Agenda item

To enable the Cabinet to consider the invitation made to it by the Planning Policy & Local Plan Committee in relation to the Vision and Objectives for the review of the Local Plan.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)    does not wish to make any comments or amendments to the Vision and Objectives (Appendix 1) and confirms that they align with the Council’s corporate vision; and

(b)     approves the Vision and Objectives for the review of the Local Plan and that they be published, in due course, for public consultation purposes, as part of the ‘Issues and Options’ stage of the Local Plan review process.

It was reported that the Planning Policy and Local Plan Committee (“the Committee”), at its meeting held on 27 February 2024 (Minute 32 referred), had considered a detailed report of the Director (Planning) (A.1) which had sought its comments on, and approval for, an updated version of the Local Plan’s overarching Vision and Objectives for the purpose of the Local Plan review and associated public consultation.

The Committee’s decision at its meeting held on 27 February 2024 had been as follows:-

“RESOLVED that the Planning Policy and Local Plan Committee -

a)     notes the content of the Director (Planning)’s report (A.3);

b)    endorses the Local Plan Vision and Objectives and Officers’ suggested updates shown, with tracked changes, in Appendices 1 and 2 to report A.3;

c)    authorises the Director (Planning) to circulate to the members of the Committee for their further comments the proposed additions/alterations to the Vision and Objectives;

d)    authorises the Director (Planning), in consultation with the Chairman of the Committee, to approve the proposed additions/alterations to the Vision and Objectives having considered any comments submitted in accordance with resolution c) above;

e)    agrees for the updated Vision and Objectives, including any additional amendments/alterations approved in accordance with resolution d) above, to be included for public consultation in due course as part of the ‘Issues and Options’ stage of the Local Plan review process; and

f)     invites the Cabinet to comment on and amend, as necessary, the Vision and  Objectives as agreed under resolution e) above before they are published as part of the aforementioned Issues and Options consultation in order to ensure and confirm their alignment with the Council’s corporate vision.”

Cabinet had before it the Housing and Planning Portfolio Holder’s comments on this matter which were as follows:-

“Having attended the meeting of the Planning Policy and Local Plan Committee on 27 February 2024 and witnessed the debate, I am content that the proposed Vision and Objectives for the Local Plan, with the Committee’s focussed amendments, aligns broadly with the strategic direction of the Council and should proceed in to be incorporated into the forthcoming public consultation on Issues and Options. I note that the Committee has also recently been considering issues around the levels of housing and employment development that we might need to plan for through the review of the Local Plan as a consequence of extending its timeframe to 2041; along with a wide range of options for how any additional growth could be accommodated across different parts the district. Clearly, if the levels of development needed up to 2041 have to increase substantially in line with government requirements and a more radical approach to accommodating that growth is required, the Committee may have to consider further changes to the Vision and Objectives in due course to reflect any necessary change in approach. I thank the Planning Policy and Local Plan Committee for its hard work in progressing the review of the Local Plan to date – particularly given the challenging timescales involved in getting an updated Plan to the Secretary of State by June 2025.”

The Vision and Objectives, as approved by the Planning Policy and Local Plan Committee, were set out in Appendix 1 to the reference report.

The Director (Planning)’s Report and accompanying Appendices, which had been considered by the Planning Policy and Local Plan Committee at its meeting held on 5 October 2023, were attached as Appendix 2 to the reference report.

Having considered the invitation of the Planning Policy & Local Plan Committee, together with the comments of the Housing and Planning Portfolio Holder:-

It was moved by Councillor Baker, seconded by Councillor Bush and:-

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)    does not wish to make any comments or amendments to the Vision and Objectives (Appendix 1) and confirms that they align with the Council’s corporate vision; and

(b)     approves the Vision and Objectives for the review of the Local Plan and that they be published, in due course, for public consultation purposes, as part of the ‘Issues and Options’ stage of the Local Plan review process.