Agenda item

That this Council:-

(a)       notes the recent announcement by the Prime Minister of aproposal to relax certain planning laws relating to housing for a three-year period;

(b)       notes that nearly 90% of all planning applications from householders are approved and believes the failure to proceed with housing developments is not a result of the current planning laws;

(c)        believes these proposals go against the principle of localism, will fail to protect local communities and fears the changes could lead to inappropriate developments, which will adversely impact communities in Sheffield;

(d)       recalls the motion agreed at the 2012 Liberal Democrat Conference, which set out opposition to these proposals;

(e)       echoes the sentiments of this motion and calls upon the Prime Minister to withdraw these proposals; and

(f)         directs that a copy of this motion is sent to the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

It was moved by Councillor Colin Ross, seconded by Councilllor Sue Alston, that this Council:-

(a)       notes the recent announcement by the Prime Minister of aproposal to relax certain planning laws relating to housing for a three-year period;

(b)       notes that nearly 90% of all planning applications from householders are approved and believes the failure to proceed with housing developments is not a result of the current planning laws;

(c)        believes these proposals go against the principle of localism, will fail to protect local communities and fears the changes could lead to inappropriate developments, which will adversely impact communities in Sheffield;

(d)       recalls the motion agreed at the 2012 Liberal Democrat Conference, which set out opposition to these proposals;

(e)       echoes the sentiments of this motion and calls upon the Prime Minister to withdraw these proposals; and

(f)         directs that a copy of this motion is sent to the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

Whereupon, it was moved by Councillor Leigh  Bramall, seconded by Councillor Chris Rosling-Josephs, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by:-

1.         the insertion between the words “Prime Minister” and “of a” in paragraph (a) of the words “and Deputy Prime Minister”;

2.         the addition of the words “but the double dip recession caused by this Government’s disastrous economic policies” after the words at the end of paragraph (b);

3.         the insertion between the words “Prime Minister” and “to withdraw” in paragraph (e) of the words “and Deputy Prime Minister”;

4.         the addition of the words “Deputy Prime Minister” at the end of paragraph (f).

On being put to the vote, the amendment was carried.

The original Motion, as amended, was then put as a Substantive Motion in the following form and carried:-