Issue - meetings

Consideration of recommendations of the Housing and Planning Scrutiny Select Committee in respect of a revised Local Development Scheme (LDS).

Consideration was given to the recommendations of the Housing and Planning Scrutiny Select of 12 February 2025 in respect of a revised Local Development Scheme (LDS) which had been updated to account for the delay of the Regulation 18 Local Plan consultation.

In accordance with the timeframe provided by Government following the publication of the revised National Planning Policy Framework, local authorities were required to update their LDS and submit the timetable by 6 March 2025.

Cabinet had due regard to the views of the Scrutiny Select Committee, the financial and value for money implications, gave careful consideration to the risks associated with the delivery of the Local Plan and welcomed the proposed timescales to undertake the second stage of Regulation 19 Local Plan consultation in October 2025.

Cllr Taylor proposed, seconded by Cllr Boughton and Cabinet  

RESOLVED:  That

(1)             the updated Local Development Scheme (February 2025) attached at Annex 1, be approved.

(Decision Notice:D250017CAB)

Consideration was given to the recommendations of the Housing and Planning Scrutiny Select of 12 February 2025 in respect of a revised Local Development Scheme (LDS) which had been updated to account for the delay of the Regulation 18 Local Plan consultation.

In accordance with the timeframe provided by Government following the publication of the revised National Planning Policy Framework, local authorities were required to update their LDS and submit the timetable by 6 March 2025.

Cabinet had due regard to the views of the Scrutiny Select Committee, the financial and value for money implications, gave careful consideration to the risks associated with the delivery of the Local Plan and welcomed the proposed timescales to undertake the second stage of Regulation 19 Local Plan consultation in October 2025.

In accordance with Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rule and given the requirement to submit the LDS by 6 March 2025, the Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the Group Leaders had consented to the ‘suspension’ of the call-in procedure to prevent any delay seriously prejudicing the Council’s or the public’s interest. This collaborative approach was welcomed by Cabinet.

Cllr Taylor proposed, seconded by Cllr Boughton and Cabinet 

RESOLVED:  That the updated Local Development Scheme (February 2025) attached at Annex 1, be approved.

This report seeks Member approval of a revised Local Development Scheme (LDS).

The Risk Register (Annex 2)  is attached as an annex to the report providing an update on the Revised NPPF.

Careful consideration was given to a revised Local Development Scheme (LDS), which had been updated to account for the delay of the Regulation 18 Local Plan consultation as a result of the Government’s ‘Proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and other changes to the planning system’ consultation and the implications of this for plan-making.  It was noted that in accordance with the timeframe provided by the Government following the publication of the revised NPPF, local authorities were required to update their LDS and submit the timetable by 6 March 2025.

Key stages of the revised LDS were set out in a timetable included in Annex 1 to the report and particular reference was made to the proposed timescales to undertake the second stage of Regulation 18 Local Plan consultation in October 2025, to publish the Pre-Submission Local Plan at Regulation 19 in Quarter 2 of 2026/27 and to submit the Local Plan to the Secretary of State by 12 December 2026.

Risks associated with the delivery of a Local Plan by the deadline set by the Government were summarised in paragraph 9.5 of the report and detailed in the Risk Register attached at Annex 2.

RECOMMENDED:*  That

(1)          the updated Local Development Scheme (February 2025), attached at Annex 1, be commended to Cabinet for approval.

*Recommended to Cabinet