Agenda item

Cabinet will be asked to consider the Core Strategy for recommendation to Full Council

David Redgewell (Transport South West) in a statement fully supported the approval of the Core Strategy and urged the Council to upgrade the bus service as part of the Core Strategy.

Robert Hellard (Vice-Chair, South Stoke Parish Council) in a statement [a copy of which is attached to these Minutes as Appendix 1 and on the Council’s website] asked that the Core Strategy be set aside while a new plan is formed that would save the green surroundings of the City.

Councillor Tim Ball asked if Mr Hellard had understood that if the Core Strategy was not passed, it may be 6-7 years before another plan is brought back. Mr Hellard stated that he did not understand why a simple change in policy would take that long.

Peter Duppa-Miller (Clerk, Combe Hay Parish Council) in a statement [a copy of which is attached to these Minutes as Appendix 2 and on the Council’s website] put forward the views of Combe Hay Parish Council on the Core Strategy.

Caroline Kay (Chief Executive, Bath Preservation Trust) in a statement [a copy of which is attached to these Minutes as Appendix 3 and on the Council’s website] stated that the Trust is opposed to the removal from Bath’s green belt of the areas proposed in the Core Strategy.

Mr Elcome-Thorpe (Friends of Breaches Gate Group – East Keynsham) in a statement [a copy of which is attached to these Minutes as Appendix 4 and on the Council’s website] stated his opposition to the building on green belt land between East Keynsham and Saltford.

Peter Holland (Friends of Breaches Gate Group – East Keynsham) in a statement explained his opposition to the building on green belt land around Breaches Gate where a spirit of place exists.

Councillor Crossley thanked everyone for their statements.

Councillor Tim Ball introduced the item by thanking the speakers, officers, Parish Councillors and members of the public for all the hours of work around the Core Strategy. He pointed to the substantial consultation that had taken place throughout the process. He explained that the Core Strategy must either be adopted or rejected. Regarding the Odd Down and South Stoke areas, he explained that the inspector had given careful consideration to the issue and found this to be the most appropriate solution. He further explained that the Core Strategy is not just about homes but jobs, workplaces, schools and transport and also how we live and bring up our children. He explained the importance of housing Bath’s children in the future. Councillor Ball went on to report that the Core Strategy sought maximum use of brownfield land (80%) and had sought to bring empty properties into use. He explained that the inspector had analysed every detail meticulously.

He moved the proposals.

Councillor Crossley seconded the proposal and explained that the Cabinet were not making the decision on the Core Strategy but deciding on whether to recommend it to full Council. He thanked Simon de Beer and his team for the years of work on the scheme and noted that originally the government’s request for 23 thousand houses had been lessened to 13 thousand. He explained that if the Core Strategy were to be rejected, the consequences would be enormous and that no quick amendments could be made. He concluded by saying that nothing is perfect but we have a Core Strategy that has been inspected meticulously.

Councillor Ben Stevens stated that he supported all his colleagues had said.

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

RESOLVED (unanimously)

(1) To RECOMMEND to Council:

a) To accept the main modifications listed in Attachment 1 that the Inspector considers are needed to make the Plan sound in accordance with section 23 (3) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004;

b) To agree the Minor Modifications listed in Attachment 2 to the B&NES Core Strategy which are needed to ensure consistency and accuracy in the Plan;

c) To adopt the B&NES Core Strategy (Local Plan Part 1) as modified in (a) and (b) above for the purposes of section 38(6) of the Planning & Compulsory Purchase Act;

d) To agree that the B&NES Policies Map is amended in line with (a) and (b) above, and

e) To agree that the adopted Supplementary Planning Documents/ Guidance listed in Attachment 3 should supplement the Core Strategy.