1.        PURPOSE OF REPORT AND EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1.1     This is an information-only report to update the Committee on the progress with the Local Plan Examination and to provide an indication of the next steps.  The Government’s latest position regarding the Housing White Paper is also set out for the Committee’s information.

2.        INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

Examination

2.1     The Committee last received an update on the Local Plan Examination at its meeting on 8^th November 2016.  Since that report was published, the Examination has sat for a further 12 days between 8^th November and 13^th December inclusive.  The aspects of the Local Plan which have been discussed at these hearings are;

·         Rural Services Centres

·         Employment policies and allocations

·         Retail and mixed use development

·         Yalding (the other ‘Larger Villages’ were debated at an earlier hearing)

·         Gypsies & Travellers

·         Development Management policies

·         Transport and infrastructure

·         Housing land supply (additional session)

·         Alternative sites i.e. sites not allocated  in the Local Plan which developers/landowners are promoting for inclusion

·         Air quality: the Inspector held an additional session to consider whether the Local Plan includes suitable policies and monitoring arrangements to support air quality improvement.  The need for the session was prompted by the High Court decision on 2nd November which determined that the national Air Quality Plan does not comply with the relevant European directive. 

·         Modifications: session to discuss the proposed changes to the Plan that have been put forward during the Examination process in response to the Inspector’s questions and instructions.

·         Monitoring indicators

Next steps

2.2     The Inspector has stated that he will issue ‘Interim Findings’ which will set out his position on key aspects of the Plan. In the Interim Findings the Inspector is likely to determine that specific ‘Main Modifications’ to the Plan are needed in order for him to be able to find the Plan sound.  The detailed nature of the Inspector’s challenges during the hearings indicate that such changes to the Plan are highly likely to be needed. In particular the Inspector has indicated that a prompt Local Plan Review will be needed to address risks to delivery in the longer term.  The Inspector is directing that this Review would need to be adopted by April 2021.  

2.3     As part of his Interim Findings, the Inspector is also likely to request that the Council undertakes some further work prior to him reaching his final conclusions on the Plan. The Inspector has indicated that a further hearing will be held in late January/early February and it is expected that he will issue an agenda for this hearing and/or clarify its scope beforehand. Officers will prepare a report for 7^th February meeting of this Committee setting out the content of the Interim Findings. 

2.4     A further meeting will be arranged for late February focusing on the proposed Main Modifications (as known at the time) to enable the Committee to decide whether to proceed with public consultation on these Modifications. Other ‘minor changes’ will also be proposed which, whilst not required for soundness, are needed to update, clarify or correct the Plan. The consultation will be limited to the Main Modifications and minor changes only; it will not be an opportunity for respondents to object to other, unchanged aspects of the Plan with which they disagree.

2.5     The issues raised in the consultation responses will be reported back to this Committee. The Inspector will review the consultation responses and determine whether additional hearings will be required prior to him issuing his final report. Whilst the overall timetable is primarily in the Inspector’s hands, it is hoped that these processes can be completed in time for the Local Plan to be adopted by May 2017.

Housing White Paper

2.6     The government intends to issue a Housing White Paper which will unveil its response to the Local Plans Expert Group’s recommendations on speeding up and simplifying the Local Plan process, revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework, its position on Starter Homes and its proposals for a review of the Community Infrastructure Levy. Whilst the government had intended to issue the paper before the end of the 2016, it has now indicated that it will be published ‘in due course’, hopefully in January.

2.7     The Committee will be kept informed of the relevant implications.

3.        AVAILABLE/PREFERRED OPTION AND REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

3.1     The Committee is asked to note the progress with the Local Plan Examination.

4.       CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES AND IMPLICATIONS

5.        REPORT APPENDICES

6.        BACKGROUND PAPERS

None.