Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Planning and Emergency Planning.

That the response agreed with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Emergency Planning, be endorsed.

Reason for the decision

Dorset Council must engage constructively with the New Forest National Park Authority in preparing its Local Plan, including responding to cross‑boundary matters such as housing need and provision for gypsy, traveller and travelling showpeople. A draft consultation response, agreed with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Emergency Planning and included at Appendix B of the report of 29 January 2026, had been submitted to the Authority. Following Cabinet’s consideration, Dorset Council would confirm that this response was final or amend and resubmit it to replace the original draft.

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Emergency Planning presented a report on the New Forest National Park Local Plan response.

The response to the consultation was set out at Appendix B of the report and Members were asked to endorse the comments that had been agreed by the Cabinet Member for Planning and Emergency Planning.

The Cabinet Member and Corporate Director for Planning confirmed that all approved development in Dorset included sufficient mitigation for impacts on internationally protected habitats. In the case of the New Forest, Dorset had a duty to ensure mitigation was in place; without it, those developments could not be approved. While the New Forest District Council delivered the mitigation, Dorset Council ensured the necessary contributions were passed to them. This process was based on the actual habitat impact not on administrative boundaries. The cost of Dorset Council’s administrative process was met by the Community Infrastructure Levy.

It was proposed by Cllr S Bartlett and seconded by Cllr B Wilson

Decision

That the response agreed with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Emergency Planning, be endorsed.

Reason for the decision

Dorset Council must engage constructively with the New Forest National Park Authority in preparing its Local Plan, including responding to cross‑boundary matters such as housing need and provision for gypsy, traveller and travelling showpeople. A draft consultation response, agreed with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Emergency Planning and included at Appendix B of the report of 29 January 2026, had been submitted to the Authority. Following Cabinet’s consideration, Dorset Council would confirm that this response was final or amend and resubmit it to replace the original draft.