Agenda item

Motion Submitted by the Conservative Group - Greater Manchester Spatial Framework

 

This Council notes with interest the comments of the Housing Minister in relation to assessed housing need which casts further considerable doubt on the integrity of the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF). The Minister has confirmed the Government’s policy position that it is for local areas to determine, and make the justification for any deviation from assessed housing need in a local area.

 

This follows a protracted two year delay to revise the document primarily, for partisan political purposes, the outcome of which is still vague assurances over infrastructure, which in many respects lack credibility and therefore confidence of the public, and still contains the release of significant amounts of green belt. 

 

Council is concerned that Trafford is releasing more green belt land, as a percentage of its proposed allocations to meet need than any other borough in Greater Manchester, and is doing so whilst this uncertainty exists.

 

Given these factors, and until a satisfactory resolution is found, the Council cannot support the GMSF in its present form and instructs the Leader of the Council to:

 

-     confirm as such to the Mayor of Greater Manchester;

 

-     confirm that unless these factors can be overcome, that the Council wishes to pursue its own local plan outside of the GMSF, but that the Council wishes to see a satisfactory conclusion and is willing to work cross party to achieve as such and therefore;

 

-     will establish a Scrutiny Task and Finish Group with the sole intention of securing cross party support for housing proposals in Trafford alongside securing definitive transporting social infrastructure commitments from relevant bodies.

Minutes:

(Note: Prior to consideration of this item, the time being 9.15 p.m., the Mayor indicated that the mover and seconder of the Motion and amendment would have a maximum of 2 minutes each and that all other speeches would be limited to a maximum of 30 seconds per speaker.)

 

It was moved and seconded that:

 

“This Council notes with interest the comments of the Housing Minister in relation to assessed housing need which casts further considerable doubt on the integrity of the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF). The Minister has confirmed the Government’s policy position that it is for local areas to determine, and make the justification for any deviation from assessed housing need in a local area.

 

This follows a protracted two year delay to revise the document primarily, for partisan political purposes, the outcome of which is still vague assurances over infrastructure, which in many respects lack credibility as therefore confidence of the public, and still contains the release of significant amounts of green belt. 

 

Council is concerned that Trafford is releasing more green belt land, as a percentage of its proposed allocations to meet need than any other borough in Greater Manchester, and is doing so whilst this uncertainty exists.

 

Given these factors, and until a satisfactory resolution is found, the Council cannot support the GMSF in its present form and instructs the Leader of the Council to:

 

-     confirm as such to the Mayor of Greater Manchester;

 

-     confirm that unless these factors can be overcome, that the Council wishes to pursue its own local plan outside of the GMSF, but that the Council wishes to see a satisfactory conclusion and is willing to work cross party to achieve as such and therefore;

 

-     will establish a Scrutiny Task and Finish Group with the sole intention of securing cross party support for housing proposals in Trafford alongside securing definitive transporting social infrastructure commitments from relevant bodies.”

 

It was moved and seconded as an amendment that:

 

“This Council notes the contrasting statements from National Government and GM in relation to assessed housing need in the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF).

 

The Council also notes the many delays in revising the document, which still contains the release of significant amounts of green belt.  Council recognises that the revised GMSF reduces the number of units on the greenbelt. However, Council is concerned that Trafford is still losing large areas of green belt land.

 

Council notes that in November 2018’s Climate Emergency motion, all parties agreed that the impacts of climate change, are so severe that governments at all levels must work together and make this their top priority. In the same decision, Council also committed to seek advice from experts to develop a carbon budget and set a challenging target date for carbon neutrality in Trafford.

 

This commitment to meeting our climate change responsibilities means that:

 

(i)  We must do what we can to protect all our greenspaces, in particular greenbelt land such as that at Timperley Wedge and Carrington. This also includes urban green space, trees and vegetation.

(ii) We must protect natural carbon sinks like the wetlands at Carrington Moss and elsewhere, as well as Sites of Biological Importance.

(iii)  We must ask for massively increased support for public and active transport.

(iv)Trafford Council cannot commit to the increase in air travel projected in this draft of the GMSF.

