Issue - meetings

Recommendation HP 23/4 of the Housing and Planning Scrutiny Select Committee of 21 March 2023.

Consideration was given to the recommendation of the Housing and Planning Scrutiny Select Committee (HP 23/4) of 21 March 2023.  

RESOLVED:  That

(1)             the implications of the proposed ‘Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill: Reforms to National Planning Policy’, as set out in Annex 1, be noted;

(2)             the Borough Council progressed the Local Plan under the current arrangements, as outlined in Option 1 in the report, and;

(3)             a new Local Development Scheme with more detailed financial implications be brought to a future meeting of the Housing and Planning Scrutiny Select Committee in Summer 2023.

Decision Notice D230030CAB

Consideration was given to the recommendation of the Housing and Planning Scrutiny Select Committee on 21 March 2023 (HP 23/4).

RESOLVED:  That

(1)             the implications of the proposed ‘Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill: Reforms to National Planning Policy’, as set out in Annex 1, be noted;

(2)             the Borough Council progressed the Local Plan under the current arrangements, as outlined in Option 1 in the report, and;

(3)             a new Local Development Scheme with more detailed financial implications be brought to a future meeting of the Housing and Planning Scrutiny Select Committee in Summer 2023.

Following submission of the Council’s full response to the ‘Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill: reforms to national planning policy’ consultation as approved by Cabinet on 14 February 2023, this report further considers the proposed changes and their implications for the content, form and timing of the local plan and sets out options for progression of the local plan and design codes for Members to consider.

Following submission of the Council’s full response to the ‘Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill: reforms to national planning policy’ consultation as approved by Cabinet on 14 February 2023, the report of the Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health further considered the proposed changes and their implications for the content, form and timing of the local plan and requested Members to consider options for progression of the local plan and design codes and recommend an approach to future timetable and next steps, as set out in paragraph 1.5 and Annex 2.

Members had regard to the implications of the proposed changes, the legal implications and the financial and value for money considerations detailed in the report and sought clarity around the determination of exceptional circumstances in the green belt, the likely implications of updated household projections on housing needs and setting of local targets, the duty to cooperate and the alignment policy and the certainty of the legislation being passed and timelines.  In response, Members were advised that the timetable detailed for Option 1, to proceed under current arrangements, was challenging but achievable and allowed for some flexibility to allow for the anticipated changes to arise from the technical consultations this year, however there were risks in terms of unforeseen delays arising from future changes to the NPPF, outcomes of a further Regulation 18 consultation or other unknown factors.   Members were further advised that if they were minded to support the continuation of the local plan under the current arrangements, any abortive costs in moving to the new arrangements at a later date could be significant.

RECOMMENDED: That

(1)    the implications of the proposed ‘Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill: Reforms to National Planning Policy’, as set out in Annex 1, be noted;

(2)    the Council progresses the local plan under the current arrangements, as outlined as Option 1 in the report; and

(3)    a new Local Development Scheme with more detailed financial implications be brought to a future meeting of the Housing and Planning Scrutiny Select Committee in Summer 2023.

* Referred to Cabinet