1.  That the draft Statements of Common Ground, attached at Exempt Appendices 1 and 2 to this report, be approved.

2.  That the process for agreeing amended and new Statements of Common Ground as set out at Appendix A be noted.

See Record of Decision.

The Lead Member for Planning and Infrastructure introduced the item and asked the Committee to consider the two Statements of Common Ground (SoCG) within the Exempt Appendices to the report. Attention was drawn to the urgent update which removed the recommendation for delegated authority to be given to the Interim Director (Local Plan Review) to agree new and updated SoCG during the Local Plan Review Independent Examination.

The Lead Member intended to take decisions regarding both new and updated SoCG, outlining the constitutional requirement for Member decisions to be first considered by a Policy Advisory Committee (PAC), and then the decision made at a public meeting. Neither of these were requirements for Officer decisions, so the Member decision-making process was viewed to be more open. During the Local Plan Review (LPR) Independent Examination, decisions may be required urgently, in which case the Lead Member would advise the Chairman and Vice-Chair of the Committee of the decision prior to it being taken.

In response to disagreement regarding details stated in the SoCG, the Lead Member expressed confidence that the documents were factual. It was advised that specific concerns could be addressed outside of the Committee meeting to allow the meeting to remain in public session.

RESOLVED: That

1.  The draft Statements of Common Ground, attached at Exempt Appendices 1 and 2 to the report, be recommended to the Lead Member for Planning and Infrastructure for approval; and

2.  The process for agreeing amended and new Statements of Common Ground be noted.