Council and councillors

To receive Report No. 182/2015 from the Director for Places (Development and Economy).

Report No. 182/2015 from the Director for Places (Development and Economy) was received. 

The Portfolio Holder, Mr King, introduced the report the purpose of which was to consider the Rutland Local Plan Review Issues and Options document prior to going out to consultation with the local community and key stakeholders.

The Planning Policy and Housing Manager, Mr Troy, advised Members that the review included 20 questions on key issues and options.  Key issues to be developed were: overall housing numbers, setting out overall figures for Oakham, Uppingham and villages; relationship with neighbourhood plans; changes in settlement hierarchy and definition set out; direction of growth for Oakham and Uppingham; direction of growth regarding infrastructure and minerals and waste.  The document was due to considered at Cabinet in October 2015 with the consultation taking place between November 2015 and January 2016.

The Portfolio Holder, Mr King, encouraged Members to contact Mr Troy if they wished to seek clarity on specific questions, or to add to questions.

The following points were raised during discussion:

      i.        The possibility of producing summary documents, condensing information, to support the consultation.

    ii.        Members commented on the wording of some of the questions, particularly Question 12 (on the spatial strategy).  The Portfolio Holder, Mr King, requested Members to advise the Planning Policy and Housing Manager, Mr Troy, by email of the questions they wished to focus on and alternative wording to be considered.  Suggestions for wording, or comments, within 7 days.  Members were reminded that the final decision would be made by Cabinet.

   iii.        That neighbourhood plans were part of the Statutory Development Plan.

   iv.        When questioned Mr King confirmed that Oakham Town Council, together with other areas in the county had been given until 8 February 2016 as a deadline date for application to designate a neighbourhood plan area in terms of boundaries.

    v.        That the Local Plan would focus on developing main towns and local service centres: nine in the first option and 12 in the second option (Option A paragraph 5.5; Option B paragraph 5.6).  Members commented on the importance of the public having a say on where development would take place so as not to be disenfranchised and the importance of the definition of technical terms used in the consultation document.  Mr King stated that as Portfolio Holder he was agreeable to the scoring system being made available as part of the consultation to assist those being consulted.

   vi.        That the Sustainability of Settlements Assessment (2015) (paragraph 5.3) could be given to parishes, if they wished to comment on it, to allow better understanding.

  vii.        Question 4 related to new housing to be provided over the next 21 years (2015-2036).  An inspector would see that the assessed need met the indicated need for housing in that period.  There was a need to balance requirement with that which was acceptable to the community.

viii.        That Question 10, relating to possible future growth at Uppingham was included as the neighbourhood plan had not been adopted and the outline in the question fitted in the Uppingham Neighbourhood Plan.

AGREED:

1.    That any suggestions for the wording of questions, or others comments, be made to the Planning Policy and Housing Manager within 7 days.