To inform Cabinet on the progress of updating the District’s Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plans.

To seek agreement from Cabinet that the final versions of six Conservation Area Appraisals and Management Plans be adopted by the Council. The six Conservation Area Appraisals for adoption are:-

Clacton Seafront;

Brightlingsea Hall and All Saints Church;

Great Clacton;

Lawford;

Kirby-le-Soken; and

Great Oakley.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)    notes the outcome of the consultation, as summarised within the report of the Housing and Planning Portfolio Holder (A.4); and

(b)    approves the formal adoption, of the final Conservation Area Character Appraisal and Management Plan for the following areas (as found at Appendices A – F to report A.4):-

·      Clacton Seafront;

·      Brightlingsea Hall and All Saints Church;

·      Great Clacton;

·      Lawford;

·      Kirby-le-Soken; and

·      Great Oakley.

Earlier on in the meeting, as detailed under Minute 109 above, and in relation to this item:-

(i)       with regards to the Brightlingsea Hall and All Saints Church Conservation Area,Councillor Chapman BEM had declared for the public record that she was a member of Brightlingsea Town Council and a District Ward Member for Brightlingsea; and

(ii)     with regards to the Clacton Sea Front Conservation Area,Councillor P B Honeywood had declared for the public record that he was the District Ward Member for the Pier Ward.

Cabinet considered a detailed report of the Housing and Planning Portfolio Holder (A.4), which informed it about progress updating the District’s Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plans and which sought its agreement from Cabinet to adopt the final versions of six Conservation Area Appraisals and Management Plans.

Members recalled that one of the aims of the Council’s adopted Heritage Strategy was for the Council to reassess each of the District’s twenty Conservation Area Appraisals.

It was reported that fifteen of those had now been the subject of public consultations, with the last five being consulted upon in early 2025. Seven Appraisals had been adopted by Cabinet in the summer of 2024. A further six Appraisals were now ready for adoption, which would enable them to be referred to as a material consideration in planning matters.

Cabinet was informed that the six Conservation Area Appraisals now recommended for adoption were:-

-        Clacton Seafront;

-        Brightlingsea Hall and All Saints Church;

-        Great Clacton;

-        Lawford;

-        Kirby-le-Soken; and

-        Great Oakley.

The Portfolio Holder for Housing and Planning read out the following statement:-

“Chairman, I am delighted to introduce this report requesting that Cabinet adopt a further six Conservation Area Appraisals, for the six areas of Clacton Seafront,  Brightlingsea Hall and All Saints Church, Great Clacton, Lawford, Kirby le Soken and, Great Oakley. The appraisals themselves are shown from Page 73 to 442 of the Agenda, quite a long read but very interesting nevertheless.

One of the aims of the Council’s Heritage Strategy, adopted in April 2020, was to update the Council’s Area Appraisals, and much work has been done since then to bring these updated appraisals forward.

As you will recall Cabinet adopted the first seven appraisals in summer last year, therefore these further six will take the total adopted to 13.

The final areas, have either been consulted upon, or are currently out for consultation and I hope to bring further reports to Cabinet hopefully, by the summer.

As you can see yet again, Chairman, a lot of work has gone into producing these appraisals, and I would like to thank all those who have undertaken that work, as well as those who responded to the consultations. Having these Appraisals in place will help in the preparation of our new revised Local Plan and also assist in attracting external funding for heritage related activity in the District.

I do not intend to say anything further as it is all outlined in the report.”

In order to progress projects specifically identified in the Council’s Heritage Strategy:-

It was moved by Councillor Baker, seconded by Councillor Scott and:-

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)     notes the outcome of the consultation, as summarised within the report of the Housing and Planning Portfolio Holder (A.4); and

(b)     approves the formal adoption, of the final Conservation Area Character Appraisal and Management Plan for the following areas (as found at Appendices A – F to report A.4):-

·     Clacton Seafront;

·     Brightlingsea Hall and All Saints Church;

·     Great Clacton;

·     Lawford;

·     Kirby-le-Soken; and

·     Great Oakley.