Decision details

RESOLVED -

(1)            That Cabinet agreed the decision not to formally progress with a full Review of the Local Plan at this stage.

(2)            That Cabinet approved the evidence base Action Plan at Appendix 2 of the report.

(3)            That Cabinet approved the ‘Position Statement’ for publication on the Council’s website.

(4)            That Cabinet noted the notes from the first Local Plan Working Group meeting on 1 November 2023 (Appendix 3).

REASONS FOR DECISION – To enable the Council to progress with evidence based work so that it is in the best position to adopt the new Local Plan making processes that are expected to come into force later this year, and to agree a statement that sets out the Council’s position and updates members of the public on the approach being taken.  The publication of a Position Statement would demonstrate openness and transparency around the matter of plan making.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED – The option of announcing a formal Review of the Local Plan now was considered but rejected. The option was not recommended by officers or the Working Group due to the likely duplication/delays that would be caused by the anticipated changes to the plan making process. The option of doing nothing was considered but rejected.  Officers were of the view that the evidence base behind a number of the strategic polices within the Local Plan needed to be updated.

Please note that this was not a Key Decision and so can be implemented with immediate effect by officers.