Issue - meetings

To consider the adoption of the Stevenage Borough Local Plan, incorporating main and minor modifications, and to subsequently revoke the District Plan Second Review 2004.

The Council considered a report seeking the adoption of the Stevenage Borough Local Plan.

The Interim Chief Executive advised that this matter had been discussed by both the Executive and the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on a number of occasions.  The options before the Council were to adopt the Local Plan as submitted, or to not adopt it – there was no provision to make any amendments.

It was moved, seconded and RESOLVED:

1.         That the outcomes of the Main Modifications (and associated Sustainability Appraisal) consultation be noted (responses summary attached as Appendix A to the report).

2.         That the content of the Inspector’s Report be noted (attached as Appendix B to the report).

3.         That the firm proposal of Executive, having had regard to the outcomes following consultation with the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, be noted.

4.         That the Inspector’s recommendation to adopt the Stevenage Borough Local Plan, incorporating main and minor modifications (attached as Appendix C to the report), and associated Policies Map, be accepted, and that the District Plan Second Review 2004 (BD1) be revoked.

The Council considered a report seeking the adoption of the Stevenage Borough Local Plan.

The Interim Chief Executive advised that this matter had been discussed by both the Executive and the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on a number of occasions.  The options before the Council were to adopt the Local Plan as submitted or to not adopt it – there was no provision to make any amendments.

Councillor J Gardner moved the recommendations. He informed Council that the holding direction on the Stevenage Borough Local Plan was lifted on 25 March 2019 by Secretary of State for Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) after being in place for more than 400 days. It was indicated that the process to adopt the Plan was initiated in 2012 and was followed by several phases of internal and external consultation.  Members were informed that the holding direction was lifted after Stevenage Borough Council had launched Judicial Review proceedings to address the delay and obtain a clear response from the government.

Councillor M Downing seconded the recommendations. He pointed out that one of the objectives of the Local Plan was to provide more housing while protecting the environment. 

The following points were raised during the debate:

•              There was a huge demand for housing in Stevenage

•              The local Member of Parliament was instrumental in recommending the issuing of the holding direction

•              The Liberal Democrat Group broadly supported the Local Plan though it had minor reservations about some parts of the Plan

•              SBC had followed all procedures required for the approval of a Local Plan

•              In October 2017, an independent Planning Inspector had concluded that, subject to the Main Modifications proposed, the Stevenage Borough Local Plan was sound and capable of being adopted

•              The holding direction had resulted in missed opportunities for the Town and unnecessary legal costs

•              Any concerns about the environmental impact of the Local Plan would be addressed. This was due to the fact that Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust had a strong aim to influence policy and planning decisions to ensure positive outcomes for local wildlife

•              The Council must review Community Infrastructure Levy rates so as to ensure that developers and landowners were charged at least the market rate

Members thanked the substantive and Interim Assistant Directors of Planning and Regulation and all officers who had worked on the Stevenage Local Plan.  Councillor J Gardner indicated to Council that all issues raised during the debate would be taken on board.

It was RESOLVED:

1.         That the outcomes of the Main Modifications (and associated Sustainability Appraisal) consultation be noted (responses summary attached as Appendix A to the report)

2.         That the content of the Inspector’s Report be noted (attached as Appendix B to the report)

3.         That the firm proposal of Executive, having had regard to the outcomes following consultation with the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, be noted

4.         That the Inspector’s recommendation to adopt the Stevenage Borough Local Plan, incorporating main and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13