Issue - meetings

Report of Assistant Director – Planning and Development

Purpose of report

To seek approval of an updated Local Development Scheme (LDS) to produce the Council’s key planning policy documents.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

1.1         To approve the updated Local Development Scheme (LDS) presented at Appendix 1.

Resolved

(1)           That the updated Local Development Scheme (LDS) (Appendix 1 to the report) be approved.

The Assistant Director – Planning and Development submitted a report to seek approval of an updated Local Development Scheme (LDS) to produce the Council’s key planning policy documents.

Resolved

(1)          That the updated Local Development Scheme (LDS) (Annex to the Minutes, as set out in the Minute Book) be approved.

Reasons

An updated LDS has been prepared taking into account the significant change in circumstances since the last LDS was adopted in 2021. It provides a broad programme for completion of the on-going Local Plan review and a potential Community Infrastructure Levy. The Council has a statutory responsibility to prepare and maintain an LDS. The LDS will be used by officers, the public, partners and developers and other stakeholders to monitor the production of documents and to plan for associated consultations. Approval of the LDS is needed to assist project management and ensure that the Council meets its statutory responsibilities for plan-making. The LDS will be reviewed again if there is a further, significant change in circumstances.

Alternative options

Option 1: Not to approve the LDS

The Council has a statutory responsibility to maintain an LDS.  If the Council did not prepare its own LDS the Secretary of State could impose one.  Aside from legal duty, not to approve the LDS could undermine the confidence of the public and stakeholders about the Council’s plan-making programme. The LDS would need to be re-presented to the Executive at a future meeting.

Option 2: To reconsider the content of the LDS

The LDS has been prepared having regard to the Council’s statutory responsibilities and current resources. It is considered by officers to be appropriate for the present and foreseeable circumstances.