Agenda item

This report provides an update on the progress of preparing the local plan for the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) area, and sets out the next steps in the local plan process.  

The report seeks approval of a revised Local Development Scheme (LDS) which is the formal mechanism for setting out the timetable to produce the BCP Local Plan and other development plan documents. The LDS provides clarity on when the statutory stages in plan making will be undertaken. 

The Council completed an initial Local Plan Issues and Options consultation between January and March 2022. The consultation sought to provide an early steer on some of the issues and options for the BCP Local Plan to address. The consultation was one of the biggest consultations undertaken by BCP Council and response rates exceeded any previous local plan consultation undertaken in the BCP area. The findings from the consultation are summarised in this report.  

We are planning further engagement with all our communities and stakeholders to form a ‘preferred option’ for the next Local Plan, which will set out how we believe we can best accommodate the sustainable growth needs of the conurbation up to 2038. This will be developed over the next six months and is set out in the revised LDS.  

Moving forward we have also taken advice on the governance arrangements to support the next phase of the local plan process. As such, this report seeks approval for updated governance arrangements including the provision of a cross party Local Plan Advisory Group and Local Plan Delivery Board.  

RESOLVED that Cabinet:-

(a)       Approve the revised Local Development Scheme which includes the timetable to produce the BCP Local Plan;

(b)       Delegate to the Director of Planning in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Development, Growth and Regeneration to make minor text changes to the LDS prior to publication;

(c)       Agree the proposed approach to Local Plan engagement and governance, and delegate to the Director of Planning in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Development, Growth and Regeneration to agree the final details; and

(d)       Agrees that the Local Plan Working Group is renamed as the Local Plan Advisory Group and delegate to the Director of Planning in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Development, Growth and Regeneration to agree the Terms of Reference for the Advisory Group.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Development, Growth and Regeneration

Reason

The preparation and maintenance of an up-to-date LDS is a statutory requirement of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (and subsequent amendments). Preparation of the BCP Local Plan as set out in the LDS will help deliver the Council’s strategic priorities as expressed in the Corporate Strategy and Big Plan. It will also provide up-to-date policies to set out our strategy for growth and to enable the effective management of development.

We are keen to continue to engage our communities and stakeholders in the BCP Local Plan in order that they can influence the plan. Appropriate time is therefore set out within the LDS to continue to actively engage our communities before the draft of the Local Plan is published.

To ensure the timetable set out in the LDS is achieved approval is sought regarding the ongoing governance arrangements.

The Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Economy and Strategic Planning presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'F' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was advised that the report provided an update on the progress of preparing the local plan for the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) area, and sets out the next steps in the local plan process, and that the report sought approval of a revised Local Development Scheme (LDS) which is the formal mechanism for setting out the timetable to produce the BCP Local Plan and other development plan documents, and that the LDS provided clarity on when the statutory stages in plan making will be undertaken. 

Cabinet was informed that the Council completed an initial Local Plan Issues and Options consultation between January and March 2022, and that the consultation sought to provide an early steer on some of the issues and options for the BCP Local Plan to address. In relation to this Cabinet was advised that the consultation was one of the biggest consultations undertaken by BCP Council and response rates exceeded any previous local plan consultation undertaken in the BCP area, and that the findings from the consultation are summarised in this report.  

Further to this Cabinet was advised that the council was planning further engagement with all our communities and stakeholders to form a ‘preferred option’ for the next Local Plan, which will set out how we believe we can best accommodate the sustainable growth needs of the conurbation up to 2038, and that this will be developed over the next six months and is set out in the revised LDS.  

Cabinet was advised that moving forward advice has also been taken on the governance arrangements to support the next phase of the local plan process, and that as such, this report seeks approval for updated governance arrangements including the provision of a cross party Local Plan Advisory Group and Local Plan Delivery Board. 

Councillor Butler addressed the Cabinet advising that better engagement was needed with young people.

Councillor Burton addressed the Cabinet questioning the use of the term ‘overrepresented’ which was used a number of times within the report.

In relation to this the Portfolio Holder advised that the term over and underrepresented is not meant in a negative or positive way but is used to make officers and councillors aware of how representative the consultation sample is of the wider population.

RESOLVED that Cabinet: -

(a)          Approve the revised Local Development Scheme which includes the timetable to produce the BCP Local Plan;

(b)          Delegate to the Director of Planning in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Development, Growth and Regeneration to make minor text changes to the LDS prior to publication;

(c)          Agree the proposed approach to Local Plan engagement and governance, and delegate to the Director of Planning in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Development, Growth and Regeneration to agree the final details; and

(d)          Agrees that the Local Plan Working Group is renamed as the Local Plan Advisory Group and delegate to the Director of Planning in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Development, Growth and Regeneration to agree the Terms of Reference for the Advisory Group.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Regeneration, Economy and Strategic Planning