Agenda item

A report of the Head of Planning and Regeneration to provide an overview of the recent consultation on the Draft Charnwood Local Plan, outlining the process of consultation, a summary of the consultation responses and an explanation of how the responses received would be used to prepare the Local Plan for Submission on the Secretary of State for Examination.

Councillor Baines arrived at the meeting at 6:03pm.

A report of the Head of Planning and Regeneration was considered to provide an overview of the recent consultation on the Draft Charnwood Local Plan, outlining the process of consultation, a summary of the consultation responses and an explanation of how the responses receive would be used to prepare the Local Plan for Submission on the Secretary of State for Examination (item 6 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

The Leader of the Council, the Head of Planning and Regeneration and the Group Leader for Plans, Policies and Place-Making attended the meeting to assist with the consideration of this item and gave the following responses:

      i.        The consultation in December 2019 was not statutory and was a stage that the Council had chosen to undertake. Responses were still being received and these were being accepted as the consultation was informal.

    ii.        The general level of response and the variety received were considered to be good in comparison to other Local Plan consultations held by the Council at equivalent stages. The Planning Service was satisfied that it had sufficiently engaged residents, communities and local organisations.

   iii.        There had been six landowners that had indicated they were not willing to develop their sites. The Council was using the Land Registry and existing networks to make contact with 12 landowners that had not responded. Contact would be required by the end of February 2020 in order to overcome the issues, but it was acknowledged that adaptations were possible.

   iv.        Potential issues with infrastructure was a recurrent theme and there was ongoing engagement with stakeholders such as schools, Clinical Commissioning Groups, County Highways, Western Power, Severn Trent, Natural England, Parish Councils and residents’ groups to ensure sites were deliverable. In the event that infrastructure requirements could not be met, there was potential to adapt the scale of a development to reflect this or to consider alternatives. 

    v.        There was liaison with neighbouring Councils to ensure Local Plans were cross referenced and consistent as these would impact on one another.

   vi.        The next stage in preparing the plan involved a Statutory Consultation, which was separate from that undertaken in December 2019. This would be bound by regulation and the results reviewed by an Inspector. There would be an opportunity for respondents to communicate with the Inspector at a formal hearing which could involve residents or interest groups influencing the Local Plan. The Local Development Scheme, detailing the Local Plan preparation programme, would be considered by Cabinet at its meeting on 12 March 2020.

  vii.        There had been issues regarding the operation of the Draft Local Plan exhibition in Shepshed. Some residents were unable to access the exhibition and materials on display due to the layout of the rooms and the pedestrian congestion created. The Planning Service would consider ways to maximise access and the communication of information to residents at future consultation exhibitions.

 viii.        The analysis would lead to the development of actions based on responses received. The Planning Service would note challenges and identify any opportunities that had previously been missed and reassess plans as appropriate and necessary. It was emphasised that at this stage the Draft Local Plan remained flexible.

   ix.        It was suggested by residents that the Council needed to be more ambitious in terms of sustainable development, including climate change, transport, design, health and provision of green spaces. There were limitations due to affordability, availability of space and infrastructure. However, these aspects could be reassessed as it was recognised that there had been significant changes in attitudes towards climate change nationally and locally since the previous Core Startegy and so there was potential for further progress in this area.

    x.        Responses for the informal consultation in December 2019 would be entirely separate from future Statutory consultation. Comments would not be considered unless they had been submitted specifically to the Statutory consultation and this would be explicitly communicated. This was due to the specific requirements of the legislation.

   xi.        The extent to which the consultation had been successful was based upon the response rate, the type of response and the nature of the proposals subject to consultation. As 65% of responses had been received by members of the public, it was considered the consultation had been effective in eliciting views from people that would not normally be involved in the process. It was difficult to obtain a Borough-wide response as the Draft Local Plan would impact upon residents to a greater or lesser degree depending on the development strategy and proposals contained in the plan.

  xii.        The Customer Satisfaction survey was distributed at roadshow events only. There was a suggestion that commissioning a market research company to measure customer satisfaction during the next consultation stage could be advantageous.

RESOLVED

1.    That the Commission considered the approach to consultation on the Draft Charnwood Local Plan and received a summary of representation made.

2.    That Officers within the Planning Service consider the use of a market research organisation to undertake customer satisfaction surveys on behalf of the Council, following the Statutory consultation. Officers should research other services that may have employed this method.

Reasons

1.    To scrutinise the effectiveness of the consultation on the Draft Charnwood Local Plan.

2.    To ensure the Council receives an accurate and unbiased response regarding the satisfaction of Local Plan consultations in order to establish best practice.