Issue - meetings

RECOMMENDED: That Council

1)    approve the changes to be made to the Halton Core Strategy (attached at Appendix B), for the purposes of a six week period of public consultation;

2)    agree that further minor editorial amendments as required, be made to the Halton Core Strategy by the Operational Director, Policy, Planning and Transportation, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, Physical Environment and the Leader of the Council, before commencing the period of public consultation; and

3)    agree that the Core Strategy be brought back to Council later in 2012, for formal adoption as part of the Development Plan for Halton.

          The Executive Board had considered a report of the Strategic Director, Policy and Resources, which sought approval to consult on the changes required to be made to the Halton Core Strategy.

          Amendments had been incorporated into a revised version of the Core Strategy, following recommendations by the Planning Inspector in January 2012. In addition, the Planning Inspector had requested that a further modification be incorporated concerning the “presumption in favour of sustainable development”, which would provide a link between the Plan and the National Planning Policy Framework, and which detailed how the presumption would be applied in Halton.

          RESOLVED: That

1)    the changes to be made to the Halton Core Strategy, for the purposes of a six week period of public consultation be approved;

2)    the Operational Director, Policy, Planning and Transportation, in consultation with the Physical Environment Portfolio Holder, be authorised to make any further minor editorial amendments as required, before the period of public consultation commences; and

3)    the Core Strategy be brought back to Council later in 2012, for formal adoption as part of the Development Plan for Halton.

            The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Policy and Resources, which sought approval to consult on the changes required to be made to the Halton Core Strategy.

            The Board was reminded that, in July 2011, Council approved the Halton Core Strategy Revised Proposed Submission Document to the Secretary of State, to commence the examination into the soundness of the document. The examination by the Planning Inspector (the Inspector) appointed, has to date consisted of public hearing sessions in November and December 2011. The main issues discussed at the sessions were set by the Inspector prior to their commencement and were listed in the report. It was noted that discussions centred around total housing provision, the proposed housing split between Runcorn and Widnes and the interrelated issue of the potential need for a Green Belt Review to ensure sufficient housing land existed.

            The Board was advised that the Inspector wrote to the Council in January 2012, recommending that two key (main change) modifications be made, to enable the plan to be capable of being found ‘sound’. These changes were:

·         To enshrine the percentage split in housing provision between Runcorn and Widnes/Hale, into a policy requirement within the document; and

·         To include a reference to an early partial review of Green Belt boundaries, to serve the needs of Widnes/Hale.

The amendments had now been incorporated into a revised version of the Core Strategy, which was attached at Appendix B to the report. In addition to the changes which arose from the hearing sessions, the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) was published on 27 March 2012. The Inspector had requested that a further modification be made to the Core Strategy to incorporate a policy concerning the “presumption in favour of sustainable development”, which would provide a link between the plan and the NPFF, detailing how the presumption would be applied in Halton.

The report outlined the next steps in terms of public consultation, how representations would be considered and the Inspector’s final report.

RESOLVED: That Council be recommended to

1)    approve the changes to be made to the Halton Core Strategy (attached at Appendix B), for the purposes of a six week period of public consultation;

2)    agree that further minor editorial amendments as required,  be made to the Halton Core Strategy by the Operational Director, Policy, Planning and Transportation, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, Physical Environment and the Leader of the Council, before commencing the period of public consultation; and

3)    agree that the Core Strategy be brought back to Council later in 2012, for formal adoption as part of the Development Plan for Halton.