Agenda item

      Report of the Chief Executive

 

Cllr Nick Botterill, Cabinet Member for Development Management, Strategic Planning and Climate Change presented the report which provided an update on the Wiltshire Local Plan Review following the recent consultation. In introducing the report, he acknowledged that (given the questions and statements made) there appeared to be some misunderstanding about the purpose of the report and explained that no decisions were being made at the meeting about policies for the draft plan but on further evidence that would be needed, which we shouldn’t prejudge the outcome of. It is an update report that sets out an initial summary of the main issues from people responding to the consultation. He explained that the Council had a legal duty to prepare the plan and despite the pandemic it was important to continue with the consultation following Government guidance.   

 

The Cabinet noted that following their approval on 1 December 2020, consultation was undertaken on the Wiltshire Local Plan Review between 13 January 2021 and 9 March 2021. The report provided an initial summary of the main issues that were raised through the consultation and the next steps. It was felt that the consultation was a success due to the numbers of responses and comments received, especially during the time of the pandemic. 

The report highlighted that development needs must be planned for positively, and that difficult choices will need to be made. Concerns noted from local communities centred around environmental issues, ability for infrastructure to cope (particularly health, education and transportation) and the view that while significant housing has taken place this has not been matched with new jobs. An understanding of the issues and concerns are an important part of the work going forward, and these would need to be considered alongside the development of new evidence to inform policies within the draft Plan.

 

The Cabinet were informed that it is good practice to update the evidence base for a Local Plan throughout the plan’s preparation, and there was a need for further technical evidence on a range of issues, and these were detailed in the report.

 

Following some concerns from the public about timescales and process, the Leader explained that, as indicated above, Cabinet considered a report on the progression of the Local Plan in December 2020, at which point it was agreed to go out to consultation on the key component to inform the Local Plan and a report would be brought back to Cabinet following the consultation which ended in March. Since that consultation has closed and responses digested, the Council had advertised that it would be bringing an update on the Local Plan Review to Cabinet on its Forward Work Plan which was published on 28^th May.

 

The deadline for Cabinet questions has not changed. Whilst late questions will be accepted, the deadline is there to allow time for responses to be prepared; where questions are submitted later, this may mean a response cannot be provided ahead of the meeting.  If Cabinet agreed the recommendations in the report, steps will be taken to develop the Local Plan Review and there will be further public consultation. Residents can keep informed with the progress of the Plan via its dedicated webpage Local Plan Review - Wiltshire Council

 

Public questions and statements were received from the following:

 

Adrian Temple-Brown

Anne Henshaw

Bill Jarvis

Charlie Caffyn

Charmian Spickernell

Chris Caswill

Dr Helen Stride

Gail Delahaye

Ian James

Isabel McCord

Jane Durrant

Janet Giles

Jeremy Wire

Kim Power

Kim Stuckey

Louise Weissel

Maureen Lawrence

Melissa Hillier

Cllr Myla Watts – Deputy Leader Chippenham Town Council

Richard Ecclestone

Ros Oswald

Rowena Quantrill – Climate Friendly Bradford on Avon

Steve Perry – CAUSE

Steve Perry

Sue Deedigan

Susan McGill

Sylvia Wyatt

Viv Talbot

Karen Crawford

Mel Boyle

 

The Leader acknowledged that the questions, apart from late questions, had received written responses which had been published on the Council’s website prior to the meeting in the agenda supplement 2, which can be accessed here.

 

Supplementary questions were asked by Kim Power about neighbourhood planning, and Kim Stuckey and Steve Perry about a perception of greater weighting towards developer comments. Cllr Botterill confirmed that it was a priority of his that Towns and Parish Councils would be supported by the Council in the preparation of neighbourhood plans. He also explained that the report was a summary of the responses received and an attempt was made to capture these without giving weight to any one particular group. 

 

In addition to the above questions, a number of further questions were received from Councillors as follows:

 

·       Cllr Ernie Clark

·       Cllr Nick Murry

·       Cllr Clare Cape

 

Cllr Clewer explained that the above questions had received written responses which were published on the Council’s website prior to the meeting in the agenda supplement 2, which can be accessed here.

 

 

 

Cllr Ian Thorn, Leader of the Liberal Democrats asked questions about (i) connections between neighbourhood plans and how they could feed into the development of the Local Plan; (ii) the merits and weighting of arguments and submissions to the Local plan consultation; and (iii) the importance of the consultation process and responses being taken into account, particularly of residents. In response, the Leader and Cllr Botterill confirmed that (i) national planning policy framed how neighbourhood plans are progressed, and expressed concern about their review every 2 years, and the Council will provide appropriate support where it can; (ii) comments received would be considered fairly; and (iii) the Local Plan is an inclusive process and prepared taking into consideration  the comments and views received during the process and this has to be balanced with requirements of Government policy and guidance. The Plan is prepared so that it would pass examination by the Government Inspector and needs to be based on evidence.

 

In response to a question from Cllr Tony Jackson and Cllr Gavin Grant about support from the Council for Town and Parish Councils in reviewing their neighbourhood plans, especially ones that had commenced prior to the pandemic and continued through it. Cllr Botterill and officers confirmed that this matter was currently being considered about how officers can support the process across Wiltshire.

 

In response to a question from Cllr Sarah Gibson about sustainable settlements. Cllr Botterill provided assurance that officers would take the publics views on board.

 

In response to questions from Cllr Helen Belcher about (i) the 5 year housing land supply and protecting neighbourhood plans; and (ii) the justification for the range of housing number of homes in Wiltshire, Cllr Botterill and officers confirmed that officers would be happy to provide guidance on 5 year land supply outside the meeting; and that the recommendation is to undertake further work to test the numbers in the light of comments received.

 

Resolved:

 

That Cabinet:

 

(i)             Notes this initial summary of main issues arising through theconsultation and agrees the Cabinet Member for DevelopmentManagement, Strategic Planning and Climate Change signs offthe completed consultation report prior to publication on theCouncil’s website;

(ii)           Agrees thatprogress continuesto bemade todevelop theWiltshire Local PlanReview;

 

(iii)         Agrees that further work is undertaken in response to theconsultation onkey partsof theevidence base,including:

 

·       Testing the upper and lower levels and spatial distribution ofthe range of housingneed for the plan period;

 

·       A review of the employment evidence underpinning need fornew employmentland; and

 

·       Wiltshire wide assessment of potential for renewable energy,zero carbon development and off grid energy networks at main  settlements.

 

 

Reason for Decision:

 

Cabinet at its meeting of 1 December 2020 resolved to receive a report after the consultation summarising the main issues raised.