Agenda and minutes

Declaration of Interests.

No interests were declared.

To sign as a correct record the notes of the meeting of the South East Lincolnshire Joint Strategic Planning Committee meeting held on 11 September 2015 (copy enclosed).

The minutes of the South East Lincolnshire Joint Strategic Planning Committee meeting held on 11 September 2015 were signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

To seek approval of the Draft Local Plan for the purpose of public consultation (Report of the South East Lincolnshire Joint Policy Unit Manager enclosed)

Consideration was given to the report of the South East Lincolnshire Joint Policy Unit Manager, which sought approval of the ‘Draft Local Plan’ for the purpose of public consultation.

At its last meeting, the South East Lincolnshire Joint Strategic Planning Committee (the Joint Committee) had considered the first of two reports relating to the approval of the contents of the Draft Local Plan for the purpose of public consultation.  The first report had dealt with the contents of the Policies Map Insets for all 75 settlements in the proposed South East Lincolnshire settlement hierarchy.

Following approval of the Policies Map Insets with amendments, the primary purpose of this report was to seek approval of the contents of the Draft Local Plan written statement, which contained all the Draft Local Plan policies and formed Appendix A, for the purpose of public consultation. 

As preparation of the written statement had taken longer than expected, the public consultation exercise relating to the full contents of the Draft Local Plan was now scheduled to commence on Friday 8^th January 2016, and last for six weeks until Friday 19^th February inclusive.

The written statement set out the vision for South East Lincolnshire, the strategic priorities for the area and 32 policies to guide the development and use of land within it.  Most of the policies could be split into two categories: those providing strategic direction and those providing general guidance on day-to-day development-management matters.  The remainder related to site-specific proposals for development. 

Within the written statement, each policy was followed by the justification for it and the options considered were set out prior to each.  The choice of preferred option had been informed by a process of sustainability appraisal and then a second sustainability appraisal process had been applied to the emerging policy to inform its final wording. 

To support the written statement, a draft paper was attached at Appendix B to provide the justification for the Draft Local Plan Policy 13: A sustainable urban extension for housing in Spalding.  

Members were asked to consider Appendices A and B and approve them in principle, with or without revisions, for public consultation and delegate authority to officers to make any necessary changes in respect of presentation or factual correction and updating.

The Joint Policy Unit Manager updated Members further.  The Steering Group had considered the document at length on 30^th October and the only issue outstanding related to two policies to be examined at the meeting. It had been hoped that the Draft local Plan  would be informed by the Whole Plan Viability Assessment (WPVA), but this work was not yet finished; however, there had been recent discussions with developers and consultants and its preparation was now well advanced, hopefully to conclude early in the New Year. An interim indication of viability could be given.

Members discussed publicity.  Councillor Gambba-Jones emphasised that it was important to get the message across to the public that its feedback on the development of the area over  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

Note:          No other business is permitted unless by reason of special circumstances, which shall be specified in the minutes, the Chairman is of the opinion that the item(s) should be considered as a matter of urgency.

There was none.