Agenda item - LOCAL PLAN NEXT STEPS

REPORT OF THE INTERIM STRATEGIC PLANNING MANAGER

This report provides an overview of the new plan-making system and sets out a revised Local Plan programme aligned with the requirements of that system.

RESOLVED: That Cabinet:

(1) Approved the broad ‘direction of travel’ for the Local Plan Review pending formal laying and enactment of the relevant legislation and regulations.

(2) Delegated authority to the Director: Place, in consultation with the Executive Member for Place to, following the creation of a new planning system:

a. Publish the formal notice of intention to undertake a review of the Local Plan; and

b. Approve and publish a revised Local Plan timetable, attached as Appendix A, subject to any alterations necessary to ensure alignment of timings with the new statutory framework.

REASON FOR DECISIONS: To ensure the Council is well-positioned to progress preparation of the Local Plan as quickly as possible once the new plan-making system comes into effect. Cabinet previously first resolved, in principle, that a review of the Local Plan should take place in January 2024. However, the Council did not progress on the review which was held back due to the delays in the publication of the regulations and guidance on the new local plan system.

Audio recording – 10 minutes 1 second

Councillor Donna Wright, as Executive Member for Place, presented the report entitled ‘Local Plan Next Steps’ and advised that:

· This report outlined the new local plan-making system and any required actions.

· A review of the Local Plan had been agreed back in January 2024 by Cabinet.

· A timetable was prepared to allow the Local Plan to be adopted by the end of 2027. However, progress had stalled awaiting new government guidelines.

· In November 2025 government guidelines were issued on how councils should prepare Local Plans.

· The new system proposed by government has a 30-month timetable, preceded by a mandatory 4 month ‘Get Ready Period’.

· Examination and adoption of a revised Local Plan was expected within 1 month of the Inspector’s report.

· The revised proposed Local Plan timetable was set out in Appendix A. This would allow completion by the end of 2028 but aiming to submit for examination prior to Local Government Reorganisation.

· The Strategic Planning Team were not fully staffed at present.

· The Local Plan timetable would be kept under review to keep in line with available resources and regular reports to the Strategic Planning Board.

· Cabinet were being asked to approve the general direction of travel for the Local and Plan and to approve delegated powers to publish a Local Plan timetable.

The following Members asked questions:

· Councillor Tamsin Thomas

· Councillor Ian Albert

In response to questions, Councillor Wright advised that:

· The government had made it clear that the 30-month deadline was mandatory.

· The Secretary of State had powers to intervene if authorities were not progressing satisfactorily within the deadline.

· Member workshops were already planned for February and March and public consultations would also be part of the process.

In response to a question, the Interim Strategic Planning Manager advised that:

· A series of Member workshops in February, March and throughout the summer were planned.

· The first ‘scoping’ stage of the Local Plan would happen during the 4 month ‘Get Ready Period’.

· The new requirements meant that a Summary of Consultation would need to be published.

· A Communications Strategy would be developed to ensure communication with the wider community.

In response to a question, the Director – Place advised that:

· The Strategic Planning Team were currently looking to recruit permanent staff.

· The Local Plan timetable would be kept under review in line with resourcing availability.

Councillor Donna Wright proposed and Councillor Tamsin Thomas seconded and, following a vote, it was: