Issue - meetings

To consider a report by the Head of Planning Services on the implications of the Government’s revocation of the Regional Spatial Strategy and the adoption of a joint Cambridgeshire approach to strategic planning.

Noted the Government's revocation of the Regional Spatial Strategy, its intention with regard to the revision of policy and its clear guidance regarding the need for Local Planning authorities to continue to prepare appropriate Development Plan Documents.  Noted the retention of the adopted Huntingdonshire Core Strategy 2009 as the Council's primary planning policy document, in accordance with Government's guidance. Endorsed the joint statement made by the Cambridgeshire authorities with regard to the interim planning policy position for the Cambridge Sub-Region.

The Cabinet considered a report by the Head of Planning Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) regarding the recent revocation of the Regional Spatial Strategy and the implications for the Council's Adopted Core Strategy.

Members were reminded that on 6th July 2010, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government had announced that Regional Strategies would be revoked with immediate effect.  The revocation statement had been accompanied by new national planning guidance which clarified the status of adopted Local Development Documents.  The guidance strongly advocated that planning authorities should continue to prepare and bring forward appropriate development plan documents (DPDs) and confirmed that adopted DPDs would continue to provide the statutory planning framework.  In that respect, Members noted that the adopted Huntingdonshire Core Strategy would remain as the Council’s primary planning policy document.

Whilst the guidance stressed that local councils were best placed to assess the needs of Gypsies and Travellers and having referred to a recent consultation exercise forming part of the Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA), Members noted that no decision would be made on the possible location of any potential future sites until further clarification had been received from the Government regarding the applicable legislative framework.

In discussing the implications for the County, Executive Councillors were advised of the work undertaken by the Cambridgeshire Authorities to review the current strategic policy position. Having considered the contents of a joint statement which sets out the authorities current position and the effects of the recession on the delivery of key development sites, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  (a)  that the Government's revocation of the Regional Spatial Strategy, its intention with regard to the revision of policy and its clear guidance regarding the need for Local Planning authorities to continue to prepare appropriate Development Plan Documents be noted.

(b)  that the retention of the adopted Huntingdonshire Core Strategy 2009 as the Council's primary planning policy document, in accordance with Government's guidance, be noted; and

(c)  that the joint statement made by the Cambridgeshire authorities with regard to the interim planning policy position for the Cambridge Sub-Region be endorsed.

To consider a report by the Head of Planning Services on the revocation of the Regional Spatial Strategy and the implications for strategic planning in Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire.

(Councillor D B Dew, Executive Councillor for Planning Strategy and Transport was in attendance for this Item). 

The Panel considered a report by the Head of Planning Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) on the revocation of the Regional Spatial Strategy and the implications for strategic planning locally. 

Members were reminded that Huntingdonshire remained at the forefront in terms of the delivery of the sustainable growth strategy for Cambridgeshire and the sub-region with the District Council being one of a minority of local planning authorities in the region that had an adopted Core Strategy which set out a positive and robust framework to deliver sustainable development. The strategy had been tested at public inquiry and found by subsequent planning inspectors to be sound.

The Panel was pleased that the more ambitious targets for development in Huntingdonshire mooted by the defunct East of England Regional Assembly for the review of the East of England Plan to 2031 had been abandoned.  However Members noted that, with guidance from the Secretary of State calling for local planning authorities to identify a fifteen years supply of land for housing, the Core Strategy which applied until 2026 would need to be re-visited. 

Issues that remained a concern for Members were the need for employment provision to cater for housing growth and infrastructure improvements in advance of developments taking place. Members drew particular attention to the A428 which was under increasing pressure from housing development in St. Neots. 

The Panel welcomed the apparent change in direction over the provision of gypsy and traveller sites which would enable the District Council to assess its own need for additional pitches as opposed to this being determined regionally.  Having been informed by the Executive Councillor for Planning Strategy and Transport that further guidance was awaited before progressing with the gypsy and traveller site DPD, the Panel suggested that the Cabinet should make a public announcement on the present situation having regard to the magnitude of the public response to the SHLAA exercise on the identification of potential sites.

RESOLVED

  that the report be endorsed for submission to the Cabinet.