Agenda item

To consider a report by Councillor Win Mullen-James, Lead Member for Local Development and Planning (copy enclosed) seeking Cabinet’s support for the revised Delivery Agreement to go forward to Council for approval and submission to Welsh Government.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)      confirms that it has read, understood and taken account of the Well-being Impact Assessment, as detailed in the supplement to the report, as part of its consideration, and

(b)      recommends the revised Delivery Agreement (DA) to go forward to Council for approval and submission to Welsh Government.

Councillor Win Mullen-James presented the report seeking Cabinet’s support for the revised Delivery Agreement for the replacement Local Development Plan (LDP) 2018 – 2033 to go to Council for approval and submission to Welsh Government.

The Delivery Agreement (DA) set out the timetable for progressing the LDP to adoption and outlined whom, how and when the Council would consult on the various stages. The current DA had been approved in May 2018. A revised DA was required due to delays in the timetable brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic; delays in the publication of the flood risk policy and guidance, and local elections.  No further formal consultation stages could be delivered until the revised DA was approved.  The Strategic Planning Group had considered the revised DA in October 2022 and recommended it be progressed to Cabinet and Council for approval.

Cabinet considered the report and, whilst accepting the delays to the previous timetable were due to reasons beyond the Council’s control, was keen for the work to be progressed as soon as possible.  Questions were raised regarding the approach taken and whether, given the circumstances, there was any scope to change the 2018 start date given the Plan would be adopted some years after that date, and whether the LDP could be an ongoing document reviewed periodically rather than having a set start and end date.  The impact of the delay on elements of the current LDP which members wished to challenge was also a concern.

The Senior Planning Officer responded to questions and comments as follows –

·         noted that other local authorities had also experienced delays due to similar issues, including the impact of the new phosphate targets on development, and there was confidence that the revised DA would progress the LDP to adoption

·         the replacement LDP would cover the period 2018 – 2033 and whilst it was appreciated part of the Plan would be in the past, it was usual for LDPs given the cyclical process.  Due to the delays the process would likely take two more years than originally planned

·         the revised DA set out a tight and ambitious timetable but there was confidence that it could be met with a view to adopting the new LDP in 2025 with sufficient time left in the Plan for it to be implemented and achieve its aims and objectives.  The revised DA required Council approval before submission to the Welsh Government for their agreement

·         if the Plan’s start date was moved at this stage the whole process would need to be restarted (because the evidence base had been collated for 2018 – 2033) which would add additional years to the process of adopting a new Plan

·         elaborated on the cyclical process of adopting the LDP, usually before the current Plan expired, starting the review a maximum of 4 years from adoption

·         the current LDP would remain in force (pending adoption of a new LDP) which at present was just beyond its end date and there was confidence the current LDP was still relevant and fit for purpose when considering planning applications

·         there were new policy areas to be included in the new LDP, such as climate change, and where there were changes to national policy (which were out of step with local policy) they would take precedence

·         when considering planning applications there may be other relevant material considerations and it was right that members challenged elements within the LDP.  Current sites remained in the LDP until the new Plan was adopted

·         the current LDP and the Welsh Government’s Future Wales National Development Plan remained the two documents for consideration when making decisions and recommendations

·         the LDP process was regulated and the requirements set out in legislation – it was a requirement to state the period which the Plan covered

·         the Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment had been approved by Council in December 2021 and submitted to Welsh Government (WG).  Feedback was awaited from WG on that document which would form part of the new LDP.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)       confirms that it has read, understood and taken account of the Well-being Impact Assessment, as detailed in the supplement to the report, as part of its consideration, and

(b)       recommends the revised Delivery Agreement (DA) to go forward to Council for approval and submission to Welsh Government.