Agenda item

The Commission considered a report of the Chief Executive concerning the responses of the Three Councils to representations made on the proposed modifications.  A copy of the report marked ‘A’ is filed with these minutes.

 

Professor M.E. Preston CC, having declared a personal and prejudicial interest on this matter withdrew from the room and did not participate in the discussion on this item.

 

In response to questions and comments made the Commission was advised:

 

(i)      the Government Office for the East Midlands (GOEM) had objected to method of calculating the total housing requirement.  If the GOEM interpretation were to be correct this would mean an extra 900 homes for the Plan area.

 

(ii)     GOEM had indicated that they are minded to direct the Councils to modify the Plan in respect of the Green Belt (Strategy Policy 18);

 

(iii)    the Structure Plan, if adopted by the Three Councils, would remain in force until 2005 or until the Regional Planning Guidelines (RPG) were adopted.  The level of housing allocation with the Plan would remain in force until 2007 as the RPG review did not include housing allocation.  The policies and strategies within the Structure Plan would, if adopted, inform the RPG review;

 

Mr. M. Griffiths CC attended the meeting and raised concerns about the housing allocation particularly in Oadby and Wigston.  The Commission was advised that the amount of housing distributed to Districts had been a difficult issue but the allocations were consistent with the locational strategy of the Plan and took account of local circumstances.

 

Concern was expressed by members about the need to ensure that there was a range and mix of housing including affordable housing available at District level.  Officers advised that Government guidance had made it clear that there was a limited role for the Structure Plan relating to these issues.  Whilst the policies in relation to housing densities would assist, the key plan through which affordable housing could be delivered were the Local Plans produced at District level.

 

RESOLVED:

 

a)         That the decision of the Cabinet of 13^th May to:

 

(i)         approve the responses of the Three Councils to representations made on the Proposed Modifications as set out an Appendix 1 to the report,

 

(ii)        refuse to accept the late objections to the Proposed Modifications as set out in paragraph 39 of the report,

 

be noted

 

(b)       That the Cabinet be advised the Scrutiny Commission would support a recommendation being made to the County Council on 9^th July recommending Adoption of the Plan.