Meeting documents

The Planning Policy Manager presented the report which following the recent Government announced objective for speeding up plan-making, to consider options and a recommended way forward to produce a new Joint Local Plan with South Bucks District Council by early 2017 through a review of the Councils’ approved Local Development Scheme and other associated necessary actions.

 

Members’ attention was drawn to the new Government objectives for local plan-making which required a change to the Council’s approved Local Development Scheme whilst presenting a significant challenge to produce a local plan by early 2017.  The recommended approach was in line with that from the Shared Service Review, and will secure the best opportunity for the Council to meet the Government objective whilst having least financial impact.

 

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL;

 

i)     Subject to agreement by South Bucks District Council, Chiltern District Council agrees to the preparation of a joint Chiltern and South Bucks Local Plan (2014 - 2036) under Section 28 of The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and for the preparation of a joint Chiltern and South Bucks Local Development Scheme to this effect;

 

ii)    Subject to approval of Recommendation 1 above and agreement by South Bucks District Council, that Council approves a joint Chiltern and South Bucks Local Development Scheme timetable such that the timetable comprises the following:

 

a)    public consultation on a joint Local Plan in accordance with Regulation 18 of The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 commencing in January/February 2016 incorporating an ‘Issues and Options’ consultation

 

b)   a preferred options consultation commencing in October/November 2016

 

c)    pre-submission consultation on the Local Plan in accordance with Regulation 19 of The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 commencing in March/April 2017

 

d)   submission of the Plan to the Secretary of State in accordance with Regulation 22 of The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 in September 2017

 

e)    anticipated examination in December 2017

 

f)     anticipated adoption in June 2018

 

g)   on-going Duty to Co-operate

 

h)   review the need for a combined Chiltern and South Bucks community infrastructure levy at the most relevant point between September 2016 and July 2017.

 

iii)   Agree the establishment of a Joint Planning Policy Member Reference Group with:-

 

a)    The Group to consist of equal membership from the two councils, namely respective cabinet members with responsibility for planning plus up to five other members nominated by each council.  Other than for the cabinet members there will be no substitutes and the cabinet members will be free to nominate a substitute member as and when necessary.

 

b)   Meetings will not be open to the public and agendas, reports, documents and any notes of the meeting will be kept confidential amongst the two councils.

 

c)    Other members of the councils will be able to attend the meetings and will be able to contribute to the meeting with the agreement of the Chairman.

 

d)   The Group to have no decision making powers but to provide advice and a steer on the preparation of planning policy matters.  Meetings will be arranged as required in order to progress the joint Local Plan to the Local Development Scheme Timetable, associated matters and other Local Plan related matters after the Local Plan has been adopted with due notice being given.

 

e)    To be quorate, the meeting will require at least two appointed members from each Council to be present.

 

f)     The terms of reference for the Group to be agreed at the first Group meeting.

 

g)   Meetings as far as practicable will generally alternate between Chiltern and South Bucks offices.  Both councils to elect a Chairman at the first meeting, with the chairmanship of meetings alternating between the two Councils (i.e. one chairing one meeting and the next chairing the next meeting at the respective Councils).

 

iv)  That Council agree the nominations for the Chiltern member places on the Group, with those members to remain in place unless otherwise determined by Council.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That Cabinet approve, subject to recommendations 1 and 2 above being agreed by Council and South Bucks District Council:-

 

v)    To delegate authority to the Head of Sustainable Development to update the supporting Local Development Scheme document as a new joint councils Local Development Scheme.  In exercising this delegation the Head of Sustainable Development will consult with and take into account the views of the Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development and the South Bucks District Council Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development.

 

vi)  That notification of the revised Local Development Scheme Timetable be sent as soon as practicable to all Duty to Co-operate organisations, the Bucks Thames Valley Local Enterprise Partnership, the Milton Keynes and Buckinghamshire Natural Environmental Partnership and groups, organisations and individuals on the Council’s Planning Consultation Database.

 

vii) That all of the public consultations on a joint emerging Local Plan to be carried out so as to meet the minimum requirements of both the Chiltern District Council and South Bucks District Council statements of community involvement.

 

viii)                Request as a matter of urgency the Joint Committee consider agreeing to the Planning Policy Team forming a shared service with South Bucks District Councils’ Planning Policy Team, to be located at one of the authorities offices, either at Amersham or Denham.

 

ix)  Request as a matter of urgency the Personnel Committee to consider the staff resource implications for expediting the  local plan to meet the Government objectives.

 

x)    Agree to the funding of £400,000 additional expenditure to be met from the Council’s Planning reserve.