Agenda item

Report number PLA518 by the Head of Planning Policy & Economic Regeneration.                                                                       (attached)

DECISION:

(1)        To approve the issues and options outlined in report PLA518 for inclusion within the Local Development Framework:  Issues and options consultation document, subject to the following amendments:

(a)      page 11, para. 7 – amend wording throughout document so as not to refer to any one particular occupier of the Gonerby Moor site;

(b)      page 15, para. 1 – amend figure for population of The Deepings to 13,000

(c)      page 23 of Appendix A, para 1 – amend to refer to the three settlements of The Deepings;

(d)      Appendix B, draft Strategic Environmental Assessment – include parks and recreation areas owned by charitable bodies

(2)        To approve the overall wording of the document as set out in Appendix A to report PLA518, subject to minor corrections (including (c) above) and changes in the wording as may be required.  Final approval of the format and wording of the document(s) for publication be delegated to the Head of Planning Policy & Economic Regeneration in consultation with the Economic Portfolio Holder;

(3)        That arrangements are put in place to begin public consultation, in accordance with the Regulations, on the Issues and Options paper as soon as all published material is ready;

(4)        To note progress made with the Strategic Environmental Assessment and Sustainability Appraisal (SEA/SA) of the LDF and to endorse the publication of the findings of the Scoping Report for consultation alongside the Issues and Options paper.

Considerations/Reasons for Decision:

(1)         Report number PLA518 by the Head of Planning Policy & Economic Regeneration outlining proposals for the publication of an Issues and Options Consultation Paper as the first stage in the preparation of the two key planning policy documents which will form part of the Local Development Framework – the “Core Principles of Development and Location Strategy” and the “Housing and Economic Development DPD” which are to be produced in tandem.  These two main planning policy documents will supersede the adopted South Kesteven Local Plan;

(2)         The preparation of the new LDF must be set within the context of national, regional and strategic planning guidance.  The LDF must also reflect the objectives and aspirations of the Council’s own corporate policies and those of the Local Strategic Partnership (and its Community Strategy) and the two Sub-Regional Strategic Partnerships.  Having established the context for the LDF, consideration needs to be given to the Issues and Options.  As the LDF is a “spatial plan”, issues have been identified on both a topic by topic basis and on a settlement basis for the four towns;

(3)         The Council is required by statutory regulation that the preparation of the LDF includes an assessment of the sustainability of the policies and proposals included within it.  A Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is also required by European Directive but the regulations allow for both assessments to be undertaken together.  The appraisal work is iterative and therefore ongoing throughout the plan making process.  However, reports must be made and published for comment at each of the formal consultation stages.  The first stage is the publication of a Scoping Report which should co-incide with the publication of issues and options;

(4)         In addition to the statutory consultees and those on the Council’s consultation database, a series of fora to which the community will be invited will be arranged to discuss the issues and options identified;

(5)         Clarification sought and given at the meeting on the different issues of affordable housing, market housing, and mixed use development;

(6)         Having regard to the implications of the information contained in the SEA, the Cabinet will have an opportunity to make comments on the draft document before it is put out for consultation.