Agenda and minutes

To appoint a Chairman for the Task and Finish Group

Councillor Bateman was appointed as Chairman of the Task and Finish Group.

To receive any declarations of interest from members of the Task and Finish Group

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve the Task and Finish Group’s Terms of Reference

The Terms of Reference, as circulated with the agenda, were approved.

To hear from the Director of Communities, the Head of Strategic Planning and a Senior Planning Officer in relation to the following policies:

·         Built Sports Facility Strategy 2017 to 2031

·         Green Infrastructure Strategy (April 2014)

·         Horsham District Planning Framework (November 2015)

·         Open Space, Sport and Recreation Review (June 2021)

·         Open Space, Sport and Recreation Review – Non-Technical Summary Paper (June 2021)

·         Playing Pitch Strategy 2018 to 2031

o   Strategy Document

o   Needs Assessment

·         Sport and Physical Activity Strategy 2016 to 2031

Members heard from the Head of Strategic Planning with regard to the Horsham District Planning Framework (November 2015) and were referred to the following policies:

·         Policy 32 – The Quality of New Development

·         Policy 33 – Development Principles

·         Policy 42 – Inclusive Communities

The Horsham District Planning Framework would continue to apply until the new Local Plan had been adopted. The Head of Strategic Planning or the Senior Planning Officer would inform the Group as to what new policies were proposed once the draft Local Plan had been published in December.

Members also heard from the Head of Strategic Planning with regard to the Green Infrastructure Strategy (April 2014) which looked at multifunctional green spaces. The Green Infrastructure Strategy was in the process of being updated. The Senior Planning Officer advised that the new Green Infrastructure Strategy could include more guidance for developers.

Members also heard from the Director of Communities who advised that a new Green Spaces Strategy was in the process of being developed and it was expected that members of the Group would be able to have some input. It was anticipated that the Green Spaces Strategy would be published at the end of March 2024.

Members recognised that it was important to consider green spaces used for leisure as well as those used for sport.

Members were advised that care needed to be taken not to undermine the Open Space, Sport and Recreation Review (June 2021).

Possible options for gathering data were identified. These included holding focus groups at local schools/colleges, undertaking a survey, communicating with parents, engaging with the Youth Forum, and potentially using the Council’s Parks team and neighbourhood wardens (although it was noted that the neighbourhood wardens were funded by parish councils, therefore this might not be possible).

Members agreed a timetable for the work of the Group.

It was agreed that the next meeting would take place in early January, and members of the Group would consider the following in advance of that meeting:

·         Policies 32, 33 and 42 of the Horsham District Planning Framework (November 2015)

·         Green Infrastructure Strategy (April 2014)

·         Open Space, Sport and Recreation Review – Non-Technical Summary Paper (June 2021)