Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors B Burkhill, S Hogben, J Jackson, L Smetham and L Wardlaw.

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests and for Members to declare if they have a pre-determination in respect of any item on the agenda.

Prior to Members declaring their interests, the Chairman read out a statement which stated that:

It was noted, for the record, that Members have those interests in property within Cheshire East as are recorded on the register of interests.

It was noted for the record that Members may:-

a)    be a Member of a Town or Parish Council

b)    be a School Governor

c)    be a member of an external organisation or amenity group such as the National Trust or The Ramblers Association.

d)    have previously been involved in or expressed a view on the preparation of the Local Plan

e)    be a Director of a Council owned company or have been appointed by the Council to a role in an external organisation

f)     be involved in decisions about land in their role as a Member of the Council or in any of the “wider public life” roles that Members routinely undertake.

Notwithstanding that this may be the case in respect of any Members that were present, and save for any specific declarations which were invited, a standing declaration was given on behalf of those Members present that:-

1.    They do not have a Disclosable Pecuniary or Non-Pecuniary Interest in the local plan strategy; and, 

2.    they approach the debate and vote on the local plan strategy with an open mind.                                                                       

Members were invited if they did in fact consider themselves to have a disclosable pecuniary or non-pecuniary interest and/or if they feel they are unable to approach the debate and vote on the local plan with an open mind, to declare that to the meeting:no declarations were made.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 28 June 2017 as a correct record.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting held on 28 June 2017 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

A minimum period of 1 hour will be allocated for public speaking and this period may be extended, at the discretion of the Chairman of the Board.  Each public speaker will be allowed to speak for a maximum period of 2 minutes.  Depending on the number of speakers this may be extended to 3 minutes.

RESOLVED

That the public speaking procedure be noted.

To consider a report on the Cheshire East Local Plan.

Members are reminded to bring their copy of the documentation to the meeting.

A limited number of paper copies of the documents will be available at the meeting for members of the public to refer to, but not to take away.

Copies of the documentation are available for purchase on request. For further details contact the Local Plan Team by telephone number 01270 685893 or by e-mail: localplan@cheshireeast.gov.uk

Consideration was given to the Cheshire East Local Plan.

Members made a number of comments and sought clarification in relation to issues around green gap policies, affordable housing numbers, saved former Borough policies, boundary classification, changes to the scheme of delegation, flexibility on changing site allocation uses, uses on employment sites, the distribution of development in Local Service Centres and Other Settlements and Rural Areas, the role of Supplementary Planning Guidance and where it fits in with the Local Plan, fall back plan if allocated sites remain undeveloped, parking standards and safer routes to schools.

RESOLVED

That Council be recommended to adopt the Local Plan Strategy, as submitted to the Secretary of State on 20th May 2014, subject to the inclusion of:

(i)            the Main Modifications recommended by the Inspector necessary to make the Plan sound (Appendix 1c);

(ii)          the schedule of Additional Modifications (Appendix 2).

Councillor T Fox requested a named vote for this application.

The voting was as follows:-

In Favour                             Against                                   Abstentions

Councillor G Merry              Councillor T Fox                  Councillor J Rhodes

Councillor J Hammond       Councillor M Sewart                        Councillor B Roberts

Councillor S Edgar

Councillor D Hough

Councillor J Macrae

Councillor S Pochin

Councillor G Walton

Councillor M Warren