Issue - meetings

(i)                   That the allocation of up to £200,000 from the Budget Support Fund to fund the Local Plan programme and examination, be approved.

(ii)                 That the allocation of £100,000 received from the previous government’s Planning Skills Delivery Fund, be noted.

The Portfolio Holder for Strategic Planning introduced a report regarding funding of the Local Plan Examination Process.

When the Local Plan arrives at the Planning Inspectorate at the beginning of next year it would go forward to examination and the examiners charge a large fee per day.  In addition, very detailed information could be asked for, from consultants outside of the Council.

Attention was drawn to paragraph 2.3 of the report which pointed out that the figures shown in paragraph 2.2 were only an estimate and at paragraph 2.5, a successful bid of £100,000 had been allocated to the Council from the previous government’s Planning Skills Delivery Fund.

The Leader said that the grant was good news.  The Council had met the required deadline, following consultation, of the Full Council meeting in July which had proved important as, a day later, the Deputy Prime Minister had raised the housing figures.

The Leader proposed a second resolution – to recognise receipt of the grant from the Planning Skills Delivery Fund.    

Resolved:    (i)       That the allocation of up to £200,000 from the Budget

Support Fund to fund the Local Plan programme and examination, be approved.

(ii)             That the allocation of £100,000 received from the previous government’s Planning Skills Delivery Fund, be noted.

Watch the debate here