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.

Councillor Beverley Dooley (Macclesfield Central) referred to concerns regarding environmental impact, particularly air quality and car parking; and she asked whether car parking and availability would be considered as part of the planning process.

The Portfolio Holder responded that whilst an environmental impact assessment was not required as part of this Local Development Order process the Council would do all it could to mitigate against potential problems in these areas.

To authorise the commencement of the formal period of consultation for two Local Development Orders in Macclesfield Town Centre.

1.    That approval be given to the commencement of the formal period of consultation on the Local Development Orders (LDOs) for Northside and Whalley Hayes, Macclesfield.

2.    That the Director of Planning and Sustainable Development be authorised to approve any amendments required to the LDOs as result of the responses received through the public consultation, prior to the final LDO being presented to Strategic Planning Board for adoption.

It was reported that Local Development Orders (LDOs) are made by Local Planning Authorities (LPA) and give a grant of planning permission to specific types of development within a defined area. They streamline the planning process by removing the need for developers to make a planning application to a LPA and create certainty and save time and money for those involved in the planning process; the primary function being to accelerate the delivery of much needed development.    

Following a Cabinet resolution in September 2014 it had been decided to pilot an approach for LDOs within Macclesfield, this formed the basis of a successful bid for funding to the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) to enable the development of two residential led LDOs in Macclesfield.

Following discussions with landowners and interested parties a public consultation on the boundaries of the two LDO had been carried out and the feedback now informed the current position with the LDOs.   Further consultation was now required in order to formalise the boundaries, to allow for comments on the supporting evidence and to test the robustness of the LDOs.  Subject to a positive public consultation exercise and any subsequent revisions the final decision to adopt the LDOs would be made by the Strategic Planning Board (SPB).

At the meeting a correction was made concerning the local ward councillors and it was confirmed that Councillors B Dooley and J Jackson were the representatives for Macclesfield Central, and that Councillors A Arnold and S Gardner represented Macclesfield Tytherington.

RESOLVED

1.    That approval be given to the commencement of the formal period of consultation on the Local Development Orders (LDOs) for Northside and Whalley Hayes, Macclesfield.

2.    That the Director of Planning and Sustainable Development be authorised to approve any amendments required to the LDOs as result of the responses received through the public consultation, prior to the final LDO being presented to Strategic Planning Board for adoption.