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RESOLVED – That:
 

(1)         
the challenging timescales set out in the report,
and that this relied upon maintaining the necessary resources,
securing input from third parties and both timely and efficient
decision making at key stages, be noted.
 

(2)         
the timetable for the preparation of the new Local
Plan be approved and tasks the Local Plan Working Group with
regular monitoring and reporting on progress against key
milestones.
 

(3)         
The Local Development Scheme take effect,
authorising its publication and that it shall have effect from 25
November 2024.
 
REASONS FOR DECISION - To enable the Council to progress with plan making with the aim
of achieving submission of the Local Plan by December 2026 in line
with the Government’s proposed transitional
arrangements.  This would enable the
Council to get an up-to-date plan in place at the earliest
opportunity and limit the Council’s exposure to ad hoc
speculative development.  In order for
the scheme to take effect Cabinet must formally resolve that the
scheme was to have effect and specify the date from which it was to
have effect.
 
OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED – The Council was obliged by the
2004 Planning & Compulsory Purchase Act (Section 15) as
amended, to publish and keep up to date a Local Development Scheme
(LDS).  Therefore, there was no
alternative over whether, or not to produce an LDS.  
 
In
terms the timescale for the review of the Council’s Local
Plan, one alternative was to do nothing and await the
implementation of new planning guidance and/or the new plan-making
system. This was rejected on the basis that significant changes
were imminent and to do nothing would put the Council at greater
risk of speculative development for an additional extended period
of time.
 
This was
not a Key Decision and so can be implemented with immediate effect
by officers.