Agenda item

(To receive a report by Andy Brooks (Commissioning Manager (Regeneration Programme)), which invites the Committee to consider and comment on the outcomes of the Utility Study)

The Committee received a report in connection with implementing the outcomes of the Utility Study which was commissioned by GLLEP, the County Council and other local authorities in greater Lincolnshire to ensure that utilities were capable of meeting the increased demand from infrastructure projects. Officers stated that some projects were stalling due to the shortage of energy provision and that no strategy was in place to address this shortage in the future. There was a need ford improve communication between utilities and businesses to avoid infrastructure problems in the future.

The Executive Councillor for Economy and Place stated that this was an important issue and that a long term view needed to be taken adding that Lincolnshire was the first local authority in the country to focus on utilities. He stated that a unified response was required to the Government from local authorities and business on this matter. He stated that the anaerobic plant at Hemswell was a good example of providing energy for local businesses and that these were the type of facilities required in the future.

Comments by the Committee and the responses of officers included:-

·         The cost to developers if there was no infrastructure was high.

·         Battery storage technology was improving all the time. The Executive Councillor for Economy and Place stated that battery storage was becoming important in Lincolnshire and added that more Government investment was required in infrastructure.

·         Water pressure on the east coast was a problem and it was suggested utilities should be consulted on appropriate planning applications. Officers agreed that it was important for utilities to be consulted on appropriate planning applications and there was a need to consider how utilities were involved in this process. Perhaps a "utilities champion" was required and to bring in an expert to consider how this matter was taken forward. Officers stated that a business case to the Government was important. There was a need to identify those areas where the Council could help and a mechanism needed to be in place to inform utilities of proposed development. Members were requested to notify officers of any problems in their own areas.

·         The Executive Councillor for Commercial and Environmental Management stated that it was unfortunate that top tier local authorities had lost their strategic planning role and emphasised the importance of the Joint Waste Management Strategy especially the conversion of waste to energy.

·         The planning process needed to consider the provision of broadband in rural areas.

·         The regional managers for the utility companies should be asked to attend a meeting of this Committee to respond to questions on utility infrastructure.

·         The Government should inform developers that local authorities would be given the power to instruct developers that they must proceed with development within a specified period of time otherwise they would be refused development permission. The Executive Councillor for Economy and Place agreed that this was an important point adding that more homes were needed. There was an opportunity to amend the National Planning Policy Framework as it was currently being consulted upon to ensure that more houses were built.

The Committee agreed that in addition to the recommendations in the report a letter should be sent to the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government and local MPs requesting legislation to ensure developers implemented planning permission for development within a specified period.

RESOLVED

(a) That the comments made by the Committee in connection with the strategic direction detailed in the report be noted.

(b) That the next steps in the action plan on utility provision be endorsed which include:-

·         Establishing a strong lobby for Greater Lincolnshire on utilities.

·         Making sure that good quality information is collected and given to organisations which needed to hold it.

·         Increasing the dialogue between businesses, planning organisations and utility providers

(c) That a letter be sent to the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government and local MPs requesting legislation to ensure that developers implemented planning permissions for development within a specified period.