Agenda and draft minutes

To receive as a correct record the Minutes of meeting held on 27 November 2025 (previously circulated).

The minutes of the meeting held 27 November 2025 were signed by the Chair as a correct record.

There were no items of urgent business.

To receive declarations by Councillors of interests in respect of items on this Agenda. 

Councillors are reminded that, in accordance with the Localism Act 2011, they are required to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests which have not already been declared in the Council’s Register of Interests. (It is a criminal offence not to declare a disclosable pecuniary interest either in the Register or at the meeting). 

Whilst not a legal requirement, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 9 and in the interests of clarity and transparency, Councillors should declare any disclosable pecuniary interests which they have already declared in the Register, at this point in the meeting. 

In accordance with Part B Section 2 of the Code Of Conduct, Councillors are required to declare the existence and nature of any other interests as defined in paragraphs 8(1) or 9(2) of the Code of Conduct. 

There were no Declarations of Interest.

Report of Licensing Manager.

The Licensing Manager addressed the Committee to introduce the Department for Transport (DfT) consultation on making all local transport authorities (LTAs) in England responsible for taxi and private hire (PHV) licensing. Members were asked to note the consultation and agree the draft response for submission by the Licensing Manager.

The Committee was provided a brief overview of the consultation and was informed that the draft response incorporated comments already received by members of the Licensing Committee.

Following a call for comments or questions, it was proposed by the Chair, seconded by Councillor David Whitaker and agreed unanimously as follows:

Resolved: -

(1)   That the Department for Transport (DfT) consultation on making all local transport authorities (LTAs) in England responsible for taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) licensing be noted.

(2) That Council Business Committee agree the draft response to consultation questions as set out in the report.

(3) That Council Business Committee delegate the Licensing Manager to make minor alterations to the response and submit the final version of the response to the DfT.

Report of Chief Officer – Planning and Climate Change.

The Chief Officer Planning and Climate Change addressed the Committee to advise Members of the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) consultation on the new draft National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and to seek authority to submit a draft response.

Members were provided a summary of the main themes of the new draft NPPF and the Council’s proposed response along with areas of discussion raised by the 17 February meeting of Planning Policy Cabinet Advisory Group.

The Committee was provided opportunity for comments or questions, during which the Chair proposed amending the answer to question 67a concerning the discretion to deliver social and affordable housing requirements via cash payments in lieu of on-site delivery on medium sites to the following:

“As a matter of current Local Plan policy, the Council will seek to secure on-site affordable housing delivery. But policy is a matter of guidance, not axiomatic, and where the Council sees advantage in a particular case for funding off-site affordable housing, it will be prepared to negotiate a commuted sum.”

This was proposed by the Chair and seconded by Councillor Maria Deery. It was agreed unanimously by the Committee to approve the draft response with the amendment with the answer to question 67a.

Resolved: -

(1)  That the consultation responses relating to the proposed National Planning Policy Framework be submitted as per the draft agreed by the Planning Policy Cabinet Advisory Group with the answer to question 67a substituted with the following:

“As a matter of current Local Plan policy, the Council will seek to secure on-site affordable housing delivery. But policy is a matter of guidance, not axiomatic, and where the Council sees advantage in a particular case for funding off-site affordable housing, it will be prepared to negotiate a commuted sum.”

Report of Chief Officer - Planning and Climate Change

The Committee received the report of the Chief Officer Planning and Climate Change advising Members of the consultation on the Forest of Bowland National Landscape Draft Management Plan. Members were asked to note the proposed response to the consultation and consider it for submission as the Council’s corporate response.

Members were advised of the 4 themes of the draft plan and the proposed response prepared by the Planning Policy & Housing Strategy Team. The Committee were informed that the draft response to the consultation had also been reviewed by the Planning Policy Cabinet Advisory Group (PPCAG) on 17 February.

It was proposed by Councillor Whitaker, seconded by Councillor Newton and agreed unanimously as follows:

Resolved: -

1)    That the report be noted and that the responses to the consultation questions as proposed are considered and submitted as the Council’s corporate response to the consultation.