To receive and consider the report of the Director of Planning and Development.

1.         To approve the allocation of an additional budget of £300,000 to the Local Plan Programme to be used for the purchase of essential plan-making resources. To note that the Council’s share of this is £100k.

2.         That Chorley Council develop an agreement for Professional Services to be delivered by Perfect Circle, agreeing a schedule of tasks, programme, and associated costs, and agreeing any suppliers to be subcontracted to deliver some of the work.

3.         The agreement is delivered under the existing NEC (Professional Services Contract) Option G. contract which is already in place between the Council and Perfect Circle to a maximum initial value of £200,000 with defined outputs, timescale, and contractual performance measures.

4.         Any further requirement for budget above £200,000 is subject to approval by the Executive Member with full details of breakdown of spend.

5.         The final contract award including value, task schedules and programme is delegated to approval by Executive Member Decision

6.         That equal contributions (i.e. one third) of the total costs of the framework contract value are collected from Preston and South Ribble Councils.

The Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley, presented the report of the Director of Planning and Development which outlined plans to use the Scape Framework and contract with Perfect Circle to accelerate the preparation of the Central Lancashire Local Plan.

There have been delays to the preparation of the Central Lancashire Local Plan which have been in part as a result of a shortage of qualified Planning Policy officers to fill the vacant posts which make up 50% of the Local Plan team.

Chorley, Preston and South Ribble Councils continue to be subject to speculative applications for development leading to S78 Planning Appeals which absorb officer capacity and cost money to defend.  The adoption of a new Local Plan as soon as feasible was supported by members.

The Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Martin Boardman, noted that Chorley Council would be the contracting Council and would recoup two thirds of the cost back from South Ribble and Preston Councils.  It was noted that written confirmation would be obtained from both councils prior to implementing the decision.  

Members discussed the merits of a joint plan.  Rough costings for the production of a plan for Chorley will be provided to Councillor Martin Boardman following the meeting. 

The Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley proposed and the Executive Member (Public Protection), Councillor Alistair Morwood seconded the (unanimous) Decision

1.         To approve the allocation of an additional budget of £300,000 to the Local Plan Programme to be used for the purchase of essential plan-making resources. To note that the Council’s share of this is £100k.

2.         That Chorley Council develop an agreement for Professional Services to be delivered by Perfect Circle, agreeing a schedule of tasks, programme, and associated costs, and agreeing any suppliers to be subcontracted to deliver some of the work.

3.         The agreement is delivered under the existing NEC (Professional Services Contract) Option G. contract which is already in place between the Council and Perfect Circle to a maximum initial value of £200,000 with defined outputs, timescale, and contractual performance measures.

4.         Any further requirement for budget above £200,000 is subject to approval by the Executive Member with full details of breakdown of spend.

5.         The final contract award including value, task schedules and programme is delegated to approval by Executive Member Decision

6.         That equal contributions (i.e. one third) of the total costs of the framework contract value are collected from Preston and South Ribble Councils.