Agenda item

To consider the Local Plan Preferred Options and Proposals Map (Annex A). The Local Plan Preferred Options is part of the development of the final Local Plan and Cabinet are asked to approve this document for the purposes of consultation.

A report on this issue will be considered in detail at the Local Plan Working Group meeting on 22^nd April 2013 and recommendations of the working group will be provided to Cabinet to help inform any decisions taken.

[A copy of the draft minutes of the Local Plan Working Group meeting on 22 April 2013 together with an Annex of Direct Policy or Proposals Changes arising from these Minutes were republished with this agenda on Friday 26 April 2013.]

RESOLVED:       That Cabinet agree to:

(i) approve the City of York Local Plan Preferred Options Draft, at Annex A of the report, along with the supporting information for public consultation, subject to the identified amendments agreed at the Local Plan Working Group meeting on 22 April 2013 set out at Annex1- Direct Policy or Proposals Changes Arising from the Minutes.

(ii)  delegate to the Director of CES in consultation with the Cabinet Member the making of any incidental changes to the draft document that are necessary as a result of the recommendations of Cabinet.

(iii) delegate to the Director of CES in consultation with the Cabinet Member the approval of a Consultation Strategy and associated documents.

(iv) delegate to the Director of CES in consultation with the Cabinet Member the approval of supporting information and documentation to be published during public consultation.

REASONS:         i)   So that an National Planning Policy Framework compliant Local Plan can be progressed.

   ii)   So that changes recommended as a result of discussions at this meeting can be made.

   iii) & iv)    To ensure that the proposed methods of consultation are satisfactory to Members.

Consideration was given to a report which set out details of the Local Plan Preferred Options and Proposals Map at Annex A of the report. The Local Plan comprised a written statement of the planning strategy and vision for the City of York Council, together with strategic policies and development management policies. With the final draft Local Plan being put forward for consultation and submitted for public examination in 2014.

The report was supported by the following Annexes, provided online, with further supporting papers being made available when the Plan was approved for publication:

·        Annex B: Summary of the Outcomes of Sustainability Appraisal/Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment

·        Annex C: Heritage Impact Appraisal

·        Annex D: Community Impact Assessment

This report had also be considered at the Local Plan Working Group meeting held on 22 April 2013. A copy of the draft minutes from that meeting,  together with an Annex setting out the direct policy or proposals changes arising from the minutes, republished with the online agenda and circulated to Members were also examined.

Members were asked to consider the following two options:

Option 1: That Cabinet, subject to identified amendments, approve the document attached as Annex A, along with supporting information for public consultation.

Option 2: That the Cabinet request that officers make changes to the document and produce a further report and draft for consideration.

Members referred to the importance of the Plan for the future of the city and to meet the housing and social needs of residents and to prevent uncontrolled development. The eight week city wide consultation, to be undertaken following  approval of the draft Plan, would give residents the opportunity to inform the production of the submission draft for further consultation in early 2014.

It was confirmed that the city was at present unable to meet the current housing need or those of future generations, particularly in villages.

In reply to a number of the earlier speakers comments the Chair and Members:

·        Reiterated that the Plan would shortly go out for consultation and that residents views and comments would be listened to with any alternative proposals put forward given full consideration.

·        Maintained that the proposed population level and employment growth had been considered correct as had the need to provide the necessary support and new jobs for skilled people in the city.

·        Pointed out that brown field sites were currently in the being developed and agreement that existing infrastructure would require updating.

·        Confirmed that the issues raised in connection with the Common Road, Dunnington site would be examined,  however it was pointed out that there was an over abundance of cricket/football pitches in some areas.

·        Confirmed that support information/evidence base would be provided as part of the consultation and that the Plan would be updated to include any missing housing sites.

·        Indicated that the housing targets were not felt unrealistic and would deliver much needed family housing.

·        Explained that the draft Plan only included details of land allocation, rather than detailed site plans.

·        Endorsed the importance of the document to strengthen the authorities position in relation to future planning applications.

Cabinet Members then went on to individually express their support for the draft Plan.

The Cabinet Member for Transport, Planning and Sustainability and as Chair of the Local Plan Working Group, expressed his thanks to the Head of Integrated Strategy and his team for their commitment to the production of the draft Plan within the short timescales.

Following further discussion it was

RESOLVED:       That Cabinet agree to:

(i) approve the City of York Local Plan Preferred Options Draft, at Annex A of the report, along with the supporting information for public consultation, subject to the identified amendments agreed at the Local Plan Working Group meeting on 22 April 2013 set out at Annex1- Direct Policy or Proposals Changes Arising from the Minutes. ^1.

(ii)  delegate to the Director of CES in consultation with the Cabinet Member the making of any incidental changes to the draft document that are necessary as a result of the recommendations of Cabinet. ^2.

(iii) delegate to the Director of CES in consultation with the Cabinet Member the approval of a Consultation Strategy and associated documents. ^3.

(iv) delegate to the Director of CES in consultation with the Cabinet Member the approval of supporting information and documentation to be published during public consultation. ^4.

REASONS:         i)   So that an National Planning Policy Framework compliant Local Plan can be progressed.

   ii)   So that changes recommended as a result of discussions at this meeting can be made.

   iii) & iv)    To ensure that the proposed methods of consultation are satisfactory to Members.

[As amended by Cabinet at their meeting on 4 June 2013]