Decision details

Resolved:

That Cabinet, having considered the response from the formal consultation:

a)    Endorses the submission of the Gypsies and Travellers Development Plan Document Pre-Submission Draft at Appendix 1 together with relevant associated documentation for independent examination;

b)    Recommends to Full Council that the Gypsies and Travellers Development Plan Document Pre-Submission Draft is submitted to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government together with relevant associated documentation;

c)    Directs that submission is accompanied by a request that the Inspector appointed to carry out the examination recommends any modifications necessary to make the Plan sound and legally compliant in accordance with Section 20(7C) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended); and

d)    Authorises the Director of Planning to take or authorise such steps as may be necessary for the independent examination of the Plan to be completed, including:

i.               Make appropriate arrangements for submission of the Plan and the completion and submission of all documents relating to the Plan;

ii.             Make all necessary arrangements for examination including – the appointment of a Programme Officer; the undertaking and/or commissioning of other work necessary to prepare for and participate at examination; proposing main and/or minor modifications to the Plan and/or modifications to the Policies Map; entering into Memorandums of Understanding and Statements of Common Ground; and the delegation to officers and other commissioned experts to prepare and submit evidence, representations and submissions to the examination and, where necessary, appear at any hearing sessions and represent the council; and

iii.            Implement any consequential actions relating to the examination, including undertaking any consultation that may be necessary, and publishing the recommendations and reasons of the person appointed to carry out the examination.

e)    Recommends to Full Council that as part of submitting the Plan for examination, it is accompanied by the following request:

The council recognises that the plan will be examined in the context of site evidence and delivery. As the examination of the plan will take time and new sites have already begun to be approved on a speculative basis through the submission of planning applications, these will have implications for the number of pitches proposed for allocation. As such, the council resolves to ask the Inspector to take into account the additional supply of pitches that have been approved since the regulation 19 consultation and consider reducing the allocations when assessing the proposed allocations within the Plan.

Reason for Decision:

To ensure that progress continues to be made on updating Wiltshire’s local plan

in line with the commitment set out in the council’s Local Development Scheme

and statutory requirements, and an efficient examination process. This Plan together with the wider Wiltshire Local Plan review will complete the update of

the Wiltshire Core Strategy ensuring the housing needs of all sectors of the

community are addressed.