Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Mary Clarke and County Councillors  Andre Gonzalez de Savage and Ben Smith.

Minutes of the meeting held on 3^rd October 2011 (attached herewith)

The minutes of the meeting held on 3 October 2011 were agreed and signed by the Deputy Chair.

• Personal
• Prejudicial

Councillor Hadland declared a Personal interest in item 6, Joint Core Strategy; Update and Timetable in so far as the discussion might relate to land in Brackley that he was advising a client on.

To consider any issues that the Chairman is of the opinion are Matters of Urgency.

None.

None.

(Report herewith)

The Head of the JPU submitted a report that set out an update on the national context including the Localism Act, transitional arrangements and the draft National Planning Policy Framework; and sought agreement to the next stages and timetable of the Joint Core Strategy, as set out in Appendix 1 of the report. It was currently believed that the final version of the National Planning Policy Framework would be published and the revocation of the East Midlands Plan may take place in conjunction with the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s budget statement on 21 March 2012.

In answer to questions the Head of the JPU noted that it was too soon to say what changes to the Pre- Submission version of the Joint Core Strategy might be made, that the timetable put forward in Appendix 1 was as expeditious as possible and that the provisions of the final National Planning Policy Framework would be carefully assessed to ensure that they were appropriately reflected in the Joint Core Strategy.

RESOLVED:   1. That the update on the national context including the Localism Act, transitional arrangements and the draft National Planning Policy Framework be noted.

2.    That changes to the Pre-Submission Joint Core Strategy be prepared and presented to the Joint Strategic Planning Committee on 16 July 2012 for consideration in accordance with the Joint Core Strategy timetable set out at Appendix 1 of the report.

(Report herewith)

The Head of the JPU submitted a report that set out the results of the 2011 audit of the JPU and South Northamptonshire Council in respect of financial controls.

Members congratulated all those involved with the audit.

RESOLVED:     That the sound systems of control in place to enable the  proper management of the JPU be noted.

The Deputy Chair noted that this was the last meeting that David Bailey, Director of Planning and Regeneration at Northampton Borough Council, would be attending before his retirement at the end of March 2012 and thanked him on behalf of the Joint Planning Committee for his work.