Issue - meetings

RECOMMENDATIONS:

Cabinet recommends to Council that it resolves that:

1. The Winchester District Proposed Submission Local Plan (Regulation 19) (Appendix 1) and the accompanying Integrated Impact Assessment (Appendix 2) and Habitats Regulations Assessment (Appendix 3) are approved for Publication for a period of 6 weeks anticipated to start on 29 August 2024;

2. Following Publication, the Winchester District Proposed Submission Local Plan (Regulation 19) and supporting documents be submitted to the Secretary of State for Examination, together with the Regulation 19 representations and a summary;

3. Authority be delegated to the Strategic Planning Manager in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Place and Local Plan to prepare an addendum to the Plan that may be necessary to address soundness issues raised by representations received in response to the Regulation 19 public consultation and submit this addendum along with the Local Plan to the Planning Inspectorate

4. Authority be delegated to the Strategic Planning Manager in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Place and Local Plan to agree to any Main Modifications and to undertake a 6 week public consultation on any Main Modifications that arise out of the Local Plan examination process and for this information to be forwarded to the Planning Inspectorate

5. Authority be delegated to the Strategic Planning Manager in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Place and Local Plan to make any necessary editorial changes and minor amendments to the Winchester District Proposed Submission Local Plan (Regulation 19), Integrated Impact Assessment and Habitats Regulations Assessment, prior to Publication, Submission and during the Examination, to assist with consistency, explanation, graphic design and presentation and to enable any clarification necessary to outline how the proposals are consistent with government policy and the latest version of the NPPF.

Report Ref CAB3462

That it be recommended to Council:

1.       That the Winchester District Proposed Submission Local Plan (Regulation 19) (Appendix 1) and the accompanying Integrated Impact Assessment (Appendix 2) and Habitats Regulations Assessment (Appendix 3) are approved for Publication for a period of 6 weeks anticipated to start on 29 August 2024;

2.       That following Publication, the Winchester District Proposed Submission Local Plan (Regulation 19) and supporting documents be submitted to the Secretary of State for Examination, together with the Regulation 19 representations and a summary;

3.       That authority be delegated to the Strategic Planning Manager in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Place and Local Plan to prepare an addendum to the Plan that may be necessary to address soundness issues raised by representations received in response to the Regulation 19 public consultation and submit this addendum along with the Local Plan to the Planning Inspectorate;

4.       That authority be delegated to the Strategic Planning Manager in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Place and Local Plan to agree to any Main Modifications and to undertake a 6 week public consultation on any Main Modifications that arise out of the Local Plan examination process and for this information to be forwarded to the Planning Inspectorate;

5.       That authority be delegated to the Strategic Planning Manager in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Place and Local Plan to make any necessary editorial changes and minor amendments to the Winchester District Proposed Submission Local Plan (Regulation 19), Integrated Impact Assessment and Habitats Regulations Assessment, prior to Publication, Submission and during the Examination, to assist with consistency, explanation, graphic design and presentation and to enable any clarification necessary to outline how the proposals are consistent with government policy and the latest consultation version of the NPPF.

In the absence of Councillor Porter, Councillor Martin Tod, Leader of the Council, introduced the agenda item on the Local Plan Regulation 19. He outlined the Council's commitment to advancing the Local Plan, which was designed to guide development in Winchester District through to 2040. The plan, once approved, will undergo a six-week public consultation, expected to commence in the autumn. This consultation followed the Council's local development scheme timetable, which was published in August 2023. The plan includes an integrated impact assessment and a Habitats Regulations Assessment, both crucial to ensuring the plan's compliance with national and local environmental standards. 

Councillor Tod emphasised the importance of today's meeting in scrutinising the updated policies within the Regulation 19 plan. He noted that these policies have been refined based on evidence gathered from previous consultations, including the Regulation 18 public consultation held in 2022. The key focus of the discussion will be on evaluating whether the proposed policies effectively address the district's strategic needs and meet the four tests of soundness as required by the National Planning Policy Framework. 

He also clarified the meeting's structure, noting that public representations would be addressed during the relevant sections of the discussion to ensure a thorough and manageable review of all contributions. The outcomes of this meeting would be reported to the full Council meeting on 28 August 2024, where formal approval would be sought to proceed with the consultation phase. Lastly, Councillor Tod requested that any minor corrections or cross-references in the document be forwarded to officers after the meeting to streamline the focus on substantive issues during the session. 

Councillor Tod introduced the agenda item on the Local Plan Regulation 19, highlighting the critical decision facing the Cabinet to recommend the future development direction for Winchester District, excluding areas within the South Downs National Park, up to 2040. He emphasised the importance of aligning this plan with the new government's policies and intentions, acknowledging the extensive three-year process that led to this point. 

The Regulation 19 Local Plan was designed to address the district's significant challenges, including affordability, climate change, nutrient pollution, and the preservation of its unique natural and historical environment. Councillor Tod noted that the plan sets out a new vision and framework for future development, with ambitious policies establishing clear standards for development. The plan includes an integrated impact assessment and a habitats regulation assessment, alongside an infrastructure delivery plan supported by a strategic transport assessment. 

Once adopted, this plan will replace the current Local Plan and become the statutory development framework used alongside planning law and national guidance to evaluate the planning merits of proposals. Councillor Tod stressed the importance of this decision, which involves recommending the Council to publish the proposed Local Plan and associated assessments for public consultation.  

Andrew Fraser-Urquhart KC, who has advised the Council throughout the plan preparation period, provided an overview of the legal and policy context for the Local Plan Regulation 19.  The new government had published a draft amended NPPF to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5