Issue - meetings

That the updated Local Development Scheme be approved to be effective from 29 July 2016.

The Executive considered a report setting out an updated Local Development Scheme (LDS) which includes the Council’s programme for producing planning policy documents.

It was noted that the Council had produced a new version of the LDS in September 2015 however due to further review of the stages required for an effective Local Plan, and additional issues as set out in the report, a further revision was being proposed which essentially lengthened the consultation phase and the whole scheme by about 12 months.  Although the Executive Member for Planning and Regeneration advised that this delay was not ideal as the Council wished to put its new plan into place as soon as possible it was essential that the consultation was adequate and legal advice received stated that this was a sound move towards a successful examination of the local plan update. 

Councillor Ashwell also advised that this also provided the opportunity to incorporate the Council’s Gypsy and Traveller Local Plan and also update the Minerals and Waste Local Plan.  Members were informed that Hampshire County Council was being commissioned to produce a Minerals and Waste Local Plan on behalf of Wokingham and three other neighbouring local authorities and to this end a joint Berkshire-wide committee, involving the relevant authorities, would be set up to oversee the development of the Plan.

Councillor Ross was pleased that Wokingham was joining with other Councils and was using Hampshire Council’s experiences to assist in the production of a Minerals and Waste Local Plan.

RESOLVED:  That the updated Local Development Scheme be approved to be effective from 29 July 2016.