Agenda item

(Portfolio Holder for Planning Policy) To consider the attached report (C-010-2014/15).

(1)        That, as appended to the report, the updated Local Development Scheme be adopted and published on the Council’s website; and

(2)        That expenditure against the Local Plan budget in 2013/14 and the estimated expenditure against the Local Plan budget for 2014/15 be noted.

The Portfolio Holder for Planning Policy presented a report on the Local Development Scheme and resourcing for the Local Plan process.

The Portfolio Holder sought agreement for an updated Local Development Scheme, this being the high level project plan for the preparation of the Epping Forest Local Plan. The proposed new scheme would supersede the current Local Development Scheme agreed in July 2013, with the preparation of the single District-wide Local Plan scheduled for submission to the Secretary of State for examination in Autumn 2016. It was acknowledged that the process was taking considerably longer than previously envisaged.

The Portfolio Holder highlighted progress and expenditure since the last Local Development Scheme was approved in July 2013. Expenditure in 2013/14 had been £297,000, which had left an underspend of £103,000 to be carried forward into 2014/15. Expenditure during the first quarter of 2014/15 had been £40,554, and further expenditure totalling £188,995 was planned for the remainder of the year. A restructure of the Forward Planning team was currently underway to improve the resilience of the team following three recent resignations and to align resources with future requirements. Two staff were on maternity leave but their return to work dates had now been confirmed, and three posts that were previously funded from the District Development Fund would be made permanent.

When asked about the arrangements in place to inform residents about the outcome of the Preferred Options consultation, the Portfolio Holder assured the Cabinet that all reports were published to the Council’s website for public scrutiny. The responses from the consultation would be reviewed before a draft Local Plan was compiled and submitted to the Cabinet for approval; the draft Local Plan would also be published to the Council’s website. The outline schedule in the proposed Scheme illustrated the milestones in the process, culminating in the submission of the Local Plan to the Planning Inspectorate for examination in October 2016.

In response to further questions from the Members present, the Portfolio Holder stated that housing built since the commencement of the Local Plan Period would count against the new Local Plan target. The Council maintained good relationships with potential developers to engage them in the local planning process. Even when the Local Plan was agreed, it was likely that it would be reviewed before the target end date of 2030, if circumstances changed. Following the success of the Workshops held last year, more would be scheduled as the input of Town and Parish Councils to the process was valued very highly.

The interim Assistant Director (Policy & Conservation) informed the Cabinet that, although Uttlesford District Council had initially been unwilling to participate in an update of the Strategic Housing Market Assessment, discussions with Officers had continued and it was expected that their stance would change. In addition, the London Borough of Enfield had been informed, in response to a formal consultation on their Area Action Plan, that they were considered to have not exercised the duty to co-operate sufficiently; the Portfolio Holder added that the duty to co-operate was not a duty to agree.

Decision:

(1)        That, as appended to the report, the updated Local Development Scheme be adopted and published on the Council’s website; and

(2)        That expenditure against the Local Plan budget in 2013/14 and the estimated expenditure against the Local Plan budget for 2014/15 be noted.

Reasons for Decision:

The Council was obliged under the Localism Act 2011 to prepare and publish a Local Development Scheme so that the public and other stakeholders were aware of the likely timing of key stages of the plan making process. The current Local Development Scheme, approved a year ago, was due for renewal.

Other Options Considered and Rejected:

To not agree (or to vary) the Local Development Scheme. However, the Council was under a statutory requirement to review and publish its scheme each year.