Agenda item

The purpose of the report is to advise Members of the need to consider a review of the Fenland Local Plan (FLP).

Members considered the Fenland Local Plan Review and Update report presented by Councillor Mrs Laws.

Members asked questions and made comments as follows:

·       Councillor Owen stated that in terms of a shared service with Peterborough, they should be aware that this is a Fenland plan for the benefit of Fenland and not for the benefit of any other authority area. 

·       Councillor Mrs French stated that this plan, started in 2007, was supposed to be a fluid document but this has not been the case. She hopes that the plans of any Town or Parish Council will be taken seriously.  March had theirs adopted and approved but planning applications are coming in that officers are not taking seriously and this has got to stop.

·       Councillor Booth asked what would happen to the neighbourhood plans. They cannot go against a local plan but if it changes so dramatically, will they have to be started again?

·       Councillor Mrs Laws assured Councillor Owen that she accepted his comments and agreed that this is very much a plan for Fenland; also an important part of the consultation process is to go out to Town and Parish Councils. She added that she understood the comments made by Councillor Mrs French and also agreed that Councillor Booth was correct, any drastic difference to the plans would mean they would have to be started again. A neighbourhood plan works in conjunction with the local plan so members must look at what the community wants to put forward, but the local plan takes priority. However, although there may be a slight variation, community minds would likely have the same objective. 

·       Councillor Booth mentioned that a workshop was held after the PAS report, which is not referenced in the report. One idea was for a working party on the local plan, and he hopes this will be taken forward. Nick Harding, Head of Planning, said as a consequence of reviewing the local plan some elements of the neighbourhood plan are already in place which will fall by the wayside. There is more emphasis on national planning policies. 

·       Councillor Boden was happy to support the proposal put forward by Councillor Mrs Laws but it is not just a matter of producing a new local plan, which will reflect changes in national policy. He said members need to look at the existing local plan, recognise the areas where it has not been successful, learn from it and aim to do better.  The desire is for innovative change and a look at other local authority changes. 

·       Councillor Connor asked how a lack of five-year land supply could affect the new local plan. Councillor Mrs Laws explained that a comprehensive document would be coming out in March.   

·       Councillor Sutton stated he supports the updated local plan but would like to use the planning process to help make the villages sustainable.

·       Councillor Mrs Laws advised that there are some shortcomings in the local plan but the consultation process is key.  Members can learn, involve the Town and Parish Councils and have a working group, to ensure the villages keep their individuality. 

Proposed by Councillor Miscandlon, seconded by Councillor Booth and AGREED to approve:

·       That a full review of the local plan is commenced soon after the local council elections in May 2019 but with technical reports being commissioned before then.

·       That the Corporate Director (Growth and Infrastructure) is delegated to appoint PCC Planning Policy team via a Service Level Agreement (SLA) to carry out the required Local Plan review and to engage the relevant specialist advice related to the evidence documents within the allocated budget.

·       That the Local Development Scheme (Appendix 1 of the report) is the timetable for the production of the new local plan, which will include the required consideration of Cabinet and Council at appropriate stages of the review.