KEY DECISION

21/2020

(Due to the size of the documents, the appendices have been attached as hyperlinks below)

Appendix 1 – Local Plan Review

Appendix 2a – Draft Policies Map

Appendix 2b – Rutland Main Map (1)

Appendix 2c – Rutland Main Map (2)

Appendix 3a – Rutland Local Plan – Reg 19 SA report

Appendix 3b – Rutland Local Plan – Reg 19 SA; Technical Annex

Appendix 4 – Pre-submission Local Plan HRA

Appendix 5 - Schedule of Consultation Responses

1)    Cabinet noted the contents of this report and the appended Pre-Submission Rutland Local Plan 2018-2036 (Regulation 19 Publication version) and the Policies Map;

2)    Cabinet provided final comments in need of further planning policy clarification through the Local Plan; and,

3)    Cabinet recommended the appended Pre-Submission Local Plan to Full Council for a decision to approve the Local Plan prior to commencing the statutory Publication Stage (Regulation 19);

Members of the Cabinet also noted that Full Council will be requested to:

4)    Approve the Pre-Submission Local Plan (Regulation 19 Publication Version) so that it can be published for its statutory 6-week stage;

5)    Support the Local Plan to be Submitted (Regulation 22) to Government for its Independent Examination in Public, unless any unforeseen and significant issues arise post Publication that would require re-consideration of the Local Plan. It is proposed that any non-material minor amendments (such as typographical, mapping, formatting, desktop publishing and design of the Local Plan) deemed necessary before the Local Plan is Submitted and during the Examination period will be delegated to, and made by, the Director of Places in consultation with the Local Plan lead Cabinet Portfolio Holder;

Report No.21/2020 was received from the Strategic Director for Places. Councillor Brown, Portfolio Holder for Environment, Finance, Planning and Property introduced the report the purpose of which was to update Cabinet on progress with the preparation of the Local Plan and seek the views of Cabinet prior to Full Council considering the Pre-Submission (Regulation 19) publication version of the Local Plan.  The recommendations are intended to ensure that the Plan is sound by being positively prepared, justified, and effective, as well as being consistent with national policy and being legally compliant.

During discussion the following points were noted:

·         The approval of the plan was not just about the sites that were being put forward but also about the Policies which would become the ‘Bible’ for the Planning Committee.

·         Having an up to date Local Plan meant that that the Council could provide certainty and ensure that development was in the most appropriate location.

·         The Local Plan was supported by an infrastructure delivery plan which, although not cast in stone, could be used as a framework.

·         Failure to adopt the Plan left the Council at risk of Government intervention and ultimately without a sound and legal plan, developers would have almost free rein to develop wherever they thought appropriate.

·         An approved HIF bid was not a requirement of an approved Local Plan. South Kesteven District Council (SKDC) and Melton Borough Council would both have had plans adopted without the terms and conditions of the HIF bid being agreed.

·         The Planning Inspector was happy for the Stamford North development to be included in the SKDC Local Plan without any agreements being in place.

·         Officers and the Portfolio Holder were congratulated on producing a Plan that met the needs of the community and that was legally sound.

·         Councillor Walters acknowledged the high level of public interest in the document but felt that as a Councillor his role was to protect the interests of Rutland as a whole and that this therefore was the right plan for Rutland.

DECISIONS:

1)    Cabinet NOTED the contents of this report and the appended Pre-Submission Rutland Local Plan 2018-2036 (Regulation 19 Publication version) and the Policies Map;

2)    Cabinet PROVIDED final comments in need of further planning policy clarification through the Local Plan; and,

3)    Cabinet RECOMMENDED the appended Pre-Submission Local Plan to Full Council for a decision to approve the Local Plan prior to commencing the statutory Publication Stage (Regulation 19);

Members of the Cabinet also NOTED that Full Council would be requested to:

1)    Approve the Pre-Submission Local Plan (Regulation 19 Publication Version) so that it can be published for its statutory 6-week stage;

2)    Support the Local Plan to be Submitted (Regulation 22) to Government for its Independent Examination in Public, unless any unforeseen and significant issues arise post Publication that would require re-consideration of the Local Plan. It is proposed that any non-material minor amendments (such as typographical, mapping, formatting, desktop publishing and design of the Local Plan) deemed necessary before the Local Plan is Submitted and during the Examination period will be delegated to, and made by, the Director of Places in consultation with the Local Plan lead Cabinet Portfolio Holder;

Reasons for the decision

Officers consider that the attached Local Plan is sound, positively prepared, justified, and effective, as well as being consistent with national policy and legally compliant.  In this regard, it should be noted that the revised NPPF (2019) revised the tests of soundness so that the Local Plan should be 'an appropriate strategy', and not 'the most appropriate strategy' as set out in the previous NPPF.

Cabinet is requested to consider this report and provide any final comments or areas in need of further planning policy clarification through the Local Plan, and to recommend the Local Plan to Full Council for a decision to approve the Local Plan prior to commencing the statutory Publication Stage.