Issue - meetings

Report of the Strategic Director of Place

Presented by the Planning & Infrastructure Portfolio Holder

Councillor Ashman advised Cabinet that he had received a number of questions from Councillor Bigby on this report which he had responded to; and details of the questions and responses had been circulated to Cabinet ahead of the meeting. Councillor Bigby was invited to ask a supplementary question.

Councillor Bigby thanked Councillor Ashman for his reply and welcomed the agreed changes. However he expressed disappointment that the suggested changes in relation to objective 5 had been rejected. Whilst accepting the challenges that COVID-19 will present, Councillor Bigby strongly disputed the assumption that the economic interests of businesses in general were compatible with the economic interests of local residents. He didn’t accept that the building of more large warehouses across the district which were likely to be encouraged by the draft policy as it currently stands, would necessary be in the interests of local people. He therefore advised that he would continue to give some thought to this particular objective with a view to a revised recommendation which he hoped would find agreement by the Local Plan Committee.

Councillor Ashman thanked Councillor Bigby and advised that he stood by his original response and accepted that there is a balance to be struck between encouraging new businesses to settle in the district bringing with them local employment and building large warehouses in the countryside.

Councillor Robert Ashman presented the report to Cabinet.

The report set out draft objectives which, subject to the consideration of both Cabinet and the Local Plan Committee, it was intended that they be included in the next stage of consultation on the Local Plan Substantive Review. 

The recommendation as set out on page 89 of the agenda, as amended, was moved by Councillor Ashman, seconded by Councillor Blunt and subsequently

RESOLVED THAT:

The Local Plan Committee be requested to agree the draft objectives, as set out in paragraph 2.8 of the report, as amended by the response by Councillor Ashman to Councillor Bigby’s questions, in the next consultation stage of the substantive Local Plan review.

Reason for decision:  The preparation of the Local Plan is a Cabinet function.