Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests in any item on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

In accordance with Procedure Rules Nos.11 and 35 a period of 10 minutes is allocated for members of the public to address the meeting on any matter relevant to the work of the body in question.  Individual members of the public may speak for up to 5 minutes but the Chairman or person presiding will decide how the period of time allocated for public speaking will be apportioned where there are a number of speakers. Members of the public are not required to give notice to use this facility. However, as a matter of courtesy, a period of 24 hours’ notice is encouraged.

Members of the public wishing to ask a question at the meeting should provide at least three clear working days’ notice in writing and should include the question with that notice. This will enable an informed answer to be given.

Graham Roberts, on behalf of Wistaston Parish Council, Wistaston Neigbourhood Plan Group and Hands Offf Wistaston Group, requested that Cheshire East Council challenge the Secretary of State’s decision to grant planning permission in Witters Field, off Church Lane, Wistaston, in the High Court as the application was within the green gap; the Secretary of State had only placed limited weight on the emerging Local Plan; there was no mention of the Wistaston Green application in the assessment, and would destroy the rural character of the village. 

In response it was stated that the Council had sought legal advice on whether there were any grounds to challenge the decision and, unfortunately, it had been concluded that there were no grounds for a successful challenge.

Colin Todd, on behalf of Willaston Parish Council, Willaston Neighbourhood Plan Group, Wistaston Neighbourhood Plan Group, Hands Off Wistaston Group and vice chair of the Crewe and Nantwich Area of the ChALC, was concerned that no further action was being taken to appeal the Secretary of State’s decision to allow development at Witters Field, Wistaston and the recent appeal decision for Cheerbrook Road, Willaston, as both these applications were on green gap land.  He was also concerned about the time taken to produce the Local Plan and suggested that additional resources should be added to the Planning Department to increase the speed of progress in developing the Local Plan.

In response it was stated that the Council had put resources in as needed to progress the Local Plan.  The Local Plan Team had worked hard to respond the Inspector’s questions in the 6 months’ timeframe.  One of the issues was the Government’s policy to increase the number of houses and was actively encouraging developers to build.  The Council had made representations about the build rate.

Martin Langhorn, asked about the removal of condition 30 to the approved planning application 12/3114N  - Land to the south of Newcastle Road, Shavington, and why this had been done under delegated authority, when all previous application for the site had gone to the Strategic Planning Board.

A written response would be provided but it was briefly stated that changes to Scheme of Delegation in the Constitution had occurred and, as such variation to conditions applications were not automatically referred to committee but determined under delegated powers unless called in by a Councillor. 

To agree an updated Local Development Scheme which will identify the documents the Council intends to prepare as part of its Local Plan, and the timescale for their presentation

That approval be given to the draft updated Local Development Scheme for publication.

The Cabinet Member considered a report which sought approval for the updated Local Development Scheme, which identified the documents that the Council intended to prepare as part of its Local Plan, and the timescale for their preparation during the period 2016 to 2018.

A local authority had to set out the timetable for producing or reviewing its Local Plan in its Local Development Scheme. This was a legal requirement under Section 15 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended by the Localism Act 2011).

The updated Local Development Scheme would also demonstrate to the Inspector conducting the Local Plan Strategy examination, and others, that the Council was committed to progressing and adopting all parts of the Local Plan in a timely manner.

RESOLVED:

That approval be given to the draft updated Local Development Scheme for publication.