Issue - meetings

To receive a report from the Chief Planning Officer on the Sustainability Appraisal for the Local Plan Update Further Issues and Options and Land Availability Assessments.

Executive Councillor: T Sanderson.

The Cabinet has

(a)  endorsed the content of the Sustainability Appraisal 2024;

(b)  agreed that the Sustainability Appraisal be published for public engagement for ten weeks between 18 September and 27 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 document 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) setting out the initial draft of the Sustainability Appraisal which would accompany the Local Plan Update throughout its preparation. The report also sought the publication of the Sustainability Appraisal for public engagement alongside the Further Issues and Options 2024 engagement paper and the Land Availability Assessment.

By way of background, the Executive Councillor for Planning reported that the Sustainability Appraisal was an iterative process running across five required stages. Stage A was completed last year, with this stage being the first iteration of Stage B which sought to develop options and appraise effects. Having been informed that consultation on this was proposed to be held over a ten week period from 18th September 2024 until 27th November 2024 and having had their attention drawn to the views of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Performance & Growth), the Cabinet placed on record their thanks for the hard work and efforts of all Officers and Members involved in the process to date.

Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

that the Cabinet

(a)  endorse the content of the Sustainability Appraisal 2024;

(b)  agree that the Sustainability Appraisal be published for public engagement for ten weeks between 18 September and 27 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 document prior to its publication for consultation.

The Panel is invited to comment on the Local Plan: Initial Sustainability Appraisal Report.

By means of a report by the Chief Planning Officer (a copy of which was appended in the Minute Book) the Local Plan: Initial Sustainability Appraisal report was presented to the Panel.

Following an observation from Councillor Howell on the quality of the data listing local services, the Panel were advised that local Parishes had been asked for their input on this and that the data was as good as the feedback which had been received. Following a further question from Councillor Martin on the dates of the data within the report, the Panel heard that Stage A of the process had been completed 2 years prior and that more relevant up to date data would be introduced as the project developed through the Stages.

In response to an observation from Councillor Gardener relating to the TING bus service, the Panel heard that the information in the report was relevant to a point in time and was the information provided by transport providers across the district.

The Panel were assured, following a question from Councillor Martin that several environmental bodies would be consulted as part of the process including the Environment Agency.

Following a further question from Councillor Gardener, on the amount of houses that have been built in comparison to the potential amount of houses proposed, the Panel heard that this information is included in the Further Issues and Options consultation document in chapter 6. The amount of houses required will be developed and incorporated as outcomes of the NPPF consultation are known and included as the Plan moves forward.

Following the discussion, it was

RESOLVED

that the comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel be added to the Cabinet report in order for an informed decision to be made upon the report recommendations.

Councillor Blackwell re-joined the meeting.