Issue - meetings

To consider the Stamford North Statement of Common Ground and accompanying Duty to Cooperate Board Terms of Reference.

Purpose of report

To consider the Stamford North Statement of Common Ground and accompanying Duty to Cooperate Board Terms of Reference.

Decision

That Cabinet:

1.    Agrees to South Kesteven District Council becoming a signatory to Stamford North Statement of Common Ground, as amended (appended to these minutes), and in so doing, authorizes the Chief Executive to be the signatory.

2.    Agrees to the establishment of a joint board consisting of South Kesteven District Council and Rutland County Council to oversee the potential proposed development of Stamford North, which will be governed by Terms of Reference.

Alternative options considered and rejected

The alternative of not signing the Statement of Common Ground may contravene the current duty to cooperate with neighbouring authorities. It may also have led to a less sustainable development at Stamford North. Therefore, the do nothing option was discounted.

Reasons for decision

The Statement of Common Ground sets out both the background and the two authorities’ intentions for the entire proposed development. It would help to demonstrate Duty to Co-operate on matters by Rutland County Council and South Kesteven District Councils. The reason for the recommendation was to help to enable both authorities to work together on the delivery of a comprehensive cross-boundary development at Stamford North which would include the provision of infrastructure to mitigate any impact on the local area through the collection and expenditure of developer contributions.

The Rutland Local Plan included a housing allocation for 1,350 houses at Stamford North which extended into Rutland, providing an additional 650 homes at Quarry Farm.

The site in Rutland was required to make the entire allocation developable due to the addition of a link road. Local Authorities had a legal duty to cooperate and needed to engage constructively on an ongoing basis to maximise the preparations for the Local Plan.

South Kesteven and Rutland Councils had a good track record of working together on Stamford North with joint discussions having taken place for more than five years. A Statement of Community Involvement had been jointly prepared, which set out proposed planning arrangements for the joint development, including the expenditure for developer contributions for the delivery of key infrastructure.

A Joint Strategic Planning Board would be established and governed by Terms of Reference. The South Kesteven and Rutland Local Plans would be drafted accordingly.

Small amendments to the printed Statement of Common Ground were proposed, seconded, and AGREED. It was noted that these amendments, contained within the copy appended to these minutes had not yet been agreed with Rutland County Council.