Agenda item

Report of the Director of Services

Presented by the Regeneration and Planning Portfolio Holder

Councillor T J Pendleton presented the report to members and sought their agreement to the strategic growth plan statement for the purposes of consultation.  He reminded members that the Council was working in partnership with the city council, county council, district councils and the LLEP to prepare the strategic growth plan, and having the plan would mean that councils across Leicester and Leicestershire would be able to plan effectively for the future, preparing local plans within a consistent framework and be able to exercise control over the forecast growth for the area.  He added that without the strategic growth plan, growth would take place in an unsynchronised sporadic manner, leading to a lack of protection for important assets and also leaving authorities not to demonstrate that they had complied with the duty to cooperate.  He outlined the consultation process which would take place once the statement was agreed.

Councillor T J Pendleton moved the recommendations as set out in the report.  The motion was seconded by Councillor N J Rushton who reserved his comments.

Councillor S Sheahan commented that this was something of a test of new and emerging governance structures.  He expressed concern that the voice of North West Leicestershire was not being heard in this process, and the only issue of any substance for the district was the east midlands gateway.  He questioned whether the creation of yet more low wage unskilled jobs should be the sum total of the contribution for North West Leicestershire.  He stated that training and opportunities for young people should be promoted, and attempts made to attract businesses that offered this.  He commented that there were a lot of weaknesses and threats in the report, and the biggest threat to our prosperity was not even mentioned - Brexit.  He felt that the strategy for Leicester and Leicestershire was a weak offering for the district which had an important part to play in the future of Leicestershire.  He added that if North West Leicestershire was not given the support to play its part, Leicestershire as a whole would lose out.  He concluded that he would support sending the document out for consultation in the hope that it would improve as a result.

Councillor F Fenning noted that there were no resource implications highlighted in the report.  He suggested that it should be clarified that this was excluding officer time and funding for consultancy works.  He stated that all costs, including time, must be measured in some way.

Councillor N J Rushton stated that it was most important that this strategic growth plan was approved.  He commented that to suggest North West Leicestershire was involved was untrue, and assured members that the district had contributed as much as the other local authorities involved.  He commented that logistics was a growing industry and to suggest that such jobs were low value and low paid was appalling and he hoped these comments would be withdrawn.

Councillor T J Pendleton stated that he was very happy to say that the aim of the strategic was to generate prosperity, not just low paid jobs.  He highlighted the four transformational priorities outlined in the report, one of which was within North West Leicestershire.  He added that there were eleven constituent stakeholders sharing the cost and money was being saved rather than spent.  He highlighted the good practice in the work being undertaken and added that cohesion would provide a sound basis for future plans. 

The Chairman then put the motion to the vote and it was

RESOLVED THAT:

a)     The strategic growth statement be approved for consultation subject to (b) below;

b)     The Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader be authorised to make minor changes to the draft strategic growth statement prior to consultation.