability to help achieve the Council’s climate goals and to achieve further co-benefits alongside the Waste Strategy.

Mr Atkinson then introduced the presentation to the Panel which gave information relating to the Outline Business Case and next steps for seeking Cabinet approval and implementation.

Mr Atkinson gave an overview of what a District Energy Network, also known as a Heat Network, was as follows:

·       A distribution system of insulated hot water pipes that took heat from a central source and delivered it to several buildings.

·       A long-lasting infrastructure to enable efficient delivery of heat and power from low carbon, renewable and recovered heat sources that otherwise could be used.

·       It was suited to urban areas where there was a sufficient density of energy demand.

Mr Atkinson then explained the strategic interdependencies in relation to the Strategic Case:

·       It contributed to the District’s  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

To resolve that under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of the Schedule 12A of the Act.

RESOLVED – That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the following item of business, on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information, as defined in Schedule 12A of the Act.

The above report (item 11) is accompanied by a private appendix in which commercially sensitive information is provided. The Appendix to this report is private in accordance with Schedule 12A Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006.

 It is considered that it would not be in the public interest to disclose the information included in the private appendix to the report as it contains information relating to the financial and business affairs of third parties (including the Authority holding that information). It is considered that the disclosure of the information would adversely affect those third parties including the Authority and therefore the public interest in maintaining the exemption, which would protect the rights of an individual or the Authority, outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information and providing greater openness and transparency in relation to public expenditure in the Authority’s decision making.

(The Panel will consider the private appendix in relation to agenda item 11).

     Contact: 

     John Atkinson, Group Leader – Energy and Climate Change

The Panel noted the exempt information, which was an appendix to Agenda Item 11.