Agenda item

The sustainability documents can be viewed on the Council’s website by visiting www.scambs.gov.uk/meetings and following the links to the relevant Portfolio Holder meeting. 

The Portfolio Holder for Growth and Sustainable Communities AGREED

1.         that, subject to the Corporate Manager (Planning and Sustainable Communities) making some small terminological modifications as discussed at the meeting, the following documents be published for consultation:

·         Draft Public Art Supplementary Planning Document

·         Draft Development Affecting Conservation Areas Supplementary Planning Document

·         Draft Trees and Development Sites Supplementary Planning Document

·         Final Sustainability Reports for each of these three SPDs

·         Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report Addendums, where produced, for these SPDs.

2.         that consideration be given to the establishment of a Public Art Support Group.

The Portfolio Holder for Growth and Sustainable Communities considered a report seeking agreement for three Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) to be published for consultation, namely Public Art, Development affecting Conservation Areas, and Trees and Development Sites. 

In connection with public art, those present raised the following issues:

·                               The role of public art and the importance of local involvement

·                               The level of demand for public art from small communities, and the aspirations of parish councils – public art should provide a “landmark” with which communities could relate

·                               The perception of what constitutes public art

·                               The extent to which public art should add value and quality to a development and, perhaps, serve some other function as well, such as the enhancement of public buildings

·                               The percentage element of development costs allocated to public art

·                               Preferred options for conducting initial public consultation, and the appropriate stage during development for providing the public art element

·                               The possible use of money allocated for public art to grant aid local community groups such as amateur dramatic societies

·                               The possible opportunities in using developers’ contributions to “pump prime” more ambitious public art projects

·                               The ultimate aim should be to deliver the artistic development of communities

The Planning Policy Manager reminded those present that the provision of public art was not obligatory, but was something that the Council would seek to encourage, where appropriate.  It had to be associated with the development from which the money came as part of the projected capital cost

In connection with trees and development sites, the primary concern was to secure long-term maintenance while recognising the value of trees in their own right.

In connection with developments in conservation areas, the Portfolio Holder for Growth and Sustainable Communities agreed with the Planning Policy Manager that, subject to it being re-worded so as to avoid any public perception of pre-determination, the consultation document should be published as drafted.

The Portfolio Holder for Growth and Sustainable Communities AGREED

1.              that, subject to the Corporate Manager (Planning and Sustainable Communities) making some small terminological modifications as discussed at the meeting, the following documents be published for consultation:

o            Draft Public Art Supplementary Planning Document

o            Draft Development Affecting Conservation Areas Supplementary Planning Document

o            Draft Trees and Development Sites Supplementary Planning Document

o            Final Sustainability Reports for each of these three SPDs

o            Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report Addendums, where produced, for these SPDs.

2.              that consideration be given to the establishment of a Public Art Support Group.