Agenda item

The report presented to the committee summarised the backstory to the Greater Exeter Strategic Plan (GESP) and its benefits, as well as the need to retain the two additional members of staff to provide sufficient capacity in the Planning Policy Team to continue to work on the Greater Exeter Strategic Plan. The Service Lead – Planning Strategy and Development Management also highlighted that there is a need to fund the continued preparation of the necessary evidence base for the plan over the next year. The report also provided a future timetable for the GESP; the next consultation for the GESP will be in June 2019, which will be based on draft policies and site options, with the draft plan consultation envisaged for the latter part of 2019 and the final publication of the GESP in early 2021.

Points raised during the discussion included:

·     Agreement that the work being undertaken on the GESP is vital to East Devon and the need to ensure this Council funds the staff required.

·     Clarification on whether minutes are available from the GESP Officers’ meeting. In response, the committee were advised that the reports that come to this committee regarding GESP are produced by the Officers that attend the GESP meetings.

·     Concerns around the lack of transport for young people to access higher education facilities.

·     Clarification on whether the review of the Local Plan will produce a new Local Plan. In response, the committee were advised that the current Local Plan runs to 2031 and that the final published GESP will run until 2040. The Service Lead – Planning Strategy and Development Management highlighted that the timeline for adoption of a Local Plan Review is a long way off but it is important to bear in mind that the GESP will supersede large sections of the currently adopted Local Plan and so in many respects the Local Plan Review is already well underway.

·     Clarification on whether the 5-year land supply for each local authority collaborated in the GESP will remain individual or become combined. In response, the committee were advised that the decision has not been made but will need to be considered by Members in due course.

·     Concerns that the timetable for the revision of the local plan is indeterminate and that officers are requested to provide clarity on the review of the Local Plan timetable at the next committee. In response, the committee were advised that the gathering of evidence for the review of the Local Plan is already underway, for example Urban Capacity Assessments, however there is only so much officers can do with regard to the Local Plan due to the production of GESP. The committee were also advised that this Council has a duty to cooperate with other neighbouring authorities on the review and production of the Local Plan.

·     Clarification was sought on whether the Independent Reference Forum is going to meet regarding GESP. In response, the committee were advised that the Independent Reference Forum will meet, however, there is a delay caused by the current examination of Mid Devon District Council’s Local Plan.

RESOLVED:

1.   That the future work programme for Greater Exeter Strategic Plan production be noted.

2.   That the proposed work plan for new East Devon Local Plan production in the light of Greater Exeter Strategic Plan timetables be noted.

3.   That the establishment of a joint budget for the 2019/2020 financial year of 150,000 to fund the continued preparation of the necessary evidence base for the plan on the basis of an equal split of £30,000 per district/city/county Council level authority be endorsed.

4.   That the retention of the two additional members of staff to provide sufficient capacity in the Planning Policy Team to continue to work on the Greater Exeter Strategic Plan and backfilling within the planning policy team (non-GESP) to provide coverage for the seconded officer to GESP be endorsed.

5.   That a detailed timetable for the review of the Local Plan be presented at the next Strategic Planning Committee;

6.   That the Independent Reference Panel be engaged during the production of the Greater Exeter Strategic Plan.

RECOMMENDED TO CABINET:

To include the sum of £30,000 in the draft budget for 2019/20 as this Council’s contribution to the joint budget and to include a sum of £74,800 in the draft budgets for 2019/2020 and 2020/21 each year for staffing costs. Of the total budget requested of £179,600 over the two years, £97,000 will be met from reserves leaving a net additional sum requested of £82,600 required in 2020/21.