Issue - meetings

Report by Chief Executive Officer – Place - Alistair Cunningham

Cllr Philip Whitehead, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Economic Development introduced the report seeking approval for a revised Wiltshire Local Development Scheme (LDS).

The Leader referred to the Cabinet meeting held in March 2019 that approved the LDS 2019. The Cabinet, at that meeting agreed for any significant modifications to be referred back to them for consideration and approval.

The Cabinet noted that additional consultation on the Local Plan Review was planned with the wider community which would impact on the current timescales for the LDS, adoption would now be at start 2023. The revised timetable allowed for greater emphasis to be placed on climate change in the light of the Council’s decision to acknowledge a climate emergency. The scope of the Local Plan Review would be changed and a separate single issue plan that meets the needs of Gypsies and Travellers would be prepared.

In response to a question from Cllr Ian Thorn about the inclusion of climate change issues in the LDS, The Chief Executive Officer – Place confirmed that the LDS sets out the timeline for the review of the Local Plan and that climate change would be addressed within the policies of the Local Plan.

Resolved:

1.             To agree the revised Wiltshire Local Development Scheme be bought into effect from 30th March 2020 and published on the Council’s website (Appendix 1 to the report).

2.             Authorises the Director for Economic Development and Planning, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Spatial Planning, Development Management and Investment to make minor amendments to the Local Development Scheme in the interests of clarity and accuracy before publishing it on the Council’s website.

3.               Delegates authority to the Director for Economic Development and Planning, in consultation with the Director for Legal, Electoral and Registration Services and Cabinet Member for Spatial Planning, Development Management and Investment to undertake subsequent reviews and updates to the Local Development Scheme and bring them into effect; save for those that introduce new development plan documents, which will be referred to Cabinet.

4.             In the event of the planned consultation in the Summer 2020 needing to be delayed due to COVID-19, delegates authority in line with (3) above to amend the Local Plan Review timetable to take account of this.

Reason for Decision:

Section 15(1) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended by the Localism Act 2011) (PCPA) requires the Local Planning Authority to prepare and maintain a Local Development Scheme (LDS). The up to date text and copy of any amendments to the scheme need to be made

available to the public (section 15 (9A) PCPA). This is done through publication on the Council’s website. Delegated authority for subsequent revisions to the LDS will allow for efficiency in maintaining an up to date document. Section 15(8) of PCPA requires the Local Planning Authority to revise the LDS at such time as they consider appropriate.

The timescale proposed for the Wiltshire Local Plan Review will allow for additional  ...  view the full minutes text for item 37