Decision details

To endorse the comments set out in Appendix 1 of the report and to agree that these should be submitted to Bristol City Council as the formal response of B&NES Council to the Bristol Local Plan Review – Further Consultation Document, November 2022.

Bristol City Council (Bristol CC) is reviewing its Local Plan to provide an up-to-date planning policy framework covering the period from 2022-2040.  Bristol CC published a Further Consultation document in November 2022, to which B&NES Council is responding through the comments set out in Appendix 1 to the report.  Given that Bristol CC is a neighbouring authority to B&NES it is likely that the Bristol Local Plan will have implications for communities within B&NES.  At this stage B&NES Council is commenting on the emerging Bristol Local Plan, focusing on cross boundary strategic issues.

Under section 33A of the Planning & Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended) Bristol CC has a duty to co-operate (engage constructively, actively and on an on-going basis) with its neighbouring authorities and other prescribed bodies.  Therefore, in addition to responding formally to this and other Bristol Local Plan consultation documents B&NES Council is working with Bristol CC under the Duty to Co-operate, and this will continue up to preparation of the publication version of the Draft Bristol Local Plan and its submission for examination.  This engagement will be documented through a Statement of Common Ground as required by the NPPF.

Given that there were strategic, cross-boundary issues that this Council wants to raise, no alternative options were considered.