Issue - meetings

To receive a presentation from Adrian Fisher, Strategic Planning and Housing Manager, on the Cheshire East Local Plan.

Adrian Fisher, Strategic Planning and Housing Manager attended the meeting and provided a presentation in respect of the Cheshire East Local Plan and its links to health. It was noted that it was a statutory development plan, the purpose of which was to guide growth and development and provided a benchmark for planning applications.

The Local Plan key influences were health infrastructure, promoting health and independence in housing and healthy communities. The Plan proposed 27,000 homes over the next 20 years, with new district communities and the Council would need to ensure there were accompanying community facilities for residents.

It was noted that the Localism Act established a new duty to co-operate, which included the health sector. Flowing from this, the Local Plan would be accompanied by an infrastructure plan that set out key requirements. The Community Infrastructure Levy could assist with this, but it was hugely oversubscribed.

As well as providing the basic standards of layout, privacy and amenity, the Local Plan would need to provide for the right mix, tenure and support for healthy independent living and provide housing for an ageing population.

The planning system had a large role in environmental protection e.g. pollution, flooding and quality of life and the Local Plan would have policies to cover these issues. In addition, one of the priorities in the Local Plan would be to promote green infrastructure and recreation, with a view to active and healthy lifestyles.

It would also be necessary to ensure that development was linked with different travel modes, allowing for active lifestyles. There were also broader considerations to ensure that there was adequate access to open space and recreation.  There was also a need for Local Plan Policies with ‘hooks’ to health objectives and Health & Social Care Impact assessments to assess how development would impact on communities.

Finally, reference was made to Building Control. Although this was not part of the Local Plan, it was important in achieving health objectives, such as fire safety, ventilation etc.

The next steps for the Local Plan process were outlined as follows:-

·         26 February – consultation on ‘preferred option’ ended

·         3 May – 30 May – alternative sites consultation

·         March / June – preparation of final local plan core strategy

·         July – approval process

·         July / September– statutory consultation on final plan

·         Autumn – submission of plan to secretary of state

·         Winter 2013/14 independent examination

·         Spring / Summer 2014 – adoption

Following the presentation, members of the board asked a number of questions. It was noted that it would be important for the Health and Wellbeing Board to work in partnership with Planners in respect of this matter.

RESOLVED

That a service commissioning workshop take place at the next informal meeting of the Board on 21 May, to consider the above issues.