Council and democracy

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room 1, Civic Offices, New Road, Grays, Essex, RM17 6SL. View directions

Contact: Charlotte Raper, Senior Democratic Services Officer  Email: Direct.Democracy@thurrock.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 93 KB

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Planning, Transport, Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny Committeemeeting held on 7 March 2017.

 

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting of the Planning, Transport and Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 7 March 2017 were approved as a correct record.

2.

Items of Urgent Business

To receive additional items that the Chair is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency, in accordance with Section 100B (4) (b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

Minutes:

There were no items of urgent business.

3.

Declaration of Interests

Minutes:

Councillor Piccolo declared a Non-Pecuniary Interest regarding Item 5: Thurrock Design Guide - Residential Alteration and Extension Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) in that he was a member of the Planning Committee.

 

Councillor Kelly also declared a Non-Pecuniary Interest regarding Item 5: Thurrock Design Guide - Residential Alteration and Extension Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) as he was the Chair of the Planning Committee.

 

The Chair advised Members that he had received a request to amend the order of items on the agenda.  Item 8: Integrated Medical Centre Delivery Plan – Phase 1 would be heard first and the remaining items would follow as per the agenda.

 

4.

Integrated Medical Centre Delivery Plan - Phase 1 pdf icon PDF 104 KB

Minutes:

The Corporate Director of Adults, Housing and Health introduced the report which outlined plans for the development of an Integrated Medical Centre (IMC) in Tilbury to address the health needs in the area and improve the quality and capacity of primary care.  The report also provided further detail on the proposed model of care and the delivery mechanism for the capital build project.  Members were asked to consider and comment on the exciting opportunity, before the report being presented at Cabinet the following week.

 

The Chair asked whether the new IMC would include a Minor Injuries unit.  The Corporate Director of Adults, Housing and Health outlined that there were hopes for 4 IMCs across Thurrock.  While it would be unlikely that all 4 would facilitate Minor Injuries units 1 or 2 would.  The unit(s) would be commissioned and delivered by the NHS and therefore he could not yet advise which site(s) would be selected.

 

The Cabinet Member for Regeneration assured the Committee that Basildon Hospital and all the NHS partners had signed a Memorandum of Understanding that services provided at present would not change until these IMCs were in place so there would be no loss of care in Thurrock.  It was hoped that services such as Minor Injuries units and renal dialysis might be provided at some of the IMCs.  The exact outcomes were subject to the consultation currently underway but the aim was to ensure services were more viable for both the Council and patients and it was an opportunity to ensure the best possible outcomes for Thurrock.

 

Councillor Smith highlighted the problem Thurrock faced around retention of GPs and urged for one of the IMCs to be designated as a GP training practice to encourage trainee GPs into the borough where they might settle, to the betterment of Thurrock.  The Committee heard that the Council could influence plans but could not directly control as delivery would be controlled by the NHS, however the CCG had aspired to something similar for some time.  The landscape of primary care in Thurrock was currently not in good shape and this made recruiting GPs tough.

 

Councillor Piccolo queried the business case process and the impact that might have on the timeframe for the IMC to be delivered.  There would be 2 separate business cases, one for Cabinet to borrow money to build the centre and a separate NHS business case for service delivery.  The NHS business case process was very complicated but there had been assurances that it would be a 1-stage process for the commissioning of primary care.  While there were hopes for 4 IMCs across Thurrock, the scheme for Tilbury stood alone and would be considered on its own merit.  The IMC in Tilbury had been planned regardless of consultations around plans for Orsett hospital; however the opportunities resulting from the current consultation would be an added dimension.

 

The Chair echoed the need for something to be done in Tilbury which was, at present, 8 GPs short.  He wished  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

5.

Thurrock Design Guide - Residential Alteration and Extension Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) pdf icon PDF 72 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Assistant Director of Planning and Growth presented the report.  The Residential Alteration and Extension Supplementary Planning Document was the first in a series of supporting documents to the Council’s overarching Design Guide.  Members were asked to comment on the document and the consultation process before it was presented to Cabinet.

 

Councillor Smith referred to recent events and, although not directly linked to the Design Guide, expressed his desire for Thurrock Council to be absolutely forensic with regards to matters of fire safety with applications for residential alterations.  Members were advised that the matter was not covered by this document nor within the remit of Thurrock Council as a Planning Authority.  It was a matter for the Fire Authority and Building Regulations.

 

Councillor Kelly asked what improvements the changes offered and whether planning applications submitted might be stronger as a result.  The Assistant Director of Planning and Growth clarified that the document offered no changes to the existing policy.  It was a supporting document, which provided a greater level of detail and would therefore strengthen the Council’s hand if refused applications were appealed.  He emphasised that the Design Guide did not try to constrain applicants but to stimulate imaginative design, particularly as Thurrock was such a diverse borough. 

 

Councillor Piccolo referred to the consultation responses and noted that the large majority were from agents.  He asked how the Planning Department proposed to get more input from draftsmen etc., who the guide was intended to assist most.  He suggested the possibility of contacting previous applicants to ask whether they would have found the guide useful.  Members were advised that the top 20-30 agents to submit applications on behalf of Thurrock residents had been contacted and bespoke meetings had been held to obtain their views on the matter.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That Members note the current status and progress on the production and adoption of the RAE Design Guide and provide comments on the consultation process that will inform the production of the final document.

 

 

6.

Grays Master Plan pdf icon PDF 95 KB

Minutes:

The Chair advised Members that the Cabinet Member for Regeneration was present to contribute to both this item and item 7: Tilbury Master Planning.

