Issue - meetings

To consider a report by the Planning Policy Team Leader on the new Local Development Scheme to set the scope and timetable for production of the Huntingdonshire Local Plan to 2036.

Approves the new Local Development Scheme (March 2016) for publication and commencement as of 31st March 2016, attached as Appendix 1 of the submitted report.

By way of a report from the Head of Development (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet was presented with the new Local Development Scheme which established the timetable for preparation and examination of the Local Plan to 2036.

The previous Local Development Scheme was published in April 2014. It was essential that the Council had an up to date Local Development Scheme to ensure the Local Plan met the legal compliance checks as part of its statutory examination.  It was also important that the Scheme was up to date as the Local Plan Annual Monitoring Report, which the Council published each December, reported in relation to the Local Development Scheme in place at the end of March that year. 

The Cabinet were informed that once the remainder of the evidence base documents were complete the intention was to undertake the statutory six week consultation on the proposed submission version of the Local Plan during January and February 2017. Following which submission of the Local Plan to the Secretary of State for examination was expected in July 2017.  However, it was noted that once submitted the timetable was dependent on the Planning Inspectorate and the duration of the examination would be determined on the availability of an Inspector, the scope and complexity of issues raised and the need for further consultation on modifications that had arisen from the examination.

Having been invited to address the Cabinet, the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Economy and Growth) stated that satisfactory progress was being made with the timetable for preparation and examination of the Local Plan to 2036. 

The Cabinet were informed that to accord with the call-in process an amendment was required to modify the date included in the recommendation.  Whereupon the Cabinet,

RESOLVED

to approve the new Local Development Scheme (March 2016) for publication and commencement as of 31st March 2016, attached as Appendix 1 of the submitted report.

To receive a report from the Head of Development on the Local Development Scheme.

With the aid of a report by the Head of Development (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Local Development Scheme was presented to the Panel. Members were informed that the scheme was being developed for two reasons. The first was for legal compliance and the second was that the Council’s report produced each December could be produced against an up to date Local Development Scheme.

Comments were raised in regards to the environmental assessment. Members were informed that the environmental assessment is completed early in the Neighbourhood Plan process and that the St Neots Neighbourhood Plan had an environmental assessment.

The Panel recommended to Cabinet that the new Local Development Scheme (March 2016) be approved and commence on 24th March 2016.