Issue - meetings

Agreed:

RESOLVED that the Local Development Scheme be approved as the basis for preparing local planning policy and in particular, the new Local Plan.

Reason for Decision: As set out in the report.

The Executive received the report on the revised Local Development Scheme which provided a scope and timetable for the preparation of the new Local Plan and the approach for the preparation of other planning policy documents. Members noted that the existing Local Development Scheme was out of date following the end of the Greater Exeter Strategic Plan (GESP) process and that a full Local Plan was now required as part of the statutory local planning policy. The principal milestones for preparing the new Local Plan were:-

·        Issues consultation:                                  September 2021

·        Draft plan consultation:                             September 2022

·        Publication:                                               February 2023

·        Submission to Planning Inspectorate:      June 2023

·        Examination hearings:                              October 2023

·        Adoption:                                                   June 2024

The Deputy Chief Executive advised that, the new Local Plan was still in its early stages of work and a target adoption date of 2024 was considered appropriate, due to the uncertainties around the future content and structure of Local Plans as identified in the 2020 Planning White Paper proposals.  A consultation document and draft Statement of Community Involvement would be reported to the Executive on 6 July 2021 and would set out how communities and stakeholders would be involved in the development of the Plan.

Councillor D. Moore, as an opposition leader, enquired on the following areas:-

·        would there be a dedicated webpage, detailing a timetable and updates as the process developed, to ensure that the public could understand the process?;

·        would the Council’s Development Company, ‘Exeter City Living’ be included in the Local Plan process in the same way as other developers? Could the Portfolio Holder clarify the status of the Liveable Exeter programme in relation to the development of the Local Plan and the Council’s role in leading the programme would be managed separately from the its role as the planning authority; and

·        what support had been given to the officer planning team who had prepared the report to develop the Local Plan to assess the carbon impact of the timetable and plan?

The Leader advised that a response would be provided separately.

In response to a question from a Member, the Deputy Chief Executive advised that 2024 was considered a realistic target date for completion of the work, given the current planning framework. There were key areas to be decided on by Government as a result of their consultation on the Planning White Paper. Once this was enacted through legislation, officers would be able to determine any impact on the timescales for developing the Local Plan and will advise Members accordingly.

RESOLVED that the Local Development Scheme be approved as the basis for preparing local planning policy and in particular, the new Local Plan.