Agenda item

     (Copy herewith)

Cabinet:

1.     Approved the revised Submission Draft of the Local Plan Part 2, Policies Map and Sustainability Appraisal for publication under Regulation 12 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Authorities) (England) Regulations 2012 as amended

2.     Approved the Consultation and Engagement Strategy for this consultation

3.     Agreed to delegate authority to the Director of Planning and Sustainability with the Deputy Cabinet Member for Planning to make minor spelling, formatting, mapping and other amendments to the consultation documents and the Consultation and Engagement Strategy where they do not alter the intent of those documents.

Councillor Hill, as the relevant Cabinet Member, submitted a report. Comments received from Historic England, Public Health England, land owners and developers following the original submission led to further work being carried out, including the addition of (but not limited to) fast food and green policies. Councillor Hill informed Cabinet of a correction on Plan A, chapter 7: housing delivery projection figures for 2027-28 – graph 1 would be amended, the difference between the planned target and total delivery had been increased to 3,394. Consequently, the housing delivery trajectory for 2019-24 would be reduced to 1,130 per year and 1,609 for the remaining years in the period. These changes would have no impact on the sites allocated within the document. Public consultation would follow, should Cabinet approve the revised submission draft, starting on 13^th July.

Councillor Beardsworth commented that the Liberal Democrat group expressed concern in 2018 regarding progress on the Local Plan taking a backseat in place of local government reorganisation. Not having a Local Plan in place left communities open to unwanted development, and it was hoped that a new Local Plan would be in place by the time the unitary authority took over. The fact that delays were due to the need to get things right was a positive one and Councillor Beardsworth welcomed renewed emphasis on green issues.

Councillor Hill reassured Members that the Local Plan would not be curtailed by unitary preparations.

The Director of Planning and Sustainability confirmed that consultation would take place between July and August, the Council would look to submit the Local Plan in December 2020, the Council would then push for an early public examination in April and adopt the Local Plan Part 2 in September 2021.

RESOLVED:

1.     Cabinet approved the revised Submission Draft of the Local Plan Part 2, Policies Map and Sustainability Appraisal for publication under Regulation 12 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Authorities) (England) Regulations 2012 as amended

2.     Cabinet approved the Consultation and Engagement Strategy for this consultation

3.     Cabinet agreed to delegate authority to the Director of Planning and Sustainability with the Deputy Cabinet Member for Planning to make minor spelling, formatting, mapping and other amendments to the consultation documents and the Consultation and Engagement Strategy where they do not alter the intent of those documents.