Agenda item

Report by Dr Carlton Brand, Corporate Director including the Inspector’s Report

Supporting documentation and maps can be accessed via the following link, which you can click on or copy into your browser address line:

http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/planninganddevelopment/planningpolicy/wiltshirecorestrategy/submissionofwiltshirecorestrategy/corestrategydocuments.htm?directory=Adoption

If you have any queries accessing documents, please contact the officer named on the front of this agenda.

TheCouncil had received the Inspector’sReport into theexamination of the WiltshireCoreStrategyDevelopment Plan Document (DPD).  It concluded that,subjectto the changes setout in the Report, the submitted Core Strategy was sound.The Inspector’sReport wasfinal and the examination was now closed. This left thisauthority with the choice of adopting theCore Strategy,as amendedin responseto the Inspector’srecommendations,or not.

Uponadoption, the Core Strategywould become part of the statutorydevelopmentplan for Wiltshireandthe authority would be legally bound to take planning decisions in accordance with its policies unless there were other material considerations which merit setting them aside in any given case. It set out key strategic planning policies for managing sustainable development across the county.

The Chairman referred members to the officer’s report, the inspector’s report and the various documents and plans as circulated.  He reiterated the purpose of the item: namely that it was for Council to consider the Cabinet’s recommendation on adoption of the Wiltshire Core Strategy from its meeting on 16 December 2014.  The resulting draft minute of cabinet was included in the documentation before Council. 

The Chairman advised members on the approach that he would be taking, on legal advice, in dealing with potential amendments. He explained that:

Any amendment that would affect the policies would invalidate the Plan and would therefore negate a motion to adopt the plan. Any such amendment would therefore be rejected in accordance with paragraph 100 of part 4 of the constitution.

The Chairman called upon Councillor Toby Sturgis, Cabinet Member, to present the item. Cllr Sturgis reminded Council of how the Core Strategy had progressed, culminating in it now being presented for adoption.

Following his presentation, in which he expressed his gratitude to the officers of the Spatial Planning Team in particular and other officers across the Council, Councillor Sturgis proposed, and Councillor Jane Scott, Council Leader, seconded, the following motion as set out in the report presented:

That following the recommendation by Cabinet at its meeting on 16 December 2014, Council:

(i)              Notes the content of the Inspector’s report into the examination of the Wiltshire Core Strategy (Appendix 1) and his conclusions regarding legal compliance and soundness and accepts the modifications in the Appendix of the Inspector’s Report, which the Inspector considers are necessary to make the plan sound in accordance with legislation and other focused and minor modifications that have arisen during the examination, which have been consulted on, or made in the interest of accuracy and consistency.

(ii)             Adopts the Wiltshire Core Strategy, as amended as set out in (i) above as part of the statutory development plan for Wiltshire (Appendices 2 and 2a).

(iii)            Delegates authority to the Associate Director for Economic Development and Planning, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, DevelopmentManagement, Strategic Housing, Property and Waste, for further minor changes to be made to the Core Strategy prior to publication in the interests of accuracy and consistency.

(iv)           Subject to Council approval of (ii) above, agrees that the Associate Director for Economic Development and Planning in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, DevelopmentManagement, Strategic Housing, Property and Waste, undertakes the final stages associated with the formal adoption and publication of the Core Strategy.

The Chairman then invited Members of Council to debate the motion, starting with group leaders before widening the debate to other members.

A number of members spoke on the item, with members generally accepting   that the Core Strategy should now be adopted. Councillor Sturgis responded to questions raised.

Following debate, it was:

Resolved

That following recommendation by Cabinet at its meeting on 16 December 2014, Council:

(i)              Notes the content of the Inspector’s report into the examination of the Wiltshire Core Strategy (Appendix 1) and his conclusions regarding legal compliance and soundness and accepts the modifications in the Appendix of the Inspector’s Report, which the Inspector considers are necessary to make the plan sound in accordance with legislation and other focused and minor modifications that have arisen during the examination, which have been consulted on, or made in the interest of accuracy and consistency.

(ii)            Adopts the Wiltshire Core Strategy, as amended as set out in (i) above as part of the statutory development plan for Wiltshire (Appendices 2 and 2a).

(iii)           Delegates authority to the Associate Director for Economic Development and Planning, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, DevelopmentManagement, Strategic Housing, Property and Waste, for further minor changes to be made to the Core Strategy prior to publication in the interests of accuracy and consistency.

(iv)          Subject to Council approval of (ii) above, agrees that the Associate Director for Economic, Development and Planning in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, DevelopmentManagement, Strategic Housing, Property and Waste, undertakes the final stages associated with the formal adoption and publication of the Core Strategy.

There being no further business, the Chairman reminded the members that the next meeting of Council would be on the 24^th February, and called the meeting to a close.