Agenda and decisions

A copy of the records of the previous decisions taken at Cabinet on 28 November and 4 December 2023 are attached.

Purpose

To introduce the updated Local Development Scheme (LDS), which sets out the timetable for the preparation of development plan documents in Portsmouth.

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet resolve as the Local Planning Authority that the updated Local Development Scheme set out in Appendix 1 of this report is approved and to have effect from 10 January 2024.

Resolved as the Local Planning Authority that the updated Local Development Scheme set out in Appendix 1 of this report is approved and to have effect from 10 January 2024.

Local Development Scheme update

Please find an updated paragraph 4.5 of the report below:

'The main risk to the LDS and the preparation of the new Portsmouth Local Plan is national changes to the planning system.  As discussed in paragraph 3.5 above an updated National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) was published in December 2023 and set out key milestones by which local plans should be completed under the current system of plan making.  If the Portsmouth Local Plan were to miss these deadlines the City Council would need to start afresh under the new system, and this would inevitably be very costly.'

Purpose

To set out the response of officers to the Traffic, Environment and Community Safety Scrutiny Panel's recommendations arising from a review into reducing the use of pesticides on council land.

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet

1.    Thank the Panel for its work in undertaking the review and the resulting report, which further supports the Council's policy to continue to work towards minimising pesticide use on council owned land; and

2.    Notes the recommendations as set out in Appendix B to this report, together with the officer responses to the recommendations.

1.    Thanked the Panel for its work in undertaking the review and the resulting report, which further supports the Council's policy to continue to work towards minimising pesticide use on council owned land; and

2.    Noted the recommendations as set out in Appendix B to this report, together with the officer responses to the recommendations.

Purpose

To update Cabinet on the progress of the Portsmouth Enhanced Partnership and to seek approval for the Forward Plan.

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet

1.    Notes the progress of the Portsmouth Enhanced Partnership and Scheme;

2.    Approves the Portsmouth Enhanced Partnership Forward Plan;

3.    Delegates authority to the Assistant Director of Transport to make minor amendments to the plan.

1.    Noted the progress of the Portsmouth Enhanced Partnership and Scheme;

2.    Approved the Portsmouth Enhanced Partnership Forward Plan;

3.    Delegated authority to the Assistant Director of Transport to make minor amendments to the plan.

Purpose

To update Members on Portsmouth City Council's Regulatory Services' (RS) work to assist the Environment Agency with regard to the bathing water quality classification for the Southsea East beach area. Additionally, the multi-agency work carried out to date in respect to assessing and mitigating the decline in water quality experienced in the last few years, as reported in the previous Cabinet Report dated 25July 2023.

Noted the report which is for information only and is not subject to call-in.

“That, under the provisions of Section 100A of the Local Government Act, 1972 as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) Act, 1985, the press and public be excluded for the consideration of the following item on the grounds that the report(s) contain information defined as exempt in Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act, 1972”.

The public interest in maintaining the exemption must outweigh the public interest in disclosing the information.

Under the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) England Regulations 2012, regulation 5, the reasons for exemption of the listed item is shown below.

Members of the public may make representation as to why the item should be held in open session.  A statement of the Council’s response to representations received will be given at the meeting so that this can be taken into account when members decide whether or not to deal with the item under exempt business.

(NB    The exempt/confidential committee papers on the agenda will contain information which is commercially, legally or personally sensitive and should not be divulged to third parties.  Members are reminded of standing order restrictions on the disclosure of exempt information and are invited to return their exempt documentation to the Local Democracy Officer at the conclusion of the meeting for shredding.)

The confidentiality of Appendices B and C, relating to commercial matters, was upheld.

Purpose

To seek the authority of the Cabinet to proceed with a land swap of the sites known as 42 Flathouse Road, Portsmouth and the site known as The Lorry Park, Flathouse Road, Portsmouth.

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet

1.    Delegate authority to the Assistant Director of Regeneration and City Solicitor to finalise negotiations, prepare and complete all necessary documentation in order to undertake recommendation no.2 below subject to the S151 Officer approval of the Business Justification Case.

2.    Agree that the Freehold of the land (registered title HP468782) known as 42 Flathouse Road identified on the plan edged yellow at Appendix A, be acquired by the City Council for the consideration detailed in the confidential Appendix B.

3.    Agree that the Freehold of the land (registered title HP385570) known as (part of) The Lorry Park, Flathouse Road, edged red at Appendix A, be transferred to the vendor of HP468782 (above) as part of the exchange.

1.    Delegated authority to the Assistant Director of Regeneration and City Solicitor to finalise negotiations, prepare and complete all necessary documentation in order to undertake recommendation 2 below subject to the S151 Officer approval of the Business Justification Case.

2.    Agreed that the Freehold of the land (registered title HP468782) known as 42 Flathouse Road identified on the plan edged yellow at Appendix A, be acquired by the City Council for the consideration detailed in the confidential Appendix B.

3.    Agreed that the Freehold of the land (registered title HP385570) known as (part of) The Lorry Park, Flathouse Road, edged red at Appendix A, be transferred to the vendor of HP468782 (above) as part of the exchange.