Agenda item

72/16              

A report was considered that set out how the Council would meet the requirement of the Government to maintain an up to date Local Plan and, in accordance with the resolution of the Council, to prepare a Joint Local Plan (JLP) with South Hams District Council and Plymouth City Council.

In their introduction, the Council’s Member representatives on the Joint Steering Group took Members through each Section of the JLP and the erratum that had been circulated since the agenda had been published.  The Members also informed that this was a historic moment for two reasons:

1.      The significant level of co-operation that had been carried out between officers and Members across the three local authorities to reach this point; and

2.      The JLP setting out a spatial strategy for the sub-region that put the three local authorities at the forefront of local planning.

In the subsequent discussion, reference was made to:-

(a)   the Infrastructure Needs Assessment.  A Member referred to the comment in the JLP whereby ‘to support the identification and delivery of infrastructure across the Plan Area, an Infrastructure Needs Assessment had been produced’ and questioned when this document would be published.  In response, it was intended that this would be published at the same time as the JLP;

(b)   financial contributions.  For clarity, it was confirmed that the three partner local authorities had each individually approved a sum of £50,000 to fund the Joint Local Plan during the 2017/18 financial year;

(c)    five year land supply.  In the event of one of the partner authorities not being in a position to demonstrate a five year land supply, it was confirmed that this would not have any impact on either of the other two councils;

(d)       the success of the process to date.  A number of Members wished to put on record their thanks to the lead officers and Members of the Joint Steering Group who had each put in a tremendous amount of hard work and effort to deliver this Plan in what was an incredibly tight timescale;

(e)       the consultation exercise.  In response to some concerns,  the Steering Group Members advised that every effort had been made to take into account all of the consultation responses received during this process;

(f)     concerns over the JLP document.  Some Members advised of their objections to the document that included:

-       the general lack of consultation with local ward Members.  In addition, a Member wished to contest the comment whereby adequate public consultation had taken place;

-       the public perception associated with reducing affordable housing contributions to only 30%;

-       the lack of provision to key worker housing;

-       the sheer numbers of housing being proposed in the plan and the excessive reference to building second homes and vacant properties;

-       the irrelevance of the strategic transport policies for rural villages;

-       the scale of proposed development in Dartington would lead to major ramifications in this parish; and

-       policy DEV8 having major ramifications for local villages and the wider rural area.

(g)   protection of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).  A Member welcomed the emphasis in the plan to protecting and preserving the AONB;

(h)   the shortcomings in previous plans.  The view was expressed that this plan addressed the shortcomings in previous plans and would prevent developers from submitting applications to build on Greenfield sites;

(i)     the scale of development proposed in Woolwell.  Whilst commending the work that had been undertaken to mitigate local concerns in Woolwell and the proposed highway infrastructure improvements in the area, the local ward Member highlighted that there still remained a great deal of local opposition to the Plan.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 15.5, a recorded vote was then called for on the motion.  The voting on the motion was then recorded as follows:-

For the motion (18):               Cllrs Bastone, Bramble, Brown, Cuthbert, Foss, Gilbert, Green, Hicks, Holway, May, Pearce, Pennington, Saltern, Smerdon, Steer, Tucker, Wingate and Wright.

Against the motion (6):            Cllrs Baldry, Birch, Brazil, Hodgson, Huntley                                                             and Vint.

Abstentions (1):                       Cllr Hopwood.

Absent (6):                              Cllrs Blackler, Cane, Hawkins, Hitchins, Pringle and Rowe.

It was then:

RESOLVED

1.   That the Plymouth and South West Devon Joint Local Plan (as set out in the Appendix to the presented agenda report) be formally approved and that the Plan be subject to a six-week period for representations to be received, pursuant to Regulation 19 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012;

2.   That, following the completion of the six-week period for representations, the Local Plan be formally submitted for Public Examination;

3.   That authority be delegated to the Community Of Practice Lead (Place Making), in consultation with the Joint Local Plan Member Steering Group, to agree minor amendments to the Plymouth and South West Devon Joint Local Plan prior to its submission;

4.   That the Plymouth and South West Devon Joint Local Plan Steering Group continue to oversee the Joint Local Plan to ensure its effective monitoring and review and that officers be instructed to draw up a revised Collaboration Agreement to this effect between South Hams District Council, Plymouth City Council and West Devon Borough Council with responsibility delegated to the Executive Director (Strategy and Commissioning) for signing the Collaboration Agreement, in consultation with the lead Executive Member for Strategic Planning; and

5.   That the Joint Local Plan be corrected prior to publication (as set out in the erratum dated 27 February 2017).