Issue - meetings

1.            That the views of Winchester Town Forum in respect of development of a Vision for Winchester and its subsequent role in informing policies be considered to achieve appropriate development in the Forum area;

2.            That the engagement model for the emerging local plan as set out in Report CAB3191 be agreed;

3.            That £50,000 be allocated from existing General Fund Local Plan budget to assist the Town Forum to prepare an update of the Vision for Winchester.

Councillor Porter introduced the report and noted that its proposals had been supported by the Winchester Town Forum at its meeting on 11 September 2019.

At the invitation of the Leader, Councillor Brook addressed Cabinet and in summary, raised the following points:

• Disagreement that £50,000 was to be allocated from the General Fund Local Plan budget to assist the Town Forum in updating the Vision for Winchester.  She believed this was inappropriate as the Vision would not be relevant to the wider District.  In addition, she questioned why a separate vision was required for the Winchester town area.
• Lack of consultation to date with parish councils – the focus instead appeared to be on the town area through the Winchester Town Forum;
• She considered that rural parts of the District were being ignored.

In response, Councillor Porter stated that parish councils would be fully involved at an appropriate time in the Local Plan process, based on evidence then available.  Cabinet Members also commented that the Vision for Winchester document was of significance to a wide range of current Council major projects (such as the Station Approach development and proposals for Central Winchester regeneration) which did impact on the wider district and the Council’s future finances more generally.  Members also highlighted that funds had previously been allocated towards Parish Neighbourhood Plans, such as the Denmead Neighbourhood Plan.

Cabinet agreed to the following for the reasons set out above and outlined in the report.

RESOLVED:

1.            That the views of Winchester Town Forum in respect of development of a Vision for Winchester and its subsequent role in informing policies to achieve appropriate development in the Forum area be considered.

2.            That the engagement model for the emerging local plan be agreed, as set out in the report.

3.            That £50,000 be allocated from existing General Fund Local Plan budget to assist the Town Forum to prepare an update of the Vision for Winchester.

Councillor Porter left the meeting after this item (10.45am).