Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Gustafson.

No declarations of interest were received.

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Planning Services that presented the Preferred Option Document, a key stage in the preparation of Sefton’s Local Plan.  The Document set out issues and challenges facing Sefton and included:

·       a vision for Sefton planning ahead to 2030;

·       a strategy for how Sefton’s housing, business and other  development needs can be met;

·       a ‘preferred’ option indicating where these needs might be met including detailed site allocations;

·       details of other options which have been considered and discounted;

·       development management policies to help guide development and provide a policy framework for making decisions on planning applications; and

·       details of the 12 week consultation.

This was a corporate strategy document which was being developed within the statutory planning framework. The Preferred Option Document was a key stage in the process of adopting a Local Plan, which would in due course replace the Unitary Development Plan. 

The Committee asked a number of questions relating to: the preferred option; affordable housing; the documents’ background material and statistics used; the use of greenbelt land; the use of brownfield sites; how Sefton’s plan sat alongside West Lancashire Borough Council’s plans; the loss of agricultural land; mitigation and compensation; the use of reserve sites; retail parks and the protection of town centres; the plan’s relationship/impact on residents’ health and wellbeing; the impact on school places and community facilities such as medical practices, dentists and hospitals; the Plan’s timetable; transportation matters, including railway links with West Lancashire; and the consultation process.

The Head of Planning Services and members of her department answered questions raised by the Committee.

RESOLVED:

(1)            That the Cabinet:

(i)    recommends the Council to approve for consultation, the further evidence which supports the Preferred Option Document, as outlined in section 18 of the report;

(ii)   recommends the Council to approve the approach to consultation on the Preferred Option Document, as outlined in section 20 of the report;

(iii)  recommends the Council to approve for consultation, the Preferred Option document, including a correction to the land proposed for development, south east of Hightown as set out in section 19 and the attached plan of the report; and

(2)            That Council

(i)    approve for consultation, the further evidence which supports the Preferred Option Document, as outlined in section 18 of the report;

(ii)   approve the approach to consultation on the Preferred Option Document, as outlined in section 20 of the report;

(iii)  approve the Preferred Option Document for consultation, including a correction to the land proposed for development, south east of Hightown as set out in section 19 and the attached plan of the report; and

(iv)grants delegated powers to the Head of Planning Services to make minor editorial changes to the Document before it is published, as referred to in section 20.7 of the report.

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Planning Services that advised the Committee of the Inspector’s interim views on the modifications needed to the West Lancashire Local Plan, insofar as they may have implications for Sefton.  

RESOLVED: That

(1)            the Inspector’s interim views on the modifications needed to the West Lancashire  Local Plan, insofar as they may have implications for  Sefton be noted;

(2)            the Head of Planning Services be given delegated authority to prepare an appropriate response to West Lancashire Borough Council in light of the issues raised by the Committee during the course of the debate; and

(3)            in accordance with Rule 93 of the Committee procedure rules the dissent of Councillor Sumner, from the decision set out above, be recorded.

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Planning Services that provided information on the Merseyside and Halton Joint Waste Local Plan: Adoption of Plan. The report explained that all local authorities were required to prepare a Local Plan that provided a policy framework and land allocations for new waste management infrastructure to meet the identified needs of each Council. This report was in addition to the Local Plan which is discussed elsewhere on the agenda.

The report included the results of public consultation on the proposed modifications to the Waste Local Plan which was undertaken between November 2012 and January 2013.

Members were asked to note the report from the Planning Inspector which concluded that, subject to the proposed modifications, the Plan was ‘sound’, and “provides an appropriate basis for waste planning for Merseyside and Halton over the next 15 years”.

The report requested Council to agree that the Plan be formally adopted as part of the statutory “development plan”.

RESOLVED: That

(1)        the report be noted;

(2)        the Cabinet and Council be recommended to:

(i)    note the results of public consultation on the proposed modifications to the Merseyside and Halton Joint Waste Local Plan which was undertaken between November 2012 and January 2013;

(ii)   welcome the report from the Planning Inspector which concluded that, subject to the proposed modifications, the Plan “meets the criteria for soundness in the National Planning Policy Framework” and “provides an appropriate basis for waste planning for Merseyside and Halton over the next 15 years”;

(iii)  note that several of the Sefton Unitary Development Plan ‘saved’ policies will be replaced by Waste Local Plan policies including the site allocations;

(iv)agree that the Waste Local Plan be adopted as part of the statutory development plan by each of the districts on a single date which shall be one working day after the final (sixth) Full Council resolution has been received; and

(v)  agree to delegate powers to the Head of Planning Services to make necessary minor typographical changes to the Waste Local Plan prior to its final publication.