Agenda item

To note progress with the preparation of Local Plan 2036.

Councillor Porter introduced the report and drew Members’ attentions to key elements, as set out in the report.

Patrick Davies spoke during public participation as summarised below:

·         He appreciated the issues regarding changes to Government guidance but expressed some concern regarding any possible delays;

·         He requested an update on the status of neighbouring local authorities Local Plans;

·         He noted the proposal to establish a ‘task and finish’ working group but asked for further clarification of the process for taking forward consideration of the Local Plan;

·         He queried how the presentation from the City of Winchester Trust to members of the Winchester Town Forum on the Vision document would be taken forward.

At the invitation of the Leader, Councillors Brook and Horrill addressed Cabinet as summarised below.

Councillor Brook welcomed the update but queried the following points:

·         How would the climate emergency declaration impact on the Local Plan?

·         The parish workshops had been well received but how would this work be taken forward?  In particular, parishes had not yet received the packs referred to at the workshops for them to consider potential changes within their own settlements.

·         What was the impact of Natural England’s recent action regarding nitrate neutrality of sites?

·         Would the Council strongly oppose the proposal in the Eastleigh Local Plan to introduce a link road in the Winchester district?

·         Would the Local Plan be proactive in seeking new sites for waste recycling?

·         The report did not include a timeline – would the first draft of the Plan be available by the end of 2019?

Councillor Horrill welcomed the confirmation in the report at paragraph 11.19 that the duty to cooperate did not equate to a duty to agree.  She expressed concern that any potential delays in the Local Plan process could leave the Council vulnerable to speculative development.  She emphasised the importance of ensuring economic development in addition to provision of housing.  With regard to the current uncertainty regarding Government housing requirements, she highlighted that in reality numbers were not going to reduce.  In general, she expressed concern that the process did not appear to be open and transparent and would welcome further discussions with Cabinet in order to address concerns.

With regard to the timetable, the Strategic Director advised that the aim remained to submit the Local Plan for examination in 2021.  Strategic Planning Manager confirmed that the Council were working with Natural England on a case by case basis regarding nitrogen neutrality and that the matter would be explored through preparation of the Local Plan which could include a mitigation strategy.  The approach taken to the link road required by the Eastleigh Local Plan was set out in paragraph 11.22 of the report.

With regard to the packs of maps which would be issued to parish councils, the Strategic Planning Manager  apologised that this issue had been delayed but the decision had been taken to wait until the Strategic Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment (SHELAA) had been published in order that parishes could be provided with the most up to date data. .

In response to Members’ questions, the Strategic Planning Manager advised that a report detailing “windfall” housing developments would be prepared to inform the preparation of Local Plan 2036. . 

With regard to future public engagement, the Leader stated that a series of public events would be arranged across the district in the autumn.  Once evidence had been gathered from this engagement and the technical commissions completed, a task and finish working group would be established to examine this.

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

RESOLVED:

            That the progress with the preparation of the Local Plan 2036 be noted.