Issue - meetings

 Report by Alistair Cunningham, Corporate Director.

Councillor Toby Sturgis presented the report which sought approval for the initial consultation on the Wiltshire Local Plan Review and the development of the non-statutory Joint Spatial Framework being prepared jointly with Swindon Borough Council in accordance with the Wiltshire Local Development Scheme 2017 and legislation.

In the course of the presentation and debate, the matters raised included: that a briefing had been arranged for members on the1 November 2017; that the consultation would be undertaken jointly with Swindon Borough Council; how best to engage with the public on this issue; that the scope of the review was at relatively high level without explicit details of the impact on housing totals for specific communities; and how a plan-led approach can encourage adequate infrastructure investment.

In response to an issues raised, the Leader requested that given the importance of the matters at hand, officers consider how best to engage with the public through the consultation period, and that Councillors be encouraged to bring their ideas of how best to engage to the briefing in November. The Leader also exhorted Councillors to engage with the parish and town councils to encourage their engagement with the process.

In response to a matter raised by Councillor Ruth Hopkinson, the Leader restated the Council’s support for a station at Corsham and highlighted the efforts made, through the auspices of the Local Enterprise Partnership, to progress the issue but cautioned that the matter could only proceed if a franchise operator agreed to stop at Corsham. The Leader asked officers and the relevant Cabinet Member to arrange to meet the division member and representatives from Corsham Town to discuss the matter further.

At the conclusion of the debate, the meeting;

Resolved

i)       To approve the documents set out at Appendices 1 and 2 for the purposes of consultation on the scope and content of the Wiltshire Local Plan Review, subject to amendment in (ii);

ii)     To authorise the Associate Director for Economic Development and Planning in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Spatial Planning, Development Management and Property to: make any necessary changes to the consultation documents before they are finalised for publication and agree any changes to Appendix 1 with Swindon Borough Council; and make arrangements for, and undertake statutory consultation for a 6 week period starting during the week commencing 6 November 2017 concurrently with Swindon Borough Council.

iii)    To note the resolution of Cabinet on 12 September 2017 regarding joint working with Swindon Borough Council, and 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.

Reason for Decision:

To ensure that progress continues to be made on maintaining an up-to-date development plan for Wiltshire in line with the Council’s Local development Scheme and statutory requirements.