Agenda item

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future agenda items 

The Development Manager shared his proposed Members Training Schedule from September:

• 29 September - Committee tour – followed by a debrief
• October – Biodiversity – request submitted to Place Services – 2.5 hour session
• November - SUDS and water infrastructure – request submitted to Tim Simmons – may require a second session
• Autumn – Regulation 18/Tilted balance – is a difficult message – PAS to deliver
• January – Heritage – bitesize session – don`t want Place Services to deliver
• February – Viability – to be delivered by an independent third party who is practising with the public and private sector
• March – Highways – bitesize session – run by Essex Highways

Councillor Freeman detailed a reputable viability specialist previously raised to the interim director. The Development Manager asked Councillor Freeman to forward the details to him.

The Development Manager detailed new Building Control regulations that come into practise 15 June 2022 which would also require training.

Councillor Freeman suggested using the Town and Country Planning Association to provide training.

Members discussed:

• the need for sustainability training
• the need to encourage as many attendees as possible at training sessions
• the need for design training, noting that PAS offer a self-taught training module

The Development Manager noted the need to ensure key Members are available for the training sessions.

Councillor Freeman said that Members have always avoided having an opinion on design due to it being subjective. He believed that this should change, alongside the implementation of enforced heat pump installation.

Councillor Loughlin questioned whether applications should be refused on design grounds. The Chair clarified that it was more to move towards input relating to design than refusing on design grounds.

The Development Manager agreed that there has been movement over the last twenty years and that design was now a consideration.

Councillor Freeman requested that planning presentations were sent to Members in advance of the meeting. The Development Manager agreed.

The Development Manager suggested that it might be necessary to arrange a further site tour. He agreed to circulate details to Members.