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Basingstoke & Dean Borough Council
Councillors: 54
Wards: 18
Committees: 22
Meetings (2025): 67
Meetings (2024): 72

Meeting

Environment and Infrastructure Committee - Basingstoke & Dean

Meeting Times
Scheduled Time
Start:
Thursday, 3rd October 2024
6:30 PM
End:
Thursday, 3rd October 2024
10:30 PM
Meeting Status
Status:
Confirmed
Date:
03 Oct 2024
Location:
Committee Rooms 1 & 2 - Deanes
Meeting Attendees
Councillor Gary Watts photo
Chair
Councillor Gary Watts

Labour

Present, as expected

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Councillor Chloe Ashfield photo
Committee Member
Councillor Chloe Ashfield

Basingstoke & Deane Independent Group

Apologies, sent representative

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Councillor Sean Dillow photo
Committee Member
Councillor Sean Dillow

Conservative

Present, as expected

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Councillor Michael Howard-Sorrell photo
Committee Member
Chair of the Investigating and Disciplinary and Standards Appeals Committee
Councillor Michael Howard-Sorrell

Green

Present, as expected

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Councillor David McIntyre photo
Committee Member
Councillor David McIntyre

Conservative

Present, as expected

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Councillor Paul Miller photo
Committee Member
Councillor Paul Miller

Conservative

Present, as expected

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Councillor Jo Slimin photo
Committee Member
Councillor Jo Slimin

Liberal Democrat

Present, as expected

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Councillor Kate Tuck photo
Committee Member
Councillor Kate Tuck

Independent Member

Present, as expected

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Councillor Samuel Carr photo
Reserve
Councillor Samuel Carr

Conservative

Not required

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Councillor Jenny Vaux photo
Reserve
Councillor Jenny Vaux

Conservative

Not required

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Councillor Mike Bound photo
Reserve
Councillor Mike Bound

Liberal Democrat

Not required

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Councillor Hayley Eachus photo
Reserve
Councillor Hayley Eachus

Conservative

Not required

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Councillor Ronald Hussey photo
Reserve
Councillor Ronald Hussey

Liberal Democrat

Not required

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Councillor Abdel Ibrahim photo
Reserve
Leader of the Labour Group
Councillor Abdel Ibrahim

Labour

Not required

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Councillor Alex Lee photo
Reserve
Councillor Alex Lee

Labour

Not required

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Councillor Karen Watts photo
Reserve
Councillor Karen Watts

Basingstoke & Deane Independent Group

Present, as substitute

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Councillor Paul Harvey photo
Committee Member
Leader
Councillor Paul Harvey

Basingstoke & Deane Independent Group

In attendance

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Councillor Kevin Chatburn photo
Committee Member
Councillor Kevin Chatburn

Liberal Democrat

Present, as expected

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Councillor Julie Harper photo
Committee Member
Councillor Julie Harper

Labour

Present, as expected

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Councillor Sheena Grassi photo
Reserve
Councillor Sheena Grassi

Independent Member

Not required

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Councillor Jonathan Jenkin photo
Reserve
Councillor Jonathan Jenkin

Green

Not required

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Councillor Andy Konieczko photo
Committee Member
Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Infrastructure
Councillor Andy Konieczko

Liberal Democrat

In attendance

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Councillor Colin Phillimore photo
Committee Member
Mayor
Councillor Colin Phillimore

Basingstoke & Deane Independent Group

In attendance

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Secretary
Ellie Cole

Expected

Officer
Communications

Expected

Agenda
1 Apologies for absence and substitutions
Minutes Councillor Ashfield was replaced by Councillor K Watts.
2 Declarations of interest
Minutes There were no declarations of interest.
3 Urgent matters
To consider any items of business, other than those shown on this agenda and which, by reason of special circumstances to be stated at the meeting, in the opinion of the Chairman, should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency.
Minutes There were no urgent matters.
4 Minutes of the meeting held on 5 September 2024
The Chair will move that the minutes of the meeting be signed as a correct record. The only part of the minutes that can be discussed is their accuracy.
Minutes The minutes of the meeting held on 29 February 2024 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.
5 Government Consultation on Proposed Reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and Other Changes to the Planning System
Contact Officer: Joanne Brombley

The report sets out the council’s response to the Government’s recent consultation on Proposed Reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and Other Changes to the Planning System.
Attachments:
Minutes The Cabinet Member for Planning and Infrastructure introduced the report which set out the council’s response to the Government’s recent consultation on Proposed Reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and Other Changes to the Planning System.

The Chair invited visiting speaker Allan Forbes to address the Committee, his comments included:

Sought clarification that Popham airfield had been removed from the list of proposed sites.

Questioned the reporting process for the local plan going forward.

The Chair invited visiting Councillors Phillimore and Harvey address the Committee, their comments included:

Stated that the Borough had been subjected to speculative development which had resulted in expensive properties that did not meet the local need.

Only 140 affordable houses and 14 socially rented homes had been built in the last year. There was an infrastructure gap which was continuing to widen.

New rules were required to help resolve local needs.

Localism needed to be a priority.

Local government was in a battle with central government.

The new proposals had undone a lot of the positive work carried out to date.

The Committee discussed the report and made the following comments:

Sought clarity over the definition of new towns and the use of the word ‘Council’ in the submission instead of ‘administration’.

Some members felt that the response explained that the council would welcome the opportunity of a discussion in relation to any identified local need for new towns whilst others felt that the Council was volunteering for further development.

Acknowledged that the Council was awaiting further clarity from government.

Thanked officers for their hard work.

Acknowledged that if the position did not change then the Council would be required to start the call for sites process again which would result in a two-year delay, £300,000 cost implication and the loss of protection that that the proposed new policies provided.

Agreed the local plan process should be more collaborative and less political.

Officers agreed to circulate information on local plans that had been challenged in response to the new NPPF.

Resolved: The Committee notes the report and the consultation responses submitted by the council are noted.
6 Review of work programme
The Committee is asked to note and review its Work Programme and to receive updates from the Lead Members of Task and Finish Groups.
Attachments:
Minutes The Chair introduced the work programme and gave a brief overview of the items that would be included on the agenda for the upcoming meetings.

Councillor McIntyre suggested that an invite be extended to Hampshire Together and agreed to submit a work programme request.
Previous Meetings
Meeting

3rd Apr 2025

Environment and Infrastructure Committee

Meeting

6th Feb 2025

Environment and Infrastructure Committee

Meeting

5th Dec 2024

Environment and Infrastructure Committee

Meeting

3rd Oct 2024

Environment and Infrastructure Committee

Meeting

5th Sep 2024

Environment and Infrastructure Committee

Meeting

6th Jun 2024 Cancelled

Environment and Infrastructure Committee

Future Meetings
Meeting

5th Jun 2025

Environment and Infrastructure Committee

Meeting

4th Sep 2025

Environment and Infrastructure Committee

Meeting

2nd Oct 2025

Environment and Infrastructure Committee

Meeting

4th Dec 2025

Environment and Infrastructure Committee

Meeting

5th Feb 2026

Environment and Infrastructure Committee

Meeting

5th Mar 2026

Environment and Infrastructure Committee

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