The recommendations were amended and then agreed.

DECISION

1. To note that:

•          The Assessment Report highlights significant harm arising out of the proposals in respect of mansard roofs in the short and medium term and potentially in the long term.

•              Officers’ recommendation is to not proceed with these proposals based on the findings from the Assessment Report.

2. To agree ‘Option 1’ of the Alternative Options listed in part 2 of the report. Namely the ‘Packaged Approach’ to increase the level of quantifiable public benefit to help mitigate harm. Within Option 1, agree Option 1a ‘Integrated Approach’ as set out in paragraph 2.12 of the report.

3.    To consider the revised Character Appraisals and Management Plans for Driffield Road and Medway Conservation Areas alongside relevant measures for mitigating harm as one single ‘package’ in Summer 2017

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR, DEVELOPMENT AND RENEWAL (A. DALVI)

(Team Leader, Place Shaping Team (S. Sudhakar)

The Mayor introduced the report on proposed revised character appraisals for conservation areas.

Officers explained that the report followed an Overview and Scrutiny Committee review. In relation to Mansard roofs the recommendation was not to allow these in conservation areas for the reasons set out in the report as there would be a negative impact on the local environment. However, alternative options were also listed if required.

Tom Gill, resident, addressed the meeting. He highlighted that there had been a strong political commitment to allowing Mansard roofs and that this would meet strong local demand for the change.

Adam Cichocki, resident addressed the meeting, he expressed concern at any proposed changes to allow Mansard roofs. He considered there was minimal public demand for the change and that it would have a detrimental impact on the area. He also questioned whether Councillors were proposing these changes whilst living in the areas affected and so standing to gain from the changes.

The Mayor considered all the issues presented at the meeting. He recognised the anxiety of residents to ensure their areas were not negatively impacted by changes but at the same time he considered that providing homeowners with options to expand their properties at a time of housing shortage was sensible.

He proposed to amend the recommendations to instead select alternative Option 1 ‘packaged approach’ (as set out in the report) to look to allow mansard roofs but with mitigation measures developed. Within Option 1 he proposed to adopt Option 1a ‘integrated approach’ to approve further work to develop a mechanism to secure a package of contributions and to adopt a public consultation on the matter with a final decision to be taken in June 2017 on whether to adopt the changes. Having set that out the Mayor agreed the recommendations as amended.

RESOLVED

1. To note that:

•          The Assessment Report highlights significant harm arising out of the proposals in respect of mansard roofs in the short and medium term and potentially in the long term.

•              Officers’ recommendation is to not proceed with these proposals based on the findings from the Assessment Report.

2. To agree ‘Option 1’ of the Alternative Options listed in part 2 of the report. Namely the ‘Packaged Approach’ to increase the level of quantifiable public benefit to help mitigate harm. Within Option 1, agree Option 1a ‘Integrated Approach’ as set out in paragraph 2.12 of the report.

3.    To consider the revised Character Appraisals and Management Plans for Driffield Road and Medway Conservation Areas alongside relevant measures for mitigating harm as one single ‘package’ in Summer 2017