Agenda item

**Please note that appendices 8 -10 to this report will follow as they are currently being finalised**

Report of the Head of Strategic Planning and the Economy

Purpose of Report

To consider Proposed Modifications to the Submission Cherwell Local Plan and representations received. To approve the Proposed Modifications, Further Proposed Minor Modifications and Sustainability Appraisal Addendum for submission to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.  The Modifications are required to proceed with the public Examination and to ensure that the Local Plan is ‘sound’, and conforms to the National Planning Policy Framework.

Recommendation

The meeting is recommended:

 1.1        To approve the Proposed Modifications to the Submission Local Plan, incorporating Further Proposed Minor Modifications and Sustainability Appraisal Addendum, for submission to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government through the Planning Inspectorate.

Resolved

(1)          That through the Local Plan Examination, officers seek the designation of that part of the Ray Conservation Target Area that lies within site Bicester 13 (Gavray Drive) as a ‘Local Green Space’ within the meaning of paragraph 76 of the NPPF.

(2)          That subject to resolution (1), the proposed modifications to the Submission Local Plan incorporating further proposed minor modifications and Sustainability Appraisal Addendum (annexes to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be approved for submission to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government through the Planning Inspectorate.

The Head of Strategic Planning and the Economy submitted a report to consider proposed modifications to the Submission Cherwell Local Plan and representations received, to approve the proposed modifications, further proposed minor modifications and the Sustainability Appraisal Addendum for submission to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. The Modifications were required to proceed with the public Examination and to ensure that the Local Plan was ‘sound’, and conformed to the National Planning Policy Framework.

Mr Maggs, Middleton Stoney Parish Council, addressed Council.

Mr John Broad and Dr Patricia Clissold, representatives of the Campaign to Save Gavray Meadons and Grassroots Bicester, addressed Council.

In presenting the report, the Lead Member for Planning explained that the Draft Cherwell Local Plan - Part 1 had been submitted to the Planning Inspectorate on the 31 January 2014. The Examination, which commenced on 3 June 2014, had been suspended by the Inspector suspended the Examination for 6 months to allow for modifications to the Plan.

The Lead Member for Planning gave an overview of the main development site proposals and the additional evidence to support the modifications. Council was advised that the Duty to Cooperate was a legal requirement and over the course of preparing the modifications the council had complied with this requirement and there had been positive engagement with partner authorities. During the consultation, over 300 individual responses containing over 1,500 individual comments had been received. A further four representations had been received since publication of the agenda.   

The Lead Member for Planning explained that subject to the decision of Full Council final proposed modifications will be submitted to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and the Public Examination will re-commence. In preparation for the Examination, updated Topic Papers and responses to written statements will be drafted.Once the Examination of the Local Plan has been completed, the Masterplans for Bicester, Banbury and Kidlington will be completed within the framework set by the Local Plan, once adopted.

In the course of the debate, Members acknowledged the importance of an adopted Local Plan, indicated their support and raised some queries to which the Lead Member for Planning duly responded. 

Members commended the Planning Team for their hard work in drafting the proposed modifications

Resolved

(1)          That through the Local Plan Examination, officers seek the designation of that part of the Ray Conservation Target Area that lies within site Bicester 13 (Gavray Drive) as a ‘Local Green Space’ within the meaning of paragraph 76 of the NPPF.

(2)          That subject to resolution (1), the proposed modifications to the Submission Local Plan incorporating further proposed minor modifications and Sustainability Appraisal Addendum (annexes to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be approved for submission to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government through the Planning Inspectorate.

(Councillors Mallon and Turner left the meeting for the duration of the following item)