Agenda item

Report of Interim Executive Director: Place and Growth

Purpose of report

To seek approval of draft project and programme documents for the Oxfordshire Joint Statutory Spatial Plan (JSSP). These documents comprise the Draft Statement of Community Involvement 2018; the Local Development Scheme; and, the JSSP Scoping Document

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

1.1          To approve the Local Development Scheme 2018 (“LDS”) for the Joint Statutory Spatial Plan (JSSP) attached at Appendix 1.

1.2          To approve the draft Joint Statutory Spatial Plan (JSSP) Statement of Community Involvement 2018 (“SCI”), attached at Appendix 2 for a six week period of formal public consultation.

1.3          To approve the Joint Statutory Spatial Plan (JSSP) Scoping Document, attached at Appendix 3.

1.4          To authorise the Interim Executive Director: Place and Growth, in agreement with the other councils equivalent, to make any necessary minor and presentational changes to the draft Statement of Community Involvement before formal consultation commences.

1.5          To authorise the Interim Executive Director: Place and Growth to make any necessary minor and presentational changes to the Local Development Scheme and Joint Statutory Spatial Plan (JSSP) Scoping Document before publication.

Resolved

(1)          That the Local Development Scheme 2018 (“LDS”) for the Joint Statutory Spatial Plan (JSSP) (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be approved.

(2)          That the draft Joint Statutory Spatial Plan (JSSP) Statement of Community Involvement 2018 (“SCI”) (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be approved for a six week period of formal public consultation.

(3)          That the Joint Statutory Spatial Plan (JSSP) Scoping Document (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be approved.

(4)          That the Interim Executive Director: Place and Growth, in agreement with the other councils equivalent, be authorised to make any necessary minor and presentational changes to the draft Statement of Community Involvement before formal consultation commences.

(5)          That the Interim Executive Director: Place and Growth be authorised to make any necessary minor and presentational changes to the Local Development Scheme and Joint Statutory Spatial Plan Scoping Document before publication.

The Interim Executive Director: Place and Growth submitted a report to seek approval of draft project and programme documents for the Oxfordshire Joint Statutory Spatial Plan (JSSP). The documents comprised the Draft Statement of Community Involvement 2018; the Local Development Scheme; and, the JSSP Scoping Document.

Resolved

(1)          That the Local Development Scheme 2018 (“LDS”) for the Joint Statutory Spatial Plan (JSSP) (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be approved.

(2)          That the draft Joint Statutory Spatial Plan (JSSP) Statement of Community Involvement 2018 (“SCI”) (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be approved for a six week period of formal public consultation.

(3)          That the Joint Statutory Spatial Plan (JSSP) Scoping Document (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be approved.

(4)          That the Interim Executive Director: Place and Growth, in agreement with the other councils equivalent, be authorised to make any necessary minor and presentational changes to the draft Statement of Community Involvement before formal consultation commences.

(5)          That the Interim Executive Director: Place and Growth be authorised to make any necessary minor and presentational changes to the Local Development Scheme and Joint Statutory Spatial Plan Scoping Document before publication.

Reasons

The Council and its partners are at an early stage in the production of a JSSP for Oxfordshire. Once adopted the JSSP, will form part of the Council’s Development Plan against which formal planning decisions will be made and other local planning documents prepared. The Council has a statutory duty to prepare and maintain an LDS under S15 of the PCPA 2004. The preparation of the plan will require community and stakeholder involvement and the production of a SCI is a legal requirement under S18 of the PCPA 2004 to ensure compliance with statutory requirements and Government policy for plan making and consultation on planning matters.  

These documents will not replace the Councils existing LDSs and SCIs, they will remain relevant to all other planning matters. 

Alternative options

Option 1: Not to approve the draft SCI for consultation and to not approve the

LDS and Scoping Document.

The SCI is a requirement of S18 of the PCPA 2004. To not adopt an SCI would leave the production of the JSSP and the soundness of the development plan document open to challenge.

The Council has a statutory responsibility to maintain an LDS. Not to approve the LDS could undermine the confidence of the public and stakeholders about the plan making process.   

The JSSP Scoping Document is an informal document, not required by regulations, but which is a helpful project planning tool which seeks to set out the understanding between the various parties on the objectives of the JSSP and the processes that will be followed.  This will form an agreed framework for the project and it will be used to inform the work programme for the plan.  To not approve the Scoping Document will lead to uncertainty and possible delays in the preparation of the JSSP.

Option 2: To reconsider the content of the draft SCI, LDS and Scoping Document.

The draft SCI has been produced having regard to statutory and policy requirements for plan-making. It is considered by officers to be an appropriate consultation document.

The LDS has been produced having regarded to the statutory responsibilities for plan making, the requirements of the Oxfordshire Housing and Growth Deal and the resources available to the JSSP Project Team.  It is considered by officers to be appropriate for the present and foreseeable circumstances.

The draft Scoping Document has been produced having regarded to statutory and policy requirements for plan-making and the requirements of the Oxfordshire Housing and Growth Deal. It is considered by officers to be an appropriate and effective document that will guide the preparation of the JSSP.

The draft SCI has been produced having regarded to statutory and policy requirements for plan-making. Examples of recently approved SCIs have been considered. It is considered by officers to be an appropriate consultation document.