Issue - meetings

The Council, in its statutory role as the local planning authority, has a duty to periodically review its Local Plan to determine whether it requires updating. In spring 2020, the Council commenced work on the Local Plan Partial Update (LPPU) which amends or updates parts of the adopted Core Strategy and Placemaking Plan (together comprising the Local Plan) to better address Council priorities, in particular the climate and ecological emergencies. The draft LPPU was submitted in December 2021 to the Secretary of State for examination by an independent Planning Inspector. The Inspector has completed his examination and has concluded that the submitted LPPU is legally compliant and can be made sound, subject to a schedule of ‘main modifications’ (Appendix 1). The Council now needs to consider and decide whether it accepts the Inspector’s recommendation thereby enabling it to formally adopt the LPPU. If the Council does not accept all of the Inspector’s recommendations, then it cannot adopt the LPPU.

The Council considered a report following the submission of the draft LPPU in December 2021 to the Secretary of State for examination by an independent Planning Inspector. The Inspector had concluded that the submitted LPPU is legally compliant and could be made sound, subject to a schedule of ‘main modifications’ (Appendix 1). The Council was asked to accept the Inspector’s recommendation thereby enabling it to formally adopt the LPPU.

On a motion from Councillor Tim Ball, seconded by Councillor Vic Pritchard, it was

RESOLVED to

1.  Accept the Main Modifications listed in Appendix 1, which the Inspector considered are needed to make the Plan sound in accordance with section 20(5) of the Planning and Compulsory Act 2004 (as amended);

2.  Agree the additional minor modifications listed in Appendix 2 to the B&NES Local Plan Partial Update, which are needed to ensure clarity, consistency and factual accuracy in the Plan;

3.  Adopt the B&NES Local Plan Partial Update as modified in 1 and 2 above, as set out in Appendix 3, and as amended in the supplementary paper, including for the purposes of section 38(6) of the Planning & Compulsory Purchase Act;

4.  Agree the B&NES Policies Map is amended in line with 3 above; and

5.  Delegate responsibility to the Head of Planning Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Licencing, to make minor textual amendments to the Local Plan Partial Update prior to publication.

[Notes;

1.  The above successful resolution was carried with 48 Councillors voting in favour and 3 Councillors abstaining.]