To recommend to Council that the Herefordshire local plan core strategy 2011-2031 (“the core strategy”) be adopted.

Before the item was introduced, the group leader for It’s Our County sought assurance that in publishing the supplement to the agenda one day before the meeting the council had acted within the constitution.

The monitoring officer confirmed that no procedural errors occurred as the supplement had merely been provided to aid clarity but that all necessary documentation had been published with the necessary notice. The monitoring officer confirmed that the documents to be considered for recommendation to Council were the core strategy as submitted to the planning inspector taken together with the main and minor modifications published as appendices to the report.

The cabinet member, infrastructure introduced the report. The pre-submission document had gone through the process of examination with the planning inspector. The modifications identified by the inspector as being necessary to ensure the soundness of the plan had also undergone consultation and the inspector’s report had confirmed that, having taken account of the main modifications, the core strategy was a sound document. Cabinet was asked to agree the core strategy and modifications to recommend to Council for adoption.

The group leader for It’s Our County asked whether his proposed additional recommendation previously provided to the cabinet member had been discussed.  The Leader confirmed that the proposal had been noted and would be addressed at Council.

The chairman of the General Overview and Scrutiny Committee commented that it would be useful to have provision to make small amendments to the strategy after it was approved. It was important to have the core strategy in place so that the council was not in a state of limbo. He welcomed the five-year land supply as a protection against developers making additional planning applications. It was noted that this point had been discussed and would be covered at Council.

The group leader of Herefordshire Independents expressed concern about the risks raised by the inspector and sought assurance that amendments will be taken into account over time. The Leader confirmed that, in accordance with good practice, the local plan would be regularly reviewed.

The Green group leader endorsed comments already raised and referred to the five-year land supply and the delivery of the housing supply, where there was a case for ongoing review. The Leader commented that the local plan would be kept under review and evolve over time.

RESOLVED

THAT:

(a)        the local plan inspector’s report (at appendix 1) be noted;

(b)       the Herefordshire local plan core strategy 2011-2031 (at https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/planning-and-building-control/planning-policy/core-strategy ), incorporating the recommended main modifications (at appendix 2) and the schedules of minor modifications (at appendix 3) be recommended to Council for adoption; and

(c)        it be recommended to Council that delegated authority be given to the programme director growth to make any further minor modifications, (e.g. typographical) to ensure consistency with other development plan documentation.