 

Furthermore, given our affordability crisis in Trafford, the GMSF should have a much clearer commitment to genuinely affordable housing on a larger scale.

 

Finally, given that High Speed Rail 2 is more likely to provide significant economic benefits to London than to Manchester, the GMSF should reduce its emphasis on this expensive and uncertain project.

 

Given these factors, and until a satisfactory resolution is found, the Council continues to have great concerns about the GMSF. Council recognises however that participation in the GMSF reduces the overall requirement for homes and that proceeding in isolation would almost certainly mean further encroachment on to Trafford’s green belt. Council instructs the Leader of the Council to:

 

(a)  Write to the Mayor of Greater Manchester explaining that Trafford has committed itself to meeting our carbon budget; and requesting a new ‘spatial options’ paper to be drawn up, prioritising  meeting expert-determined carbon budgets for GM. These must include air travel, shipping and other transport impacts. Trafford Council will require future drafts of the GMSF to follow this approach.

(b) Write to the government explaining that Trafford has committed itself to meeting our carbon budget; and requesting new figures for Trafford be drawn up, prioritising  meeting expert-determined carbon budgets. These must include air travel, shipping and other transport impacts.

(c) Continue to push for a reduction in Trafford’s housing allocation, to minimise green belt take in Trafford.

(d) Confirm that the Council wishes to work constructively to see a satisfactory conclusion and is willing to work cross party to achieve as such.”

 

(Note: The time being 9.25 p.m., the Mayor indicated that the mover of the Motion would have a maximum of 1 minute for the right of reply.)

 

Following the debate on the matter, the amendment was put to the vote and declared carried. The substantive Motion was then put to the vote and declared carried.

 

RESOLVED: That this Council notes the contrasting statements from National Government and GM in relation to assessed housing need in the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF).

 

The Council also notes the many delays in revising the document, which still contains the release of significant amounts of green belt.  Council recognises that the revised GMSF reduces the number of units on the greenbelt. However, Council is concerned that Trafford is still losing large areas of green belt land.

 

Council notes that in November 2018’s Climate Emergency motion, all parties agreed that the impacts of climate change, are so severe that governments at all levels must work together and make this their top priority. In the same decision, Council also committed to seek advice from experts to develop a carbon budget and set a challenging target date for carbon neutrality in Trafford.

 

This commitment to meeting our climate change responsibilities means that:

 

(i)  We must do what we can to protect all our greenspaces, in particular greenbelt land such as that at Timperley Wedge and Carrington. This also includes urban green space, trees and vegetation.

(ii) We must protect natural carbon sinks like the wetlands at Carrington Moss and elsewhere, as well as Sites of Biological Importance.

(iii)  We must ask for massively increased support for public and active transport.

(iv)Trafford Council cannot commit to the increase in air travel projected in this draft of the GMSF.

 

Furthermore, given our affordability crisis in Trafford, the GMSF should have a much clearer commitment to genuinely affordable housing on a larger scale.

 

Finally, given that High Speed Rail 2 is more likely to provide significant economic benefits to London than to Manchester, the GMSF should reduce its emphasis on this expensive and uncertain project.

 

Given these factors, and until a satisfactory resolution is found, the Council continues to have great concerns about the GMSF. Council recognises however that participation in the GMSF reduces the overall requirement for homes and that proceeding in isolation would almost certainly mean further encroachment on to Trafford’s green belt. Council instructs the Leader of the Council to:

 

(a)  Write to the Mayor of Greater Manchester explaining that Trafford has committed itself to meeting our carbon budget; and requesting a new ‘spatial options’ paper to be drawn up, prioritising  meeting expert-determined carbon budgets for GM. These must include air travel, shipping and other transport impacts. Trafford Council will require future drafts of the GMSF to follow this approach.

(b) Write to the government explaining that Trafford has committed itself to meeting our carbon budget; and requesting new figures for Trafford be drawn up, prioritising  meeting expert-determined carbon budgets. These must include air travel, shipping and other transport impacts.

(c) Continue to push for a reduction in Trafford’s housing allocation, to minimise green belt take in Trafford.

(d) Confirm that the Council wishes to work constructively to see a satisfactory conclusion and is willing to work cross party to achieve as such.