The Principal Planning Officer (Policy) introduced the report which sought Members’ agreement to note the findings of a study that the Planning Policy team commissioned on the development of Net Zero Policy for Swale Borough Council. She said the study followed on from the Council’s net zero ambitions, as established in the Climate and Ecological Emergency Declaration and Action Plan, and the need for new development in the borough to be carbon neutral. The Principal Planning Officer (Policy) explained that the consultants worked for a number of local authorities on climate policy, and several local authorities that had received policy recommendations had adopted local plans with ambitious climate policies, using the approaches and more accurate metrics advocated in the study.  She added that the recommendations in the study had been tested by viability consultants.

The Principal Planning Officer (Policy) said Members had been involved in the policy choices, and she highlighted the workshop that took place for all Members in September 2024 where a steer towards the most ambitious, best practice, option was given as the path the local plan should follow. She said the policy recommendations set out the evidence base study had fed directly into policies C1-C5 in the draft Regulation 18 document which was the next item on the Agenda to be discussed. She acknowledged that whilst ambitious, the policies were considered robust and achievable and would enable new buildings in Swale to be truly net zero.

Members were invited to ask questions and make comments which included:

·         None of the new policies had yet been formally agreed by Members and felt uncomfortable they were included without indicating they were draft policies;

·         welcomed the draft policies put forward in draft ready for consultation but had concerns on Policy C5 District Heat Networks as they were not low carbon solutions and there were increased costs to residents;

·         pleased to see the draft policies;

·         would the viability report be updated to reflect any policies that were agreed?;

·         referred to the development management policies that were in the Regulation 19 from 2021 as the starting point and policy criteria tweaks that had been made since;

·         the climate change policies were new policies that needed to be tested through the viability update;

·         said the planting of trees in the borough was a natural way of reducing CO2 and was pleased that so many trees had been planted in the borough and encouraged more planting;

·         referred to page 300 in the Agenda, and asked whether the current Government stood by the statement made by the previous Government in 2023 on local efficiency standards?;

·         there needed to be proper in depth discussions by Members on new policies before it went out for consultation;

·         sought clarification on the route the new policies would take as Members had not had proper input;

·         raised concern over Policy C5 – renewable energy development and infrastructure, and the risk of where it might be located due to the generic wording in the policy;

·         needed to pay attention to Government legislation rather than a ministerial statement that had lacked clarity;

·         there had been previous Member debate that built into the policies and there needed to be a starting point policy to debate;

·         there had been many years of debate to include additional policies;

·         should be ambitious and bold in policies; and

·         commended officers for their work.

The Head of Place advised the new draft policies had not been ratified by Council. She said officers had used the evidence to develop the draft innovative policies and the start of the ratification commenced with the discussion at this meeting and for Members to agree or otherwise for the policies to go out to consultation. The Head of Place reminded Members they had the option to shape the policies in the way they desired and the policies set out should be seen as draft policies. In respect of Heat Networks, the Principal Planning Officer (Policy) agreed to discuss with the consultants who carried out the study about including reference to the end user affordability in using Heat Networks.

The Principal Planning Officer (Policy) advised the consultants had discussed the policy proposals with the viability consultants previously and would be engaging again for the update to the Regulation 19 consultation.  She confirmed that the statement made by the previous Government in 2023, still stood with the current Government and acknowledged there was a risk that policies might not be supported by Inspectors at Local Plan hearings. The Principal Planning Officer (Policy) said the discussions that took place at the workshop in the Summer of 2024 concluded that the Council should be ambitious when introducing new policies.

The Head of Place explained the process and said the purpose of the report was to note the evidence base. She drew attention that the final report on the agenda was the Regulation 18 consultation launch and Members would have the opportunity to comment on the policies within it and consider whether they were ready for consultation, make changes and recommendations, before moving on to look at the Regulation 18 consultation document as a whole which was where the new draft policies featured. The Planning Policy Manager added that Members had previously agreed that all evidence was uploaded onto the evidence-base part of the website, once noted by Members of the PTPWG.

Resolved:

(1)That the findings of the ‘Net Zero Policy Development’ evidence work be noted.