Issue - meetings

To receive a report from the Chief Planning Officer presenting the proposed Further Issues and Options 2024 engagement paper which provides options on potential strategy and policy areas for inclusion in the Local Plan Update.

Executive Councillor: T Sanderson.

The Cabinet has:

(a)  endorsed the content of the Further Issues and Options 2024;

(b)  agreed that the Further Issues and Options 2024 paper be published for public engagement for ten weeks between 18th September and 27th November 2024 under Regulation 18 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012; and

(c)  granted delegated authority to the Chief Planning Officer, in consultation with the Executive Councillor for Planning to make any necessary typographical or other minor changes to the Report prior to its publication for consultation.

A report by the Chief Planning Officer was submitted (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) presenting an engagement document outlining options on potential strategy and policy areas for inclusion in the Local Plan Update.

In introducing the report, the Executive Councillor for Planning outlined the statutory requirements placed upon the Council during Local Plan preparation and drew attention to the other two agenda items being considered at the meeting, namely, Land Availability Assessments and Sustainability Appraisal for the Local Plan Update Further Issues and Options and Land Availability Assessments. The Executive Councillor for Planning advised that a communications plan had been prepared which comprised a multi-channel approach in engagement with residents, organisations and businesses.

Attention was then drawn to the views of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Performance & Growth) and in doing so, the Executive Councillor for Planning advised that a formal briefing note would be prepared and circulated to colleagues and Members by the end of the week. He then went on to state that he was keen to receive feedback from the Town and Parish Councils on the Further Issues and Options 2024 engagement document.

Matters that were discussed by the Cabinet included whether any feedback had been received from the Local Plans Advisory Group on the content of the questions proposed in the engagement document and the need to ensure proactive engagement with the over 75 year old age group owing to the identified need for more specialist and supported housing in future years. In response to the latter, the Executive Councillor for Planning advised that all sectors of the District’s community would be targeted for engagement on the proposals.

Having commended the Local Plans Advisory Group for their hard work, efforts and contributions in the development of the proposals thus far, it was

RESOLVED

  that the Cabinet

(a)  endorse the content of the Further Issues and Options 2024;

(b)  agree that the Further Issues and Options 2024 paper be published for public engagement for ten weeks between 18th September and 27th November 2024 under Regulation 18 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012; and

(c)  grant delegated authority to the Chief Planning Officer, in consultation with the Executive Councillor for Planning to make any necessary typographical or other minor changes to the Report prior to its publication for consultation.

The Local Plan: Further Issues and Options report is to be presented to the Panel for comments.

By means of a report by the Chief Planning Officer (a copy of which was appended in the Minute Book) the Local Plan: Further Issues and Options report was presented to the Panel.

In response to an enquiry from Councillor Wells, the Panel were assured that the development of the new Local Plan was a long process and that resourcing of this had been noted within the Council’s MTFS and a Local Plan reserve in addition to this. The Panel were further assured that there were sufficient resources to develop the Plan as it currently stood but that this would be carefully monitored to ensure smooth process in the event of any changes occur to plan-making nationally, or in response to local ambitions. It was noted that the Planning team were specialists in Planning and Plan making and that they were able to call on consultants for specialist evidence gathering as appropriate.

Following further questions from Councillor Wells, Howell and Martin, the Panel heard that a robust Communications Plan was being developed with the Council’s Communications Team which would include the let’s talk Huntingdonshire website along with information being available in local libraries across the district, including the mobile library, banners in car parks, parks and on refuse vehicles along with exhibitions in towns and villages across the district. The Panel heard that there would also be further sessions for Town and Parish Councils. Members were also advised that where they had additional suggestions or were aware of gaps in communication it would be appreciated if that could be communicated to the team as soon as possible to assist in the development of the Communications Plan.

Members were assured that the Executive Summary was designed to signpost the reader to the sections which they were interested in or that were relevant to them.

In response to a question from Councillor Gardener about the dates for the local exhibitions, the Panel were assured that the dates and locations of these would be communicated out to Members once they were available. Following a further question from Councillor Howell, the Panel heard that exhibitions within local venues would be held between 2pm and 8pm to be as accessible as possible for residents and that the exhibition information would also be available online. Further to an additional question from Councillor Cawley, the Panel were assured that a Member’s briefing note with key points would be communicated as part of the Town and Parish briefings including a communications pack with posters and leaflets to those attending the briefing to allow for Councillors to communicate with their local parishes and residents.

Following a question from Councillor Terry with regard to planning applications, the Panel were assured that as the Local Planning Authority a decision on applications did need to be made and that comments from residents and businesses were taken into account as part of this decision making process. They were also assured that the structure of the Further Issues and Options consultation paper includes in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27