Agenda item

This report asks Members to recommend that the Executive approve the publication of a document entitled ‘Local Plan – Preferred Sites 2016’ for consultation. The documents draws on the previous stages of consultation and technical work undertaken to support the plan and will allow the public and other interested parties to comment on the additional work relating to housing and employment land need and supply.

Resolved:  That in accordance with Option One, the Executive:

(i)      Approve the document attached as Annex A, to the report, along with supporting evidence and information for public consultation.

(ii)      Delegate to the Director of City and Environmental Services (CES) in consultation with the Executive  Leader and Deputy Leader the making of any changes to the draft document attached as Annex A that are necessary as a result of the recommendations of Executive or any minor non substantial amendments that are identified prior to the issue of the consultation document.

(iii)     Delegate to the Director of City and Environmental Services, in consultation with the Executive Leader and Deputy Leader, the approval of a Consultation Strategy and associated documents.

(iv)    Delegate to the Director of City and Environmental Services in consultation with the Executive Leader and Deputy Leader the approval of supporting evidence, information and documentation to be published during public consultation.

(v)     Approve the draft LDS attached as Annex H to the report, as the Council’s project plan for progressing the Local Plan and other development plan and related documents.

(vi)    That, in respect of site ST15: Land to the West of Elvington Lane, an expression of interest be made in the context of the DCLGProspectus – Locally-led  garden villages, towns and cities on the basis of the current site as defined in the Preferred Sites Document (Annex A to the report).

Reasons:   (i)      So that a National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) compliant Local Plan can be progressed.

(ii)      So that changes recommended as a result of discussions at the LPWG and the Executive can be made and any presentational errors can be addressed.

(iii) & (iv)      To ensure that the proposed methods of consultation are satisfactory to Members and accord with the Council’s adopted Statement of Community Involvement.

(v)       So that an NPPF compliant Local Plan can be progressed and to provide information to interested parties about the next stages of development for the documents listed.

                  (vi)      To ascertain whether support from the Government would be forthcoming in respect of funding and expertise which would help progress the development of the site.

Consideration was given to a report which asked the Executive to approve the publication of the ‘Local Plan – Preferred Sites 2016’ document for consultation. It was noted that work had progress on the preparation of a revised Local Plan following the Local Government Elections in May 2015 to deliver housing, focus on brownfield land and to protect the Green Belt and the character of the city. Approval of the new Plan would allow public and other interested parties to comment on the additional work on housing and employment land need and supply.

Copies of the draft minutes and recommendations of the Local Plan Working Group (LPWG) from their meeting held on 27 June were circulated and the Chair, Cllr Ayre confirmed the Plan as robust and meeting the housing and employment needs of the city.

Officers referred to the eight week statutory consultation and the project plan for the progression of the Local Plan over the next two years with the intention to consult on a publication draft plan early in 2017, followed by submission to Government in May 2017.

The Executive Member thanked Officers for their work on the Plan and encouraged all in the city to enter into the consultation.

The Chair welcomed Members comments in respect of housing numbers, the environmental capacity study and the maintenance of open spaces and he reiterated the request for the public’s comments to ensure the production of an evidence based plan.

Consideration was then given to the following options:

Option 1: That the Executive, subject to any recommended changes, approve the ‘Local Plan – Preferred Sites 2016’ Document attached as Annex A, along with supporting evidence and information for public consultation.

Option 2: That the Executive instruct officers to make changes to the ‘Local Plan – Preferred Sites 2016’ document and produce a further report and draft for consideration.

Resolved:  That in accordance with Option One, the Executive:

(i)      Approve the document attached as Annex A, to the report, along with supporting evidence and information for public consultation.

(ii)      Delegate to the Director of City and Environmental Services (CES) in consultation with the Executive  Leader and Deputy Leader the making of any changes to the draft document attached as Annex A that are necessary as a result of the recommendations of Executive or any minor non substantial amendments that are identified prior to the issue of the consultation document.

(iii)     Delegate to the Director of City and Environmental Services, in consultation with the Executive Leader and Deputy Leader, the approval of a Consultation Strategy and associated documents.

(iv)    Delegate to the Director of City and Environmental Services in consultation with the Executive Leader and Deputy Leader the approval of supporting evidence, information and documentation to be published during public consultation.

(v)     Approve the draft Local Development Scheme attached as Annex F to the report, as the Council’s project plan for progressing the Local Plan and other development plan and related documents. ^1.

(vi)    That, in respect of site ST15: Land to the West of Elvington Lane, an expression of interest be made in the context of the Department for Communities and Local GovernmentProspectus – Locally-led  garden villages, towns and cities on the basis of the current site as defined in the Preferred Sites Document (Annex A to the report). ^2.

Reasons:   (i)      So that a National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) compliant Local Plan can be progressed.

(ii)      So that changes recommended as a result of discussions at the LPWG and the Executive can be made and any presentational errors can be addressed.

(iii) & (iv)      To ensure that the proposed methods of consultation are satisfactory to Members and accord with the Council’s adopted Statement of Community Involvement.

(v)       So that an NPPF compliant Local Plan can be progressed and to provide information to interested parties about the next stages of development for the documents listed.

                 (vi)       To ascertain whether support from the Government would be forthcoming in respect of funding and expertise which would help progress the development of the site.