Issue - meetings

To enable Cabinet to consider the recommendations submitted by the Planning Policy & Local Plan Committee in respect of the Government’s White Paper entitled ‘Planning for the Future’ and to formally agree the Council’s response to the Government, for submission by the consultation deadline of 29th October 2020.

That the Council’s formal response to the Government’s White Paper ‘Planning for the Future’, as placed before the Cabinet, be approved and submitted to the Government by the consultation deadline of 29 October 2020.

Cabinet was aware that, at its meeting held on 30 September 2020, the Planning Policy & Local Plan Committee had considered a report (and appendices) of the Corporate Director (Place and Economy) which had outlined proposals in the Government’s consultation on the White Paper ‘Planning for the Future’ and which had sought its consideration of, comment on and agreement on a draft responses for recommendation to Cabinet.

Having considered and discussed the contents of the Corporate Director’s report, the Committee had decided to recommend that the agreed draft response be forwarded to Cabinet for its approval as the Council’s formal response to the questions within the Government’s White Paper.

 Cabinet was informed that members of the Committee had however asked if a small number of additional points could be incorporated into the response, namely around the need to conserve the natural environment and potential risks associated with borrowing against anticipated Infrastructure Levy receipts. The Chairman of the Planning Policy Committee (Councillor Turner) and the Assistant Director (Strategic Planning and Place) had undertaken to incorporate some additions to the wording of the draft response which were to be forwarded to the Cabinet for its consideration as early as possible ahead of this meeting. 

Consequently, the Cabinet had before it some additions to the wording of the draft response which had been prepared by the Assistant Director (Strategic Planning & Place), in consultation with Councillor Turner.  They related to: a) the absence of any consideration of impacts on the natural environment; and b) concern about the risks of Councils borrowing against anticipated levy receipts.

Members thanked the Committee and Officers for their dedicated hard work and due diligence in producing this response.

The Leader of the Council undertook to send a copy of the Council’s response to the District’s two Members of Parliament.

Having considered the Planning Policy and Local Plan Committee’s draft response to the Government’s White Paper:

It was moved by Councillor Stock OBE, seconded by Councillor G V Guglielmi and –

RESOLVED that the Council’s formal response to the Government’s White Paper ‘Planning for the Future’, as placed before the Cabinet, be approved and submitted to the Government by the consultation deadline of 29 October 2020.