Agenda item

Development Management Plan and Local Development Scheme

To consider the Development Management Plan and Local Development Scheme.

Minutes:

Councillor K. Foreman, Executive Member for Planning Policy, introduced the Development Management Plan (DMP) and the Local Development Scheme (LDS) report.

 

Having been approved for Regulation 19 Publication and Submission by Council in December 2017, Councillor Foreman explained the DMP had been submitted to the Planning Inspectorate on 18 May 2018. It was noted that the Regulation 19 publicity period had taken place from January 2018 to early May 2018, having been extended to ensure all interested parties had an opportunity to comment. The Executive was informed that in total 1,497 representations had been received during the publication period from 1,075 organisations and individuals.

 

The Executive Member for Planning Policy advised that the purpose of the examination process was to determine whether the Plan was fit for purpose and if it could be adopted for development management, forward planning and corporate objectives. It was noted that this involved the checking of the DMP by an appointed Inspector, who would test its soundness, and a round of Examination Hearings where oral representations could be made.

 

The Executive was asked to note that during the examination process there would inevitably be changes (minor modifications) that would need to be made to the submitted document, either as a result of changes in circumstances or evidence, in response to representations made or as requested by the Inspector. It was noted that the ability to make these changes, as well as agree statements of common ground, without prior Executive authorisation would enable the process to run smoothly and would avoid suspension of the Hearings and delay which would effectively render the process unworkable.

 

It was noted that matters that went to the heart of the Plan, as suggested by either the Council or the Inspector during the examination process, would not be covered by the delegation set out in the report, but would be “main modifications”. These would be subject to appropriate deliberation by Members and further consultation.

 

In response to questions, Councillor Foreman made clear that the item before the Executive did not present an opportunity to reopen debate about the content of the DMP. It was explained that Council, in December 2017, had agreed that the Plan could be submitted to the Secretary of State and it was noted this had occurred. During the discussion a number of areas were considered, including:

 

-       Issues in relation to the Redhill Aerodrome site.

 

-       The fact the public examination hearing sessions would be confirmed by the Inspector in due course and that these were expected to take place from September 2018.

 

-       The revised LDS was a technically in order to meet legal requirements.

 

In response to questions about the LDS, Councillor Foreman explained that this was effectively a programme for the production of plans. The LDS set out a timetable for the key stages of local plan preparation. Councillor Foreman advised it was a requirement to prepare and maintain an LDS and explained, because this had last been revised in April 2017, that it needed to be updated to reflect recent changes to the publication and submission dates.

 

RESOLVED that:

 

(i)            The Head of Places and Planning be authorised, in consultation with the Leader of the Council and Executive Member for Planning Policy to:

 

·         Agree and submit correspondence, supporting documents, statements of common ground, technical evidence and topic papers as necessary to support the Development Management Plan through examination;

 

·         Provide formal responses to questions from the appointed Planning Inspector throughout the duration of the examination and agree actions necessary to ensure the soundness and legal compliance of the Development Management Plan; and

 

·         Recommend additional (minor) modifications to the Inspector as required throughout the duration of the examination;

 

to support the submitted Development Management Plan during the examination process under Regulation 22 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012.

 

(ii)          The revised Local Development Scheme (Annex 1 of the report to the Executive) be adopted and take immediate effect.

 

Reason for decision: To support the Development Management Plan through the examination process and to ensure an up to date Local Development Scheme is maintained by the Council.

 

Alternative options: Not to approve delegated arrangements, set out in the report to support the Development Management Plan through the examination process, and/or not to approve the revised Local Development Scheme.

Supporting documents: