Issue - meetings

Warren Whyte, Cabinet Member for Planning and Enforcement, introduced the report on pages 25-34 of the agenda pack.  The report set out the two key areas i.e. the current position regarding the scoping work on the Buckinghamshire Local Plan and the broad timetable for its preparation.  Buckinghamshire Council had a statutory duty to adopt a new local plan by 2025.  W Whyte stated that it was timely, particularly due to the changing habits in retail, work and leisure, as result of the recent Covid-19 pandemic.  The scoping of the local development scheme would be carried out in the first year with engagement from stakeholders, communities and neighbours.  Steve Bambrick, Service Director for Planning and Environment, added that the broad vision would need to be established for the area and the economic vision would be developed with partner organisations.  It would be a difficult exercise and the aim was to engage with as many people as possible in order to produce a sustainable and robust plan, with flexibility built in to enable the Council to respond to situations such as the Covid-19 pandemic.

The following points were raised and discussed by Cabinet:

• The Buckinghamshire Local Plan needed to make Buckinghamshire a greener place in the future and the effects of climate change needed to be a major part of the plan.
• Following a query on the timetable for scoping for the Community Involvement Statement from July-December 2020 and whether there would be enough time for engagement to be carried out in areas where the Local Plan had not been adopted; S Bambrick explained that a more detailed timetable would be provided in the Local Development Scheme.  If local issues, raised through the consultation, required more time for consideration, members would be asked to agree an amendment to the timetable.
• It was agreed that superfast broadband and electric charging points should be a top priority and included in all new build properties as standard.
• The plan should dictate the maximum possible number of truly affordable

homes in Buckinghamshire.

• The importance and adherence to of neighbourhood plans was highlighted.  W Whyte stated that all parish councils would be encouraged to provide a neighbourhood plan or refresh their existing plan.
• Population projections would need to be re-dressed along with the housing targets due to the pressures and uncertainties in the county such as the Oxford to Cambridge Arc and Heathrow Airport. 
• A White Paper was due in the autumn 2020 and would need to be taken into account.
• Changes in planning laws were expected which could have an impact.

RESOLVED: Cabinet NOTED the current position regarding the scoping work on the Buckinghamshire Local Plan including the broad timetable for its preparation.