Issue - meetings

The Portfolio Holder for Planning presented the report to approve the consultation for the Greater Exeter Strategic Plan (GESP) draft policies and site options consultation document and associated reports, hold a further ‘call for sites’ to inform the plan making process and increase staff resources in the GESP team.

A non-Executive Member voiced his concerns regarding the overstated housing figures and that GESP should be reassessed in light of the repercussion of COVID 19.

Executive Members commented that they did not like the housing numbers dictated to the district by Central Government and had made their position clear to the Government. They were working to look for brownfield sites to develop and to generate as much affordable housing as possible.

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 14 July 2020 considered the report and supported amendments to recommendation (2); to replace wording of Chief Executive with Managing Director; add the Leader of Opposition to the consultation; the changes to be minor editorial changes; and that all Members to be notified within 24 hours of any changes. Executive supported the amendments.

RESOLVED that:-

(1)          the GESP Draft Policies and Site Options consultation document (attached at Appendix A) for public consultation be approved as detailed in Appendix A to the agenda report;

(2)          the GESP Draft Policies and Site Options Sustainability Appraisal Report be approved for public consultation as detailed in Appendix B to the agenda report.

(3)          the Initial Habitat Regulations Assessment Report be approved for public consultation as detailed in Appendix C to the agenda report. 

(4)          the content and conclusion of the GESP Equality Impact Assessment Screening Report be noted as detailed in Appendix E to the agenda report. 

(5)          Delegate authority to the Leader, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, the Leader of the Opposition and Managing Director, to agree minor editorial changes to the above documents arising from decisions by the other GESP authorities and to advise all Members by email within 24 hours before they are published for consultation.

(6)          a further ‘call for sites’ process, to be held alongside the consultation on the GESP Draft Policies and Site Options document be approved;

(7)          the content of the consultation statement for the 2017 Greater Exeter Strategic Plan Issues consultation be noted as detailed in Appendix D to the agenda report. 

(8)             The GESP team is brought up to 8 full time equivalent members of staff and all Local Planning Authority staff resources are provided equitably to the team through equalisation arrangements. Subject to future confirmation of the additional GESP staff roles that will be required, for Teignbridge this is likely to equate to a total contribution of approximately £62,000 per annum towards staff costs, or up to an additional c£30,000 per annum on top of existing staff contributions.

(The vote was unanimous)

The Chairman welcomed officers from the GESP Team.

The Portfolio Holder for Planning referred to the report circulated with the agenda, the recommendations therein, and the purpose and strengths of the GESP.

Teignbridge, Mid Devon and East Devon District Councils, and Exeter Council formed some four years ago to work in partnership on GESP. The purpose of the draft policies and site options consultation is to invite comments on a number of draft strategic planning policies which would apply across the Greater Exeter area.  It also enables discussion of the proposed spatial development strategy for the area and provide the first indication of the potential housing and employment site options which may form part of the GESP.  The proposed consultation document contains a total of 39 site options on which comments will be sought.

The Principal Policy Planner reported on the context of the GESP which had been produced following extensive engagement with Councillors. It is being prepared jointly by the four authorities in partnership with Devon County Council, and Homes England. Once adopted it would be the strategic planning document for the four authorities covering the period 2020-2040, providing an effective addressing of planning issues and securing government funding for delivery. GESP would work with the other local plans for the area, such as Neighbourhood Plans and Local Plans.

Public engagement and consultation on GESP would commence in September for an eight week period.

Comments by Members included: concern that the consultation was taking place during the restrictions of Covid-19, set report for results of consultation and where changes will be implemented; the financial implications of the Plan then Plan would not benefit Teignbridge; housing numbers were being reviewed in the Teignbridge Local plan Review; the employment allocation and how this will be achieved is welcomed; what would happen to the Plan should either of the four authorities pull out; is eight weeks appropriate for the consultation; the document provides the policies on which to base future development.

In response the Committee was advised that: it was statutory requirement for public consultation and a detailed summary of all comments and how the Plan should be consequently amended would be provided; delaying GESP would affect the Council’s five year land supply, required by central Government, and control over where development could take place; the GESP Leadership Group would consider the effect of any Authority withdrawing from the partnership; Exeter was meeting its own housing needs; the current documents is an options allocation document to provide homes to meet the housing needs; it would ensure the infrastructure would be provided for the larger developments; the statutory consultation period is six weeks; this has been extended to eight week period is recommended given the restrictions of Covid-19;  most consultation comments are received within the last two weeks of the consultation period irrespective of the length of consultation time; specific site options for 5,250 dwellings over the four authority areas were included in the Plan; Teignbridge was required by Government to provide housing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46