Issue - meetings

Local Authorities are required to maintain an up-to-date Local Development Scheme which sets out the programme for preparation of planning policy documents for at least the next 3 years.  This enables local communities, the development industry and others with an interest in the development process to engage in plan preparation with some certainty. 

The Planning Policy Team Leader introduced this item to the Panel. He informed them that a Single Member Decision was upcoming on this matter.

He explained that the main changes from the previous Local Development Scheme related to:

·  Preparation programme for the Placemaking Plan

·  Preparation programme for Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople Site Allocations DPD

·  Reference to overall programme for West of England Joint Planning Strategy

With regard to the Placemaking Plan the Draft Plan would be published for consultation in September 2015 and it is anticipated that the plan would be adopted in September 2016.

On the matter of the Gypsy and Traveller DPD he stated that there is delay in reaching the Draft Plan stage. This is due to the need to undertake joint working with neighbouring authorities on both;

·  assessing the level of need, ensuring there is no duplication, and

·  exploring and agreeing the spatial strategy response to the need across the wider area ensuring that the most sustainable locations for new sites are identified, and that reasonable options outside the Green Belt are explored before considering Green Belt sites. 

B&NES has been and continues to work with West of England and other adjoining Local Authorities on both these aspects.

Councillor David Martin commented that a high amount of activity was planned between now and March 2015 and asked if the department had enough resources in place.

The Planning Policy Team Leader replied that sufficient resources were available through the Planning Policy team and LDF budget to meet the work programme set out in the LDS, but that this would need to be kept under review with respect to work associated with involvement in the West of England Joint Planning Strategy.

The Chair asked when the Single Member Decision due was to be made.

The Planning Policy Team Leader replied that it was due next week, but that to allow for comments from the Panel it could be deferred for a small amount of time. He asked for their comments by the end of September.