Issue - meetings

To receive a report seeking approval of the draft Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report and endorsing it for public engagement commencing in February 2023.

Executive Councillor: T Sanderson.

The Cabinet has approved the contents of the draft Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report and agreed that the draft Scoping Report be published for public consultation commencing in February 2023 and running for a period of 6 weeks.

A report by the Chief Planning Officer was submitted (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) setting out the purpose, legal context and content of the draft Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report and seeking the Cabinet’s approval of its contents and agreement for public consultation commencing in February 2023 and running for a period of 6 weeks.

The Executive Councillor for Planning drew the Cabinet’s attention to the Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Process designed to assess the extent to which an emerging plan, such as a Local Plan, will help to achieve sustainable development. It was noted that the process was required under Section 19 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended) and the five stages required to complete this were outlined in paragraph 3.3 of the report. Additionally, it was noted that a Strategic Environmental Assessment was required under the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004.

Having been acquainted with the views of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Performance & Growth) and in agreeing that paragraph 9.3 of the report was outdated as it did not accurately reflect the current position with the Council’s Climate Strategy, it was

RESOLVED

a)  that the contents of the draft Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report be approved; and

b)  that the draft Scoping Report be published for public consultation commencing in February 2023 and running for a period of 6 weeks.

The Panel is invited to comment on the Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report.

By means of a report by the Chief Planning Officer (a copy of which was appended in the Minute Book) the Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report was presented to the Panel

Councillor Gardener observed that clearer labelling to the maps would be helpful specifically mentioning labelling of village halls and flood zones. The Panel heard that the level of detail would be incorporated as much as possible given the scales involved with further detail being added online. Furthermore it was advised that a suite of water management studies would be undertaken and would assist future planning decisions within the district. The Panel were also advised that a link could be added to the document to the current Strategic Flood Risk Assessment on the Council’s website to provide access to more detailed mapping.

Following an enquiry from Councillor Harvey on the size of dwellings coming through for development, the Panel were advised that whilst there was no decision on this yet, the available information highlighted growth in the older population of the district, therefore demand in smaller properties was anticipated in the future.

Councillor Gray sought assurance that best practice was being taken from colleagues in neighbouring authorities. The Panel were assured that this was underway despite the developing stage of progress so far.

Following a further question from Councillor Gray, the Panel heard that the Local Plan would work alongside emerging strategies such as the Climate and Place Strategies. Collaborative work would be undertaken as the Page 184 of 498 project progressed to ensure assimilation and cohesion between Strategies.

Having been assured that annual reporting would be undertaken to report on progress to date, the Panel thereupon

RESOLVED

that Cabinet be encouraged to endorse the recommendations within the report.