Agenda item

The Draft BCP Local Plan sets out a vision, objectives and spatial strategy to protect and enhance the environment whilst addressing the needs for new homes, jobs and infrastructure until 2039. A range of policies and site allocations are included which will inform planning decisions once the BCP Local Plan is adopted.

The Draft Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Charging Schedule sets out the charge per square metre new development must pay to fund supporting infrastructure.

A six-week consultation is required on both documents before all feedback and evidence is submitted to the Secretary of State for examination.

The Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Dynamic Places presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'C' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was advised that the Draft BCP Local Plan set out a vision, objectives and spatial strategy to protect and enhance the environment whilst addressing the needs for new homes, jobs and infrastructure until 2039, and that a range of policies and site allocations are included which will inform planning decisions once the BCP Local Plan is adopted.

Cabinet was informed that the Draft Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Charging Schedule set out the charge per square metre new development must pay to fund supporting infrastructure, and that a six-week consultation is required on both documents before all feedback and evidence is submitted to the Secretary of State for examination.

Whilst presenting the report the Leader advised that the wording had been strengthened around zero carbon homes.

The Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Board addressed the Cabinet highlighting the comprehensive discussion which had taken place on this item at the recent meeting of the Board and thanked the Lead Member for Strategic Planning for attending and answering the Boards questions. In relation to this Cabinet was advised that the following recommendations had been made at the meeting of the Board:

The Overview and Scrutiny Board agreed the following recommendations to Cabinet on this item:

1. That Policy NE3 1b of the Local Plan should be amended to indicate that offsite biodiversity measures should only be used as a last resort as the current wording is not in the spirit of government legislation.
2. That the wording within the local plan be strengthened to indicate that the Poole Stadium Site be retained for community, leisure use including its existing function as a stadium.
3. That Cabinet consider whether wording could be added under the Transport Strategy, section on parking of the Local Plan, to the effect that although developers were not required to provide parking on town centre developments, they should be able to show that there is no adverse impact from residents bringing cars to these sites if no parking is provided.
4. That Cabinet reconsiders the affordable housing policy to develop a new proposal which is completely consistent and will deliver affordable housing from Town Centre Developments.

In addition the recommendations above the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Board advised that along with the above recommendations which were supported there had also been four other recommendations which had been proposed but not supported although the voting was close, these being:-

• Removal of the travellers site
• Removal of Talbot Village Site as employment land
• Zero Carbon Homes

·      Removal of retention of the access junction of Wessex Fields

In addition the Chairman of the Board advised that at their recent meeting the Board had supported the recommendations as set out in the report with the exception of (d) which was felt to be unclear, and that whilst it was noted the recommendation had been tweaked slightly since then that he was unsure as to whether this has dealt with the issue.

Councillor Farquhar addressed the Cabinet expressing thanks to the Lead Member for Strategic Planning and requesting that whilst the Poole Stadium land is sited as leisure provision could he be reassured that greyhound racing would not return to the site.

In relation to this the Leader advised that there would be no greyhound racing at Poole Stadium and that the leisure activities include speedway.

Councillor Rice addressed the Cabinet in relation to the transportation uses requesting that Cabinet consider tightening the wording relating to active travel and reminding Cabinet of the discussion at Council in November 2022 citing that 50% of journeys in BCP area should be done by walking, scooting and cycling. 

The Leader addressed Cabinet in terms of the four recommendations from the Overview and Scrutiny Board in turn as follows: -

Recommendation 1. Officers proposed an amendment to clarify that this be carried out in the first instance, with the change making it clear that the preference is for onsite. The Lead Member for Strategic Planning advised that this amendment should fulfil the request from scrutiny with regards to this recommendation.

Recommendation 2.  This had been looked at closely and a line under 5a(b) which adds upgrade and replace unless suitable space is secured – ensuring the facility is not lost.

Recommendation 3.  Cabinet was advised that applications have come in but nothing has been built and at the time of application it is unknown as to the number of people who would be seeking to bring a car in.

Recommendation 4. Cabinet was advised that the plan had been checked for consistency and that you could have CIL or affordable housing but not both.

Discussion took place on the matter of CIL and affordable housing with the the importance of both receiving CIL and delivering on affordable housing being stressed.

It was requested that a Members Briefing on this item be scheduled before Council meets to consider the recommendations on the 9 January, and in relation to this a date of the evening of the 4 January was identified for the briefing to take place via teams.

Cabinet recognised the additional changes which had been requested and agreed particularly pursuant to the recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Board and in relation to this requested an additional recommendation be added at (f) agreeing to the circulation of an additional appendix with the papers being presented to Council setting out any change to policy and significant changes to wording, and that the changes be delegated to the Director of Planning in consultation with the Leader and the Lead Member for Strategic Planning to agree.

RECOMMENDED that: -

a)            the Draft BCP Local Plan and Draft CIL Charging Schedule are approved for public consultation for a period of six weeks from January 2024;

b)            any minor changes following Council on 9 January to the Draft BCP Local Plan and Draft CIL Charging Schedule are delegated to the Director of Planning and Destination in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Dynamic Places for inclusion in the consultation versions;

c)            the Draft BCP Local Plan is updated to reflect any changes to the corporate strategy resulting from the outcome of Council on 9 January 2024;

d)             subject to no major amendments being required following consultation, the decision to submit the Draft BCP Local Plan and the Draft CIL Charging Schedule to the Secretary of State for examination is delegated to the Director of Planning and Destination in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Dynamic Places;

e)             the Local Development Scheme is approved to reflect the amended timetable; and

RESOLVED: -

f)              An additional appendix be presented with the papers to Council setting out any change to policy and significant changes to wording, and that these changes be delegated to the Director of Planning in consultation with the Leader and the Lead Member for Strategic Planning to agree.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Dynamic Places

Reason

We have a legal duty to prepare and maintain a Local Plan for our area. The publication of the draft BCP Local Plan is an important formal stage of the process prior to examination.

Meeting adjourned at 12:46pm

Meeting reconvened at 12:53pm

Councillor Martin left the meeting at 12.53pm