To comment on the report to be considered by Cabinet on the 28 July 2016.

The Team Leader – Borough Local Plan, Florence Churchill, informed the Panel that the report provided an update on the proposed Pre Submission Publication Draft Borough Local Plan.  It was noted that the report recommended that the Borough Local Plan proceeded to formal consultation under Regulation 19 of the Town and Country Planning(Local Planning)(England) Regulations 2012.  

The Team Leader – Borough Local Plan went onto explain that the report had been published for information only as it did not form any part of the formal consultation process.  It was noted that when the report had been included in the agenda the Golf Course had not been included, a situation which had since changed.  Members were informed to expect the numbers in the document to change significantly by approximately 2000 – 3000 dwellings, therefore improving the Councils position of being able to meet 66% to almost 85% of the Objectively Assessed Need (OAN). 

The  Team Leader – Borough Local Plan thanked Richard Bate for his useful guidance in how to restructure the way in which the document was presented. 

Councillor Beer questioned whether the blank headings in the report, currently marked as ‘to follow’, would be filled in (e.g. local wildlife) before it went before Cabinet.  The Team Leader – Borough Local Plan confirmed that the blanks would be filled in and agreed to send Councillor Beer a link to local wildlife sites.  The Lead Member for Planning informed everyone present that this would also go to Full Cabinet on the 10 August 2016 for full debate.    

Councillor Beer made reference to an email he had sent the Panel, the Panel substitutes, Chris Hilton, Simon Fletcher, Jenifer Jackson and the Clerk today at 14:21 and requested that reference be made to it.   

The Chairman thanked the officers involved in the Borough Local Plan, which was echoed by the Panel.

The Vice-Chair thanked the Chairman for his great involvement and guidance, which was echoed by the Panel.

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the Panel unanimously agreed to recommend to Cabinet the following:

1.  Endorse the Pre Submission Publication Draft Borough Local Plan (Publication Version) to proceed to public consultation under Regulation 19 of the Town and Country Planning(Local Planning)(England) Regulations 2012 and then submit to the Secretary of State, along with supporting documents for examination in public;

2.  Delegates authority to the Strategic Director of Corporate and Community Services in consultation with the Lead Member for Planning , following receipt of revised population estimates, to amend the level of Objectively Assessed Need (OAN) and make other changes as appropriate to the plan to incorporate the new figure;

3.  Delegates authority to the Strategic Director of Corporate and Community Services in consultation with the Lead Member for Planning to make editorial and formatting amendments to the Pre Submission Publication Draft  Borough Local Plan and accompanying documents to correct errors without altering the meaning of the plan before submission;

4.  Delegates authority to  the Strategic Director of Corporate and Community Services in consultation with the Lead Member for Planning, to submit the Borough Local Plan and accompanying documents to the Secretary of State following the conclusion of the consultation period, along with the representations received and a summary thereof;

5.  Delegates authority to the Strategic Director of Corporate and Community Services in consultation with the Lead Member for Planning to make proposed changes to the plan before, during and after the public examination process in order to respond to matters raised throughout the consultation and examination process.