Decision

A proposed Local Development Scheme (LDS) was
presented. This set out the Council’s programme for preparing
planning policy documents as part of the process for producing a
new Local Plan. Progress against the milestones identified in the
LDS would be tracked through the Authority Monitoring Report.
However, the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act (LURA) 2023 (Section
15B) had introduced Local Plan timetables which, upon the enactment
of the relevant secondary legislation, would replace Local
Development Schemes. The LDS before the Committee had been
developed to enable easy adaptation to the prospective new
statutory requirements.
 
The high-level programme for the new Local
Plan within the proposed LDS was:
 

·     begin work
– Q2 (2024/25)
 

·   consultation – Q3
(2025/26)
 

·   publication – Q1
(2026/27)
 

·   submission to Secretary
of State – Q3 (2026/27) with the subsequent timetable to be
led by the Planning Inspectorate.
 
The covering report accepted that the above
timetable was tight and would be subject to work progressing in a
timely manner with the necessary staff resources being available.
Any significant changes in policy direction or substantial
deviations in the content of the draft plan could also delay
production. The timetable could also be affected by any national
policy changes following the General Election or the level of
engagement from external stakeholders and consultees. These, and
other risks, were included in the risk assessment schedule of the
LDS.
 

           
R E S O L V E D – that the proposed new Local
Development Scheme at Appendix A to the report be adopted.