Agenda item

This report summarises duty to co-operate considerations and highlights the need for continued work in a number of key areas and summarises the current position in each case and identifies key actions needed.

The report presented to Committee summarised the duty to cooperate current position which identified key actions needed to progress the plan.

These included:

Ø  Housing requirements – uncertainty from other local planning authorities about whether they will be able to meet their housing requirements.

Ø  Employment land  - East Devon objected to employment land provision in the Exeter Regulation 19 plan on the basis that if failed to allocate.  Members noted that discussions were progressing on Statements of Common Ground to set out the respective positions of the two authorities and delegated authority was sought to allow the Assistant Director – Planning Strategy and Development Management to sign it.

Ø  Transport issues related to growth in the West End – work is ongoing on the Greater Exeter Transport Study and will be bought before Committee at the next meeting.

Ø  Implications of additional traffic for the Pebblebed Heaths – work is ongoing working towards a Mitigation Strategy and will be brought to Committee in due course.

Ø  Water quality – Additional work still needs to be completed to align with the current site allocations in the Local Plan and to understand the impacts on transmission infrastructure.

Ø  Green and blue infrastructure.

Ø  Control of pollution.

Ø  Water quality issues.

The Chair strongly endorsed the recommendations as set out in the report and proposed the recommendations subject to an amendment to the fourth recommendation to read:

4.         That Strategic Planning Committee note the update on the Water Cycle Study and agree to include a strategic policy on water quality, as generally described in paragraph 6.3 of this report, the details of which would be finalised following the completion of the water cycle study.

Comments and questions by Committee Members included:

·         Clearer wording in the policy is needed to help major developers understand what is required to improve the water environment.  This would ensure expectations are understood and met.

·         Struggling to understand the Exeter City Council comments on pages 108 and 109.  What is meant by ‘Greater Exeter’ as there is no defined area?  In response the Assistant Director – Planning Strategy and Development Management explained that it dates back to the Economic Development Needs Assessment (EDNA) carried out during the work on the Greater Exeter Strategic Plan which covered the whole area of Devon.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the issues highlighted in the report be noted, particularly those matters that remain unresolved.

2.    That the addition of explanatory text to the local plan to deal with any future significant under delivery of housing in East Devon, or requests from other authorities to help meet their unmet housing requirements, as set out in paragraph 2.3 of the report be agreed.

3.    To note that there continue to be concerns with Exeter City Council’s approach to employment land provision in the Exeter Plan which are being clarified through a Statement of Common Ground. Delegated authority to be granted to the Assistant Director – Planning Strategy and Development Management in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Place, Infrastructure and Strategic Planning to sign a Statement of Common Ground with Exeter City Council which reflect the Council’s position as previously agreed by the Committee.

4.      That the update on the Water Cycle Study be noted and that the inclusion of a strategic policy on water quality, as generally described in paragraph 6.3 of this report, the details of which would be finalised following the completion of the water cycle study, be agreed.