Issue - meetings

The report of the Director – Development and Economic Growth is attached.

It was RESOLVED that:

a)           the proposed revisions to the draft Low Carbon and Sustainable Design Supplementary Planning Document be supported;

b)           the adoption of the Low Carbon and Sustainable Design Supplementary Planning Document be approved; and

c)           the Director – Development and Economic Growth, be delegated authority, in consultation with the Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Planning and Housing, to make any necessary final minor textual, graphical, and presentational changes required to the SPD prior to publication.

The Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Planning and Housing, Councillor Upton presented the report of the Director – Development and Economic Growth, which outlined the Low Carbon and Sustainable Design Supplementary Planning Document (SPD). 

Councillor Upton advised that the purpose of the SPD was to provide guidance on how low carbon and sustainable design construction could be considered, to sign post people to best practice and to establish a check list for those submitting planning applications.  Cabinet was advised that Nottinghamshire councils had jointly prepared the template, with Rushcliffe adapting it to reflect local circumstances and the SPD would provide guidance on how to maximise energy conservation and minimise use.  Councillor Upton confirmed that the document had been scrutinised and approved by the cross party Local Development Framework Group and had been subject to extensive public consultation, and if adopted it would provide further guidance for the Local Plan Part 1.

In seconding the recommendation, Councillor Inglis considered that the document went along way to encourage and inspire planning guidance for low carbon and sustainable design construction, which was something that the Council could lead on by example through its recent major projects.  Cabinet was reminded that construction significantly contributed to CO2 emissions and global warming, and this document was addressing those global issues at a local level.  It would help to achieve the essential objective of reducing the Council’s carbon emissions to net zero by 2030.

Councillor Clarke reiterated previous comments regarding the immense importance of this document in both helping to reduce the impact on the environment and reducing carbon emissions and the need for this work to continue, both by setting a good example and encouraging residents and businesses to employ whatever means they could to contribute to carbon reduction.  

Councillor Brennan praised the author of the document and stated that it was very accessible and readable, and she could see it being put to good, practical use.

It was RESOLVED that:

a)           the proposed revisions to the draft Low Carbon and Sustainable Design Supplementary Planning Document be supported;

b)           the adoption of the Low Carbon and Sustainable Design Supplementary Planning Document be approved; and

c)           the Director – Development and Economic Growth, be delegated authority, in consultation with the Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Planning and Housing, to make any necessary final minor textual, graphical, and presentational changes required to the SPD prior to publication.