Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Portfolio Holder for Planning.

That the full response to the consultation questions, as set out in the Appendix to the Cabinet report of 3 October 2023, be sent to the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC). 

The response welcomes the proposed amendments that simplify the plan making process but expresses concern over the tight timetable for the preparation of a new style local plan.

Reason for the decision

To enable the Council to influence the changes to the local plan making process being proposed by Government.

The Portfolio Holder for Planning presented a report setting out the council’s proposed response to the government’s consultation on changes to how local plans were prepared.  The draft response was set out at Appendix 1 to the report of 3 October 2023. 

The Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill proposed a number of changes to the planning system and was currently passing through parliament.  There was some uncertainty over when the Bill would receive Royal Assent, but the expectation was the changes to the planning system would be put into place by late 2024. The current consultation focused on changes to the approach for preparing local plans with the aim of implementing a more streamlined and focused approach.

In response to questions, the Portfolio Holder advised that the local plan review was not delayed but had taken a different approach for its review and was on track for it to be adopted by Spring 2026.

In response to further questions members were advised that the Housing Strategy and its consultation would be considered by Cabinet at its meeting in December.

It was proposed by Cllr D Walsh and seconded by Cllr B Quayle

Decision

That the full response to the consultation questions, as set out in the Appendix to the Cabinet report of 3 October 2023, be sent to the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC). 

The response welcomes the proposed amendments that simplify the plan making process but expresses concern over the tight timetable for the preparation of a new style local plan.

Reason for the decision

To enable the Council to influence the changes to the local plan making process being proposed by Government.