The District Council may ask the Government Inspector to suspend the examination into the Core Strategy until December, depending on what happens at Full Council next week. There’s an item on there as follows: (you can download it here 9115kb)
SUBJECT: ROCHFORD CORE STRATEGY ? WAY FORWARD
1
DECISION MADE
1.1
It is recommended that a formal request be made to the Inspector that the
examination into the Core Strategy be suspended until December 2011, and
that in the meantime work is undertaken to identify and consult on the
amendments required to ensure the Core Strategy has regard to the likely
adoption date of 2012 (option A).
1.2
Under the Council?s constitution, the decision to make such a request to the
Inspector is within the remit of the Portfolio Holder. However, given the
significance of the Core Strategy, the Portfolio Holder considers it appropriate
for all Members to have the opportunity to discuss the way forward at this
crucial juncture. As such, the above recommendation will be considered at
Council.
2
REASON FOR DECISION
2.1
The attempts by government to change national planning policy, the
statements issued, and the subsequent decision that such actions were
unlawful have caused considerable delays to the Core Strategy process and
placed the Council in a difficult position vis-?-vis its planning framework for the
District. There is a considerable lack of clarity in respect of the national
position. It is hoped that the Localism Bill will provide clarity going forward.
2.2
The affect of the delay in proceeding to adoption has resulted in the need to
undertake review and undertake amendments to the plan to accord with an
expected adoption date in 2012.
2.3
It is considered to be essential that a clear, sound framework for the future
development of the district is put in place without further delay. The
implications of not doing so are the likelihood of planning applications for
development in locations that are not considered to be acceptable to the
Council, but without a demonstrable five year supply of housing land would be
difficult, if not impossible to resist.
3
WAY FORWARD
Option A
3.1
Submit a request to the Inspector that the Core Strategy examination be
suspended and undertake the required minor changes to the Core Strategy to
have regard to the delays in the adoption date, proceeding on the basis of the
retention of the 190 dwellings per annum housing delivery rate.
1
3.2
Minor policy revisions would be required due to the delays in the examination. Such changes would require some additional work on the Core Strategy.
3.3
This approach is not currently permissible (as clarified by the Inspector), but is expected to be once the Localism Bill has achieved Royal Assent. As such, it is suggested that the Core Strategy examination be suspended until December 2011. The Council may request that the Inspector suspend the examination until December 2011 in order to allow the outcome of the Localism Bill to be considered, and to enable the Council to undertake other minor changes on the Core Strategy to ensure the plan period has regard to the likely new adoption date.
3.4
The Council has already prepared a timetable for the Core Strategy which addresses the separate issue of the Core Strategy SA Addendum and need for additional consultation if the SA Addendum1 were to suggest changes to the Core Strategy are required (the ?Scenario 2? timetable). The Inspector has already agreed to this timetable in which further public consultation on changes could take place from 3 August until 26 September 2011. The Inspector also stated that this consultation period could be used to make further amendments to the Core Strategy aside from those engendered by the SA Addendum. Although not referring to the types of changes envisaged if this option were to be pursued, in principle, this provides a potential timeframe in which consultation could be undertaken and the Core Strategy finalised by November 2011.
3.5
The Inspector may require further hearing sessions and / or written representations on revisions to the Core Strategy.
3.6
If this option were to be pursued, the Council would draw up a revised timetable for the Core Strategy. It is envisaged that the Core Strategy would be adopted in early 2012.
4 ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED
Option B
4.1
Undertake revisions to the Core Strategy to restore the original minimum housing targets of 250 dwellings per annum, so as to be in general conformity with the East of England Plan 2008.
4.2
This would constitute a change to the Council?s agreed approach of 190 dwellings per annum. It would not simply be a case of reverting back to the Core Strategy as originally submitted, as the original housing policies ran until 2025 and the Core Strategy is required to set policies for the delivery of housing for at least 15 years. Given the delays, policies which set out the distribution until 2027 would be appropriate.
1
This report is not intended to address the issue of whether changes to the Core Strategy are required as a result of the SA Addendum work. This issue will be addressed separately.
2
4.3
Revisions to the Core Strategy, once agreed, would need to be subject to
public consultation and appraisal.
5
NAME OF PORTFOLIO HOLDER
5.1
Cllr Keith Hudson
6
LEAD OFFICER
6.1
Shaun Scrutton, Head of Planning and Transportation