The Strategic Planning Manager introduced the report as a statutory document, which outlined the timetable for the future stages of the Local Plan Review.

The current version was approved in July 2018; however, an amended timetable was proposed to reflect the revised proposals including a two-stage public consultation review and information on the overall work programme proposal. Details on meeting the first milestone were shown in sections 1.3 and 1.4.

During the debate it was felt by some Members that the resolution of full Council, passed on 18 December 2019, to expedite the call for sites process, had not been taken into account in developing the Local Development Scheme. The Head of Planning Development Management confirmed that much of the response against proposed development was an inability of the existing road infrastructure to cope with increased demand. Therefore, the importance of a robust evidence-based approach to examining the proposed sites was necessary in order to determine planning applications properly.

A question was asked of the Interim Local Plan Review Director, concerning whether the resources needed to adhere to the newly proposed timetable were available. The Officer responded that the resources would be monitored closely throughout all stages of the process and that if necessary, additional resources would be allocated to fulfilling this timetable. It was also confirmed that should the timetable need to be changed again; it would be subject to the approval of this Committee.

Whilst many Members expressed a sense of unease with the proposed delayed timetable, it was felt that there were no other options than to move forward. Several members expressed their support for Option A for this purpose only.

It was suggested that the Committee be regularly updated, by Officers, on the progress of the Local Development Scheme.

RESOLVED: That

1. This Committee resolve to recommend to Council that the Local Development Scheme 2020 – 2022 be approved to come into effect on the 8 April 2020; and

2. Officers provide a short-written update at each meeting of this Committee, concerning any slippage and/or progress on delivering the plan on the timescale agreed, subject to its referral to Full Council.