Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Head of Planning, Economy and Regeneration regarding a revised timetable (Local Development Scheme) for the preparation of the Mid Devon Local Plan Review 2013 – 2033, the Greater Exeter Strategic Plan and a new Local Plan for Mid Devon.

The Cabinet had before it a report* of the Head of Planning, Economy and Regeneration setting out a revised timetable (Local Development Scheme) for the preparation of the Mid Devon Local Plan Review 2013 – 2033, the Greater Exeter Strategic Plan and a new Local Plan for Mid Devon.

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Regeneration outlined the contents of the report stating that the report sought approval for a revised LDS which included revised timetables for the preparation of development plans affecting Mid Devon. It was necessary to keep the LDS up to date and published on the Council’s website. This would also be needed for the current examination of the Local Plan Review.

The Local Development Scheme included:

o   A revised timetable for the Local Plan Review which reflected the preliminary hearings held in September and main hearings that would likely take place in February next year.

o   A revised timetable for the Greater Exeter Strategic Plan that had become necessary as a result of ongoing technical work to formulate draft policies and site options.

o   A provisional timetable for the preparation of a future new Local Plan for Mid Devon. There was now a legal requirement for review plans every five years.  This work would need to be commenced as soon as practicable following the adoption of the current Local Plan Review.

Consideration was given to:

·         Capacity issues within the Planning Service to administer and deliver the large number of plans that were in circulation. It was explained that the Council had had the benefit of additional capacity funding in recent years which had helped. The services of an expert consultant had also been brought in mindful that government funding could not be relied upon in the long term and this had worked well with a high level of productivity.

·         The Inspector’s thoughts regarding J27 in his letter following the preliminary hearings in September 2018. He had been happy with the principle of allocations but hadn’t gone into detail with his thoughts on the detailed wording of policy at this stage.

RESOLVED that the new Local Development Scheme (LDS) as set out in Appendix 1 of the report be approved which will have effect from 30 November 2018 and that this is published on the Council’s website.

(Proposed by Cllr R J Chesterton and seconded by Cllr P H D Hare-Scott)

Note:  *Report previously circulated, copy attached to minutes.