Agenda item

1) That Cabinet agree to the formal withdrawal of the Site Allocations and Policies Local Plan.

2) That Cabinet agree to proceed with the preparation of a new joint Full Local Plan in partnership with Stoke-on-Trent City Council (Option C) and that your  officers work with officers at Stoke-on-Trent City Council to reach agreement on a timetable for the preparation of the Local Plan.

3) That if Stoke-on-Trent City Council do not approve the preparation of a joint Local Plan or agreement cannot be reached on the timescale for the completion of the Plan by March 2014, that Cabinet give serious consideration to proceeding with the preparation of a borough-wide Local Plan.

4) That a further report is submitted to the Cabinet to receive an update on Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s formal stance in this matter and if necessary to consider the need to establish a joint advisory group to support the governance arrangements of each Council.

5) That Cabinet note the implications arising from the need to re-appraise the adopted Core Spatial Strategy for the Council’s CIL process and seek a further report in this regard at the earliest opportunity.

A report was submitted to report on the views of the Planning Committee on the Cabinet’s resolution to cease work on the Site Allocation and Policies Local Plan and options for proceeding with an alternative Local Plan; to seek authority to formally withdraw the Site Allocations and Policies Local Plan and to proceed with the preparation of a joint Local Plan with the Stoke-on-Trent City Council covering the borough and City of Stoke-on-Trent and to advise on the implications for the Council’s CIL process of preparing a new land use plan. 

It was stated that progress was being made with Stoke on Trent City Council and that stage one had now been completed with both authorities agreeing to a new local plan. The Core Spatial Strategy would also be revised.

It had been decided to join with Stoke on Trent in relation to formulating the plan due to the fact that both authorities formed a single housing market which could lead to advantages in relation to some costs but could potentially lead to delays which the Borough Council were very eager to avoid. Legal advice was also currently being sought regarding the CIL. The Portfolio Holder stated that care would be taken to insure that no growth was permitted outside of that which was objectively required and identified as needed by the Borough.

Cllr Holland raised some concerns with Cabinet Members regarding the new proposals. The main concern related to the fact that by having no Local Plan the Council was vulnerable to planning applications being submitted to which it would have little power to object.  Concerns also related to the fact that the City Council would view the Borough Council as the junior partner in the relationship, that the City Council would not stick to the required timescales and that Option B (separate full local plan) in the report was the most cost effective option but had been rejected in favour of Option C.

It was stated that the current Core Spatial Strategy would remain in place until a new strategy came into force and that the policies from the old local plan were also still relevant and could be used to support or object to planning applications. The Borough Council also had a duty to cooperate with the City Council regarding housing and even if the Borough Council prepared it’s own local plan, a significant amount of work would still have to be undertaken with the City Council. The Portfolio Holder reiterated that fact that a strict timetable would be adhered to and that this would be reflected in an amended recommendation.

Resolved:     1) That Cabinet agree to the formal withdrawal of the Site Allocations and Policies Local Plan.

2) That Cabinet agree to proceed with the preparation of a new joint Full Local Plan in partnership with Stoke-on-Trent City Council (Option C) and that your  officers work with officers at Stoke-on-Trent City Council to reach agreement on a timetable for the preparation of the Local Plan.

3) That if Stoke-on-Trent City Council do not approve the preparation of a joint Local Plan or agreement cannot be reached on the timescale for the completion of the Plan by March 2014, that Cabinet give serious consideration to proceeding with the preparation of a borough-wide Local Plan.

4) That a further report is submitted to the Cabinet to receive an update on Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s formal stance in this matter and if necessary to consider the need to establish a joint advisory group to support the governance arrangements of each Council.

5) That Cabinet note the implications arising from the need to re-appraise the adopted Core Spatial Strategy for the Council’s CIL process and seek a further report in this regard at the earliest opportunity.