Issue - meetings

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Environment and Transport, Chief Executive and Director of Law and Governance which presented an update on the issues associated with the emerging Charnwood Local Plan, including actions taken to comply with the Cabinet’s resolutions of December 2024.  A copy of the report marked ‘Agenda Item 8’ is filed with these minutes.

It was reported that the final copy of the initial viability report had now been made available on the Examination website and a hearing had been set for 8 April 2025, with a four week consultation period due to commence very shortly. 

Members commented that it was essential to achieve the best possible outcome for local residents and it was disappointing that there were still a number of difficulties to overcome. 

The Director of Environment and Transport stated that the County Council continued to be consulted as the Local Highway Authority on planning applications.  Its current view was that it was premature for the Local Planning Authority to make any decisions.  However, Charnwood Borough Council had taken a different approach and had continued to approve such applications.  This would continue to be monitored.

RESOLVED:

a)              That the latest position in respect of the Local Plan be noted, including:

                             i.           The Borough Council shared a draft initial viability report with officers of the County Council on 20 December 2024. This report contained a high-level assessment of the Local Plan’s ability to support the financial requirements of a Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). County Council officers provided comments before the Borough Council submitted the final report to the Inspectors. County Council officers have not yet been provided with a final copy of the report, which is now available on the Examination website;

                            ii.           On 24 January 2025, the Local Plan Inspectors responded to the Borough Council, after reviewing the initial viability report and the updated Local Development Scheme and have held that the Local Plan examination can continue.  The Inspectors have outlined the next steps, which will include a period of consultation on the CIL viability report and its implications for the soundness of the Local Plan.  The Inspectors will prepare a focused set of Matters, Issues and Questions, on which comments will be sought, and will hold a hearing session on the evidence and provide written responses to the questions.  Depending on the outcome of the consultation and hearing session, consultation on Further Main Modifications will be required to complete the Examination.  The Borough Council has been asked to respond if it wishes to proceed on this basis.  No timescales have yet been provided by the Inspectors, therefore there still remains considerable uncertainty over the timetable and eventual adoption of the Local Plan.  Additional hearing sessions may add further delays to the overall timetable for adoption of the Local Plan.  The position of the Local Highway Authority (LHA) in respect of relevant planning applications coming forward ahead of the Local Plan has been reviewed, as set out in paragraphs 29 to 31 of the report, and will remain the same for the time being, until there is more certainty.  It is likely that this will follow from the outcome of the forthcoming hearing sessions.  In the meantime, officers are requested to write to the Inspectors, via the programme officer, seeking an invitation to attend and be represented at the hearings sessions when they resume;

                           iii.           The publication of the Borough Council’s Full Council Questions and Responses in respect of the Local Development Scheme, Draft Local Plan and development of a CIL, and the County Council’s concerns arising from the responses given, as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 420