Issue - meetings

Report of Councillor S Pickering, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Place

RESOLVED – That:

(1)          the challenging timescales set out in the report, and that this relied upon maintaining the necessary resources, securing input from third parties and both timely and efficient decision making at key stages, be noted.

(2)          the timetable for the preparation of the new Local Plan be approved and tasks the Local Plan Working Group with regular monitoring and reporting on progress against key milestones.

(3)          The Local Development Scheme take effect, authorising its publication and that it shall have effect from 25 November 2024.

REASONS FOR DECISION - To enable the Council to progress with plan making with the aim of achieving submission of the Local Plan by December 2026 in line with the Government’s proposed transitional arrangements.  This would enable the Council to get an up-to-date plan in place at the earliest opportunity and limit the Council’s exposure to ad hoc speculative development.  In order for the scheme to take effect Cabinet must formally resolve that the scheme was to have effect and specify the date from which it was to have effect.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED – The Council was obliged by the 2004 Planning & Compulsory Purchase Act (Section 15) as amended, to publish and keep up to date a Local Development Scheme (LDS).  Therefore, there was no alternative over whether, or not to produce an LDS.  

In terms the timescale for the review of the Council’s Local Plan, one alternative was to do nothing and await the implementation of new planning guidance and/or the new plan-making system. This was rejected on the basis that significant changes were imminent and to do nothing would put the Council at greater risk of speculative development for an additional extended period of time.

This was not a Key Decision and so can be implemented with immediate effect by officers.

Cabinet considered a report which set out a proposed timetable for the preparation of a new Local Plan which sought to achieve submission of the plan to the Secretary of State by December 2026. 

The report explained that December 2026 was the cut-off date for the preparation of plans under the current plan-making system.  It provided the Council with a window of opportunity to get an up-to-date plan in place at the earliest opportunity and limited the Council’s exposure to unplanned ‘speculative’ development.

The Local Development Scheme 2024-2028, attached to the report at Appendix 1, included a description of the subject matter and geographical area of the Local Plan along with a timetable for its preparation covering the period up to 2028.  The timetable included the following key milestones:

·       Notice of start of plan-making – November 2024

·       Issues & Options Consultation – June/July 2025

·       Publication Consultation – June/July 2026

·       Submission – November 2026

·       Examination – 12 months to 2027 (indicative as dependent on Planning Inspectorate)

·       Adoption – May 2028 (indicative as dependent on Planning Inspectorate).

The report explained the challenging timescales, and set out that success was dependent upon maintaining current staffing and financial resources, securing all the necessary evidence through means of a combination of in-house, consultancy and third part support, and agile and responsive Local Plan Working Group to guide the process and quick decision making.

RESOLVED – That:

(1)            the challenging timescales set out in the report, and that this relied upon maintaining the necessary resources, securing input from third parties and both timely and efficient decision making at key stages, be noted.

(2)            the timetable for the preparation of the new Local Plan be approved and tasks the Local Plan Working Group with regular monitoring and reporting on progress against key milestones.

(3)            The Local Development Scheme take effect, authorising its publication and that it shall have effect from 25 November 2024.

REASONS FOR DECISION - To enable the Council to progress with plan making with the aim of achieving submission of the Local Plan by December 2026 in line with the Government’s proposed transitional arrangements.  This would enable the Council to get an up-to-date plan in place at the earliest opportunity and limit the Council’s exposure to ad hoc speculative development.  In order for the scheme to take effect Cabinet must formally resolve that the scheme was to have effect and specify the date from which it was to have effect.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED – The Council was obliged by the 2004 Planning & Compulsory Purchase Act (Section 15) as amended, to publish and keep up to date a Local Development Scheme (LDS).  Therefore, there was no alternative over whether, or not to produce an LDS.  

In terms the timescale for the review of the Council’s Local Plan, one alternative was to do nothing and await the implementation of new planning guidance and/or the new plan-making system. This was rejected on the basis that significant changes were imminent and to do nothing would put the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 48