Content

(Report of Director of
Planning, Housing and Environmental Health)
 
Consideration was
given to the Borough Council’s response to the Governments
latest consultation on plan-making reforms.  A proposed response to be submitted by the
deadline of 18 October 2023 was set out at Annex 1.
 
The consultation
provided further detail around the proposed 30 month plan-making
process, including new proposals for a 4 month period prior to
commencement, 2 set periods of consultation and engagement and a 3
staged gateway assessment process for local plans.
 
Attention was drawn
to the confirmation of the transitional arrangements for
plan-making as proposed within the December 2022 consultation,
subject to the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill receiving Royal
Assent in Spring 2024.  The Government
had not yet published the NPPF reforms so amendments to the
approach to housing numbers and the Green Belt remained
unconfirmed.  However, as the Government
were proposing the same transitional arrangements the Borough
Council would need to undertake Regulation 18B and Regulation 19
consultation and submit its Local Plan before June 2025.
 
Following
consideration by the Housing and Planning Scrutiny Select Committee
and having regard to the comments made by Members, the Cabinet
Member for Planning resolved that:
 
(1)            
the proposed response to the plan-making reforms consultation, set
out at Annex 1 be approved and submitted by the 18 October
2023;

 
(2)            
authority be delegated to the Director of Planning, Housing and
Environmental Health, in liaison with the Cabinet Member for
Planning, to approve any necessary further minor changes to the
proposed consultation response that might be required for reasons
of clarity or presentation.

 
(3)            
the position regarding transitional arrangements for plan-making be
noted.