To approve both the draft Herefordshire Local Plan – Core Strategy 2011 – 2031 and the Community Infrastructure Levy preliminary charging schedule for consultation, and approve the consultation programme.

THAT Cabinet:

(a)  Approved the draft Herefordshire Local Plan - Core Strategy 2011 – 2031 for consultation;

(b)  Approved the preliminary draft Community Infrastructure Levy charging schedule for consultation;

(c)  Approved the consultation programme; and

(d)  Formally accepted the recommendations of the General Overview & Scrutiny Committee as set out in the Cabinet Minutes of 27 February.

To ensure Cabinet is fully appraised of the work undertaken to resolve the outstanding issues, to enable consultation to commence on the Core Strategy (draft) and preliminary draft charging schedule.

There is no alternative other than to prepare a Local Plan.   Recent work has been undertaken on the Plan to support its soundness.

            It is not mandatory for the Council to introduce a Community Infrastructure Levy. However, the Council decided at Cabinet in July 2012 to progress with a Community Infrastructure Levy charging schedule in parallel with the preparation of the Core Strategy with a joint Examination in Public, to ensure development undertaken in the county contributed to improving countywide infrastructure.