 

The Assistant Director of Planning and Growth introduced the report which reviewed the progress already achieved and highlighted opportunities within Grays which prompted the outlined approach proposed for a new masterplan.

 

The Cabinet Member for Regeneration emphasised that there had been no major changes to the masterplan which had been agreed at Full Council under the previous Administration.  This update was simply to refresh and bring the masterplan back to the forefront of people’s minds to ensure the positive momentum was not lost.

 

The Chair sought confirmation that the State Cinema would still be renovated by JD Wetherspoon.  It was confirmed that a planning application was expected in the summer.

 

Councillor Kelly asked whether it would be the entire building or merely a part which would be renovated.  The whole building would be renovated, though obviously some areas would not be open to the public and would be used for back of house purposes.  There were currently talks with English Heritage as how best to use the stage area, but there was confidence since JD Wetherspoon had converted a number of historical buildings previously.  The Chair welcomed the restoration of the State given its current state of disrepair.

 

Councillor Gerrish welcomed the refresh.  He highlighted the major issue of transport links, particularly around 2-way working in the town centre.  He also asked whether the shopping centre and adjoining multi-storey car park were being explored.  The Cabinet Member for Regeneration advised that these issues needed to be considered moving forward.  With regards to transport issues and cultural opportunities, there was the offering of an entertainment centre and the currently under-utilised car park would have to be assessed.  The masterplan would allow developers to see what the Council intended for the regeneration of Grays. The Assistant Director of Planning and Growth interjected that the whole town centre, particularly Crown House and the multi-storey, should be assessed to see if they could be made into more attractive landmarks.  The shopping centre itself was, at present, very low-scale and there was scope to build upwards.

 

The Chair enquired as to future plans for the Thameside Theatre. The Cabinet Member for Regeneration assured the Committee that this fell into the category of cultural and civic activities and was considered within the masterplan.  The plan under the previous Administration had been to relocate onto the shorefront and it was agreed that this should not change.  The plan for the regeneration of much of Thurrock involved opening up to face towards the Thames, with waterways and cycle ways.  These long-term aims had not changed.

 

Councillor Piccolo noted that within the shopping precinct ‘Savers’ had upsized.  This was a positive sign as businesses would not locate to a bigger store if they did not have faith that there was business to sustain it.

 

Councillor Smith added that there needed to be a major review  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.

Tilbury Master Planning pdf icon PDF 86 KB

Minutes:

The Assistant Director of Planning and Growth introduced the report which reviewed the progress already achieved and highlighted opportunities within Tilbury which prompted the outlined approach proposed for a new masterplan.

 

The Cabinet Member for Regeneration outlined that the key difference between masterplans for Grays and Tilbury were that the vision for Grays was easily seen however Tilbury had seemingly had things done to it with no real connectivity.  There was a need for a wider vision and investment.  Given the huge opportunities presented to Tilbury this was a chance to ensure Tilbury got what it needed, otherwise it could have a largely negative impact if not done properly. 

 

The Chair referred to section 2.1 of the report.  In his view the most important aspect was for Tilbury to be a place where people were healthy and the possibility of a green lung could prove very special.  He also hoped that the local MPs would join Thurrock Council in continuing to lobby the Government to reconsider the proposed route of the Lower Thames Crossing.  While there were clearly benefits from a number of the opportunities coming forward, such as employment, the overall impact these would have on Tilbury were not too clear.  He feared the Asda roundabout would reach its maximum capacity.  He welcomed Tilbury 2 using rail to keep freight off the road networks.  The Cabinet Member for Regeneration highlighted that a key issue was to consider how individually and collectively these major developments would impact Tilbury, particularly the road networks.  This was an issue for all Members, not just the Councillors for Tilbury wards and the masterplan would be crucial for transport and logistics.

 

Councillor Gerrish welcomed the focus on Tilbury but stressed the importance of including the community so they did not feel these were simply more changes being imposed upon Tilbury.  He queried the breadth of the Estate Regeneration proposed in section 3.7 of the report and plans to involve the community.  Estate Regeneration was critical for Tilbury; it was quite deprived and out of the way.  Tilbury was somewhere you had to have a reason to go to.  However it was understandable that residents wished to stay in their houses and therefore the regeneration would need to be handled delicately, with resident engagement throughout.

 

Councillor Kelly referred to the Lower Thames Crossing and the possibility of Tilbury 2.  He asked whether the possibility of a relief road could be seriously considered.  He also expressed concern regarding the increased rail movements; while it was preferable to avoid adding to congestion on the road networks he was concerned about the impact it would have along the line, such as Stanford-le-Hope and Purfleet.  The Assistant Director of Planning and Growth agreed the increased rail movements were a concern as the network was strained already however it was preferable to road movements.  If both developments went ahead it would be logical to relieve the pressure on the Asda roundabout by rerouting traffic to a separate junction.  The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

8.

Work Programme pdf icon PDF 47 KB

Minutes:

Members were asked if they wished to propose any additions or amendments to the Work Programme.

 

Councillor Smith suggested inviting Purfleet Centre Regeneration Ltd to the Committee.

 

Councillor Gerrish requested an item surrounding the “Fill it” aspect of “Clean it, Cut it, Fill it” to be brought before the Committee.

 

Councillor Piccolo noted that the Agenda for the meeting to be held on 12 September 2017 was very full.  Officers agreed to discuss whether any reports could be postponed to a later meeting and the Members would be advised outside of the meeting.