Issue - meetings

1.    That the evidence base which has formed the Pre-Submission Core Strategy be endorsed.

2.    That the Officer responses to the consultations on the Shaping our Future documents, published in January and May 2013, be endorsed.

3.    That approval be given to the Pre-Submission Core Strategy for public consultation, taking into account any tabled minor amendments.

4.    That approval be given for the Pre-Submission Core Strategy to be given weight as a material consideration for Development Management purposes with immediate effect.

The Principal Planning Officer gave a short presentation on the preparation of the Local Plan and the many stages, processes, and consultations that had been gone through to reach the current position.  An extensive suite of documents and key policies had been developed and they now made up the Local Plan as a whole.

Of all the contributing parts of the Local plan it was the issues of population and housing that concerned people the most. With reference to the use of Green Belt land he reported that it had become necessary as, whilst development had been constrained in the past, the opposite was now required.  Because of the shortage of space for development in and around towns in the north of the Borough, and the inability of adjacent Authorities to accommodate some of our development for us, it had become necessary to look at using such areas of land.  

With reference to the Pre-Submission Core Strategy being given weight as a material consideration for development management purposes, it was explained that para 216 of the National Planning Policy Framework stated that unless other material considerations indicated otherwise decision takers could give weight to relevant policies in emerging plans according to certain criteria.  In view of the amount of consultation already carried out, the consideration of public consultation responses by the Strategic Planning Board in respect of the Shaping our Future documents, and that they had been taken into account in finalising the Pre-Submission Core Strategy, it was considered appropriate to attach enhanced weight to it in the decision making process.

The Portfolio Holder confirmed that the decision to be made today was to go out to consultation for a further 6 week period; during that time comments and submissions could be made for final consideration by the Council.   A number of minor changes had been made to the draft Core Strategy since its inclusion on this agenda; these had been circulated at the beginning of the meeting and it would be updated accordingly prior to going out to consultation.

RESOLVED

1.    That the evidence base which has informed the Pre-Submission Core Strategy be endorsed.

2.    That Officer responses to the consultations on the Shaping our Future documents, published in January and May 2013, be endorsed.

3.    That approval be given to the Pre-Submission Core Strategy for public consultation, subject to the minor amendments circulated.

4.    That approval be given for the Pre-Submission Core Strategy to be given weight as a material consideration for development management purposes, with immediate effect.