Agenda item

To consider the report.

Following consideration of the officer report, appendices and discussion, the Executive:

i.         Approved the Local Development Scheme (Appendix 1 to the report) as the Council’s work programme for delivering the Development Plan; and

ii.        In consultation with the Lead Member for Economic Development, Planning and Assets, delegated authority was given to the Service Director for Economy, Employment and Planning to agree any necessary final amendments prior to its publication; and

iii.       Agreed to establish a Planning and Transport Policy Sub-Committee of the Executive with Terms of Reference as set out in Appendix 2 of the report.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED: As set out in the officer report

REASON FOR DECISION: As set out in the officer report

The Leader of the Council and Lead Member for Governance and Communications, Cllr Bill Revans, invited the Lead Member for Economic Development, Planning and Assets, Cllr Ros Wyke, to introduce the report.

The Lead Member for Economic Development, Planning and Assets, Cllr Ros Wyke, introduced the report, highlighting; that the Council has a statutory responsibility to produce a Local Development Scheme (LDS) which sets out the work programme and timetable for the production of a development plan documents, including the local plan, minerals plan and waste plan; that given the large geographic area of Somerset, the local plan will be a very complex piece of work and that the timetable is ambitious, but necessary, as the Council is required to produce a local plan within five years of vesting day; that the development plan is a key vehicle for delivering the ambitions, policies and strategies of Somerset Council, including addressing the climate and ecology emergencies and meeting housing and employment needs; and that the proposed Planning and Transport Policy Sub-Committee would oversee and monitor the review of the development plans and local transport plan and take delegated decisions on behalf of the Executive to ensure a more streamlined timetable for producing these documents. 

ThePrincipal Planning Officer, Laura Higgins with the aid of PowerPoint presentation, presented the report, highlighting; that the Council has a legal requirement to produce a Local Plan within 5 years of vesting day (by 1 April 2028);  that Officers were supported by a Critical Friend to identify ways in which this could be achieved; the conclusion that five years could be achieved but only with sufficient financial and staff resources; the ambitious timetable and streamlined approach, including consultation and a draft plan; summarised the stages and dependent factors of the proposed elements of timetable of the local plan; the establishment and purpose of the proposed Planning and Transport Subcommittee; that the timetable assumes the Local Plan is produced as a separate work strand from the Minerals and Waste Plan reviews; and that the Local Plan is a key document that will help delivery on our Climate Emergency Strategy and its emerging policies.

The Leader of the Council and Lead Member for Governance and Communications, Cllr Bill Revans, invited comments from other Members present, questions and points raised included: thanks to the officers and team for their work on the LDS; the challenges of achieving the local plan including: developing a new plan across a very large geographic area, recognising and retaining the variation within Somerset, the number of other current local plans to work with, the constraints of Local Government finance, the requirement of officer and specialist skills resource, unitarisation and bringing together five local plans; the proposals in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill to make amendments to the plan making process and potential changes to the current arrangements and legislation and process; liaison with the National Park and inclusion in the LDS; the comments and discussion from the Scrutiny Committee – Climate and Place held 20 September 2023, including: the involvement of Members in bringing forward a new Local Plan, a potential cross party working group for development of the Local Plan to provide scrutiny and work through the early stages of policy, the cost and breakdown of costs for a DPD,  Climate Emergency policies, including zero carbon standards and new renewable energy generation, best practice and comparison of other Local Authorities, emerging policies and expediting and giving weight to policies through the Local Plan, including climate change, energy, water efficiency and increasing requirements through the building regulations to move towards net zero; the Executive Subcommittee responsibilities and public meeting open and transparent process; and the unique Somerset Council situation and the need to adhere to process to deliver policies.

The Executive Director of Climate and Place, Mickey Green, added to the above points advising of the changes in the report to reflect Scrutiny Committee – Climate and Place comments, and the recognition of further work required on the consultation engagement plan to find a manageable way to ensure everyone has a voice, with a look to add this work to the Scrutiny Committee – Climate and Place forward plan.

Following consideration of the officer report, appendices and discussion, the Executive:

i.         Approved the Local Development Scheme (Appendix 1 to the report) as the Council’s work programme for delivering the Development Plan; and

ii.        In consultation with the Lead Member for Economic Development, Planning and Assets, delegated authority was given to the Service Director for Economy, Employment and Planning to agree any necessary final amendments prior to its publication; and

iii.       Agreed to establish a Planning and Transport Policy Sub-Committee of the Executive with Terms of Reference as set out in Appendix 2 of the report.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED: As set out in the officer report

REASON FOR DECISION: As set out in the officer report