Agenda item

Scoping and vision report for the new Local Plan

This reports sets out the issues associated with setting a scope for the new local plan having considered the views of respondents to the issues and options consultation which are summarised in an appendix to this report.

Minutes:

The Service Lead – Planning Strategy and Development Management presented his report that sought Members views on the proposed single plan approach that would incorporate the strategic elements and development management policies that Members had previously agreed in principle.  He also sought Members views on an early steer on the scope and vision for the new local plan in order to move forward on the issues of the highest priority.

 

Members noted the comments received to each of the options were summarised in the appendix on paragraph 2.6 of the Issues and Options Consultation appended to the report.

 

The Service Lead – Planning Strategy and Development Management advised the Committee that Officers preferred the single plan approach because they felt it was the simplest option of moving the plan production forward with the shortest timescale.  He advised that nearly two thirds of respondents overall also supported the single plan approach.

 

To assist Members with the discussion on the vision of the local plan the Service Lead – Planning Strategy and Development Management drew Members’ attention to the vision that had been developed for the GESP as an example how it could be articulated.  He advised that Members’ views were vital for the local plan to assist with developing a strategy and policies that met Members’ aspirations and could be key to gaining government funding for key projects needed to deliver the plan.  He also drew Members attention to paragraph 9.2 in the report that would assist with discussions and help focus thoughts.

 

Before moving to Committee the Chair reminded Members that as this was one of the main agenda items he emphasised the need for all Members to give their answers to the questions in paragraph 9.2 and to also provide their views on the vision of the local plan.

 

Committee Member discussion covered:

·         Concerns raised that a single plan had been attempted before and had never been fully completed.  A fast local plan completed within a year would not allow time to form policies, particularly around town centres which would need a lot more depth and thought.

·         Clarification sought about whether a single plan was designed to be one component of a multi-level plan.  In response the Service Lead – Planning Strategy and Development Management clarified that a single plan would bring together strategic elements that would have been part of GESP that would form the core strategies with the local level allocations and development management policies.  He advised supplementary planning documents and development plan documents could still be produced to deal with issues that may arise.

·         Prefer a single plan that sits within the National Planning Policy Framework that has the flexibility to include new policies in response to evolving situations.

·         Reference was made to question c) on page 141 and agreed that the GESP vision should be carried forward into a new local plan.

·         Reference was made to question g) and to find a way to provide attainable homes for people and a new way of thinking was welcomed in the local plan to take a greater lead and responsibility in delivering houses that people can actually afford and to look at different ways of working with developers to achieve this.

·         Reference was made to question d) and the importance of including the economic benefits of the culture, leisure and tourism sectors.

·         Reference was made to question g) and the importance of better public transport that works in conjunction with each other.  Cheap parking permits for railway stations to enable people to travel to work without breaking the bank.  In response the Service Lead – Planning Strategy and Development Management advised although public transport services was beyond the control of this council as a planning authority the council could seek to fund projects like the passing loop on the Exeter to Waterloo line through the collection of infrastructure funding from developments.

·         Support for additional supplementary documents.

·         The need to make sustainability and carbon reduction priority objectives

·         Reassured that many of the respondents were supportive of our aims to tackle environmental and climate change.

 

The Chair thanked the Committee and provided a sum up of the comments received which had climate change as the top priority followed by the delivery of green infrastructure and suggested that this could be at the expense of affordable housing emphasising the need for more social housing in the district.

 

In response to the reduction of affordable housing some Members raised concerns and addressed the need to provide housing for people and that if this was the Council’s steer there was a need to send a clear message that the council still believed in affordable housing but was also looking into innovative ways of delivering social housing.

 

The Service Lead – Planning Strategy and Development Management addressed the need for both market and affordable housing in the local plan and drew Members’ attention to government requirements to deliver affordable housing and advised there will always have to be an element of affordable housing for the local plan to be found sound.

 

The Service Lead – Planning Strategy and Development Management sought Members’ views on the following questions in paragraph 9.2 that had not been commented on and to further assist he suggested providing a draft vision for Members to consider at a future meeting.

 

Ø  Were Members happy to incorporate elements of the GESP vision into the local plan?

Ø  Were there any particular growth and development agendas that we should be following or avoiding?

Ø  Is there a particular focus between economic, environment and social aspirations?

 

Further comments from Committee Members included:

·         All aspects of the GESP should be considered as it was a significant piece of work that covered planning requirements and strategies at a much greater level.

·         There would be better funding for infrastructure if we can integrate with Exeter City Council, Devon County Council, Teignbridge District Council and Mid Devon Council in the same way as the GESP.

·         The need to incorporate climate emergency and zero carbon development into the new local plan.

·         Would like to see an emphasis on economic activity being local because it has both an economic and environment advantage.  Small businesses tend to grow faster into bigger businesses.

·         The need to ensure farming is enhancing rather than damaging the environment.

·         The need to invest at economic rental opportunities in towns and villages across the district.

·         Clarification was sought on the progress of the joint strategic body set up with Exeter City Council, Teignbridge District Council and Mid Devon District Council.  In response the Service Lead – Planning Strategy and Development advised a lot of work was going on in the background working on details of governance arrangements, a timetable and resourcing for that plan and advised that a report would be provided to Members on progress at the June meeting.

·         Emphasis on the need to put climate change and infrastructure together.  If infrastructure is not in place when new homes are built then people will have to drive.  Infrastructure needs to be built at the right speed.

·         The need to consider whether we need an implied or overt commitment to social housing. 

·         A suggestion was made to include social housing as a recommendation.

 

It was proposed by Councillor Thomas, seconded by Councillor Davey that recommendation 3 be amended to read:

 

That Members consider the Council Plan as a vision for the future of the district which identifies initial key priorities and outcomes for the future Local Plan production.

 

In response the Service Lead – Planning Strategy and Development Management advised discussions had been helpful and that he did appreciate Councillor Thomas’ comment about the relationship with the Council Plan but said he believed the Local Plan needed a vision of its own that focused on the planning outcomes.  He raised a concern that the adoption of the Council Plan was still a couple of months away which could delay the Local Plan.

 

RESOLVED:

1.         That, in principle, the approach of producing a single Local Plan only that covers all key planning policy matters be endorsed.

2.         That the consultation responses to the proposed objectives for the new Local Plan and confirm that these remain the objectives that they wish the plan to focus on be considered.

3.         That the Council Plan as a vision for the future of the district which identifies initial key priorities and outcomes for the future of Local Plan production  be considered.

Supporting documents: