Issue - meetings

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

(a)    That Cabinet agrees to progress the Dorset Council Local Plan via the new plan-making system;

(b)    That the governance arrangements outlined in the report be agreed, delegating the detailed arrangements to the Cabinet Member for Planning and Planning Enforcement in consultation with the Corporate Director for Planning;

(c)    That the indicative timetable for the production of the local plan as set out in Appendix 1 (of the Cabinet report – 28 July 2026) be agreed with the detail being delegated to the Cabinet Member for Planning and Planning Enforcement and the Corporate Director for Planning, to review and vary this timetable and update and publish when necessary;

(d)    That the content and publication of the formal Notice of Intent to Commence Plan Making included in Appendix 2 (of the Cabinet report – 28 July 2026) be agreed;

(e)    That the outline of the focused Scoping Consultation and Consultation Strategy in Appendix 3 (of the Cabinet report – 28 July 2026) be noted with the detail to be agreed with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Planning Enforcement;

(f)      That the spend of up to £1,000,000, initially funded from Local Plan Reserves, to bring in additional support to the project as and when needed, be agreed.

Reason for the decision

To put the necessary arrangements in place to enable the Dorset Council Local Plan to be prepared as quickly and efficiently as possible under the new plan-making system.

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Planning Enforcement advised that, in response to changes introduced by the Government to the local plan-making system, Dorset Council was required to transition to the new-style Local Plan framework, with a timetable a 30-months. He noted that Dorset was not alone in facing this challenge, with many local planning authorities across the country working to adapt to the new requirements.

In response to comments, the Cabinet Member acknowledged members' frustrations regarding the time taken to develop a new Local Plan and recognised the importance of maintaining momentum as implementation progressed.

It was proposed by Cllr S Bartlett and seconded by Cllr N Ireland

Decision

(a)    That Cabinet agrees to progress the Dorset Council Local Plan via the new plan-making system;

(b)    That the governance arrangements outlined in the report be agreed, delegating the detailed arrangements to the Cabinet Member for Planning and Planning Enforcement in consultation with the Corporate Director for Planning;

(c)    That the indicative timetable for the production of the local plan as set out in Appendix 1 (of the Cabinet report – 28 July 2026) be agreed with the detail being delegated to the Cabinet Member for Planning and Planning Enforcement and the Corporate Director for Planning, to review and vary this timetable and update and publish when necessary;

(d)    That the content and publication of the formal Notice of Intent to Commence Plan Making included in Appendix 2 (of the Cabinet report – 28 July 2026) be agreed;

(e)    That the outline of the focused Scoping Consultation and Consultation Strategy in Appendix 3 (of the Cabinet report – 28 July 2026) be noted with the detail to be agreed with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Planning Enforcement;

(f)     That the spend of up to £1,000,000, initially funded from Local Plan Reserves, to bring in additional support to the project as and when needed, be agreed.

Reason for the decision

To put the necessary arrangements in place to enable the Dorset Council Local Plan to be prepared as quickly and efficiently as possible under the new plan-making system.