Decision details

Councillor Toby Sturgis presented the report which sought Cabinet’s approval for a revised Local Development Scheme (LDS) for Wiltshire to ensure it is up to date and sets out the Council’s priorities for development plan document preparation in Wiltshire over the period 2017 to 2020.

In presenting the report, Councillor Sturgis highlighted the changes that were being made, and the work that would be undertaken in line with the timetable. In moving the recommendation stated that he would like an additional resolution that reflected the requirement for Swindon to have established a five-year land supply as a prerequisite for any joint agreement.

Councillor Gamble in referring to the list of Neighbourhood Plans in the Local Development Scheme, expressed concern about the weight to be given to emerging neighbourhood plans in the preparation of the Local Plan that had not reached the Regulation 16 stage and the need for engagement with all neighbourhood plan groups, whatever stage they had reached. Councillor Sturgis stated that he did not support an extension of the list of Neighbourhood Plan Schemes to include those that were not further developed but that neighbourhood planning groups would be consulted on the preparation of the plans and their views taken into account.

In response to a question from Francis Morland, Councillor Sturgis stated that the issue of the publication of the SHMAA and FEMAA documents, considered in draft in part ii of the meeting, will be considered at the joint meeting of the two authorities on the 18 September at which time a publication date will be decided.

Resolved

(i)        To approves the Local Development Scheme as set out at Appendix 1.

(ii)      To authorises the Associate Director for Economic Development and Planning, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Spatial Planning, Development Management and Property, to make minor amendments to the Local Development Scheme in the interests of clarity and accuracy before publishing it on the Council’s website.

(iii)     To delegates authority to the Associate Director for Economic Development and Planning, in consultation with the Associate Director for Finance and Cabinet Members for ‘Spatial Planning, Development Management and Property’ and ‘Finance’ to undertake subsequent reviews and updates to the LDS with any significant modifications being referred to Cabinet as appropriate.

(iv)     To agree that a strategy for emergency stopping places for Gypsies and Travellers should be undertaken as part of delivering the approved Wiltshire Traveller Strategy.

(v)      To reaffirm its commitment to joint working with Swindon Borough Council, however given the Council’s responsibilities to support the interests of Wiltshire’s communities, that Cabinet will need to be satisfied that plans are in place to maintain a deliverable 5 year housing land supply in both authority areas before approving the plans.