Council and councillors

To receive Report No. 135/2021 from the Strategic Director of Places.

Report No. 135/2021 was received from the Strategic Director of Places. Councillor O Hemsley introduced the report which set out proposed project management arrangements for the establishment of a cross-party group to provide oversight of the process of making a new Local Plan for consideration by Council. Councillor Hemsley moved the recommendations as set out in the report and this was seconded.

Several Members set out concerns over the length of time required for the establishment of a new Local Plan and suggested this should be streamlined as much as possible.

In response, Members of the proposed Local Plan Working Group committed to ensuring a new Local Plan was delivered as soon as practicable but highlighted that the process was subject to a variety of statutory consultations, preparation period and independent examination. The timeline in the documentation was put forward as the professional opinion of officers on what would be achievable. 

It was also agreed that the proposed Terms of Reference for the Local Plan Working Group should be amended to remove any reference to individuals and instead be the titles of those concerned, in order to allow for changes in the holders of these positions.

Subject to this amendment, Councillor Hemsley’s motion was put to the vote, with 22 votes in favour and 1 against, the motion was carried.

RESOLVED

That Council APPROVES the project management arrangements as set out in this report and the accompanying appendices for the establishment of a cross-party group to provide oversight of the process of making a new Local Plan, in line with the Corporate Project Management governance framework. Subject to the Terms of Reference for the Local Plan Working Group being amended to remove any reference to individuals and instead be the titles of those concerned.