Agenda and minutes

Resolved–That Councillor David Borrow be appointed as Chair for the meeting.

· Fire Procedures / Mobile Phones / Rest Rooms

· “Members of the public, committee members and officers are reminded that under The Openness of Local Government Bodies Regulations 2014, the press and public may film, audio record, photograph and use social media whilst the meeting is in progress, for Part A items only, and as long as no disruption is caused to the meeting. Anyone filming is asked to focus their attention on elected members rather than other visitors”. (To be read out if visitors present).

The Chair, Councillor David Borrow, welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillor Boardman (Chorley Council), Councillors Donoghue and Tomlinson (South Ribble Borough Council) and County Councillors Sue Whittam and Michael Green (Lancashire County Council).

There were none.

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any pecuniary interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda.

If you have a pecuniary interest you must withdraw from the meeting. Normally you should leave the room before the business starts to be discussed. You do, however, have the same right to speak as a member of the public and may remain in the room to enable you to exercise that right and then leave immediately. In either case you must not seek to improperly influence a decision on the matter.

There were none.

The Director of Development and Housing submitted the minutes of a meeting of the Central Lancashire Strategic Planning Joint Advisory Committee held on 22 November 2022. Pursuant to previous minutes, Attendance should have been noted for Chris Blackburn (Head of City Growth and Regeneration, Preston City Council) and Chris Hayward (Director of Development and Housing, Preston City Council).

Resolved - That the minutes of the meeting of the Central Lancashire Strategic Planning Joint Advisory Committee held on 22 November 2022 be noted and signed as a correct record subject to the amendments detailed above.

A verbal update will be given at the meeting.

Zoe Whiteside, Head of Spatial Planning (Chorley Council), submitted a verbal updated on the Local Plan.

Committee were informed that the consultation for Preferred Options was still in process. The Local Plan team is currently low on staff due to three jobs outstanding and Carolyn Williams leaving to join the team at Preston. Shortly four job posts will be advertised.

Zoe thanked Carolyn for her hard work on the Local Plan.

Resolved – That the verbal update was noted.

Carolyn Williams, Central Lancashire Local Plan Co-Ordinator, submitted a report on the GTAA update.

Committee were informed that the original piece of work happened in 2019 and it was noted at the time this would need to be reviewed. The GTAA had included a review of existing data, a household survey. A total of 26 Gypsy and Traveller households were interviewed, a 100% response rate was received. The overall evidence received showed a shortfall of 44 pitches, 34 pitches are within Preston and 10 in Chorley. The study identified that the need in Chorley was proposed to be met through allocation of land at Cowling Farm. The need for Preston comes to 39 pitches, some of this need could be met through potential to regularise 15 unauthorised pitches in the area, but there is a still a requirements for 24 pitches. Work is ongoing with private landowners on potential locations to meet this need.

The study also noted the option of looking at a negotiated stopping policy for meeting transit provision.

Resolved – That the report be noted

A verbal update will be given at the meeting.

Carolyn Williams, Central Lancashire Local Plan Co-Ordinator, submitted a verbal update on the preferred options consultation.

Committee were informed that the consultation for Part 1 Preferred Options opened on Monday, 19 December and would run until Friday, 24 February 2023. A total of 30 consultation drop in sessions across the three council areas had been completed with four still outstanding. Meetings are also being set up with relevant bodies including neighbouring LPA’s and LCC, National Highways, United Utilities and the Environment Agency, also transport providers to look at the particular issue regarding public transport provision across the plan area.

To date 178 responses to the online consultation had been received. The majority of responses do tend to come in the last week.

The key issues raised at the events have been:

·         Infrastructure

·         Protection of green spaces

·         Schools

Resolved – That the verbal update was noted.

Zoe Whiteside, Head of Spatial Planning (Chorley Council), submitted a report on NPPF consultation.

The policy was published on 22 December 2022, the consultation was very lengthy with 58 questions which officers were currently working through on behalf of their respective councils. Response had been requested to be sent back by March 2023. The government were proposing to respond to this consultation by spring 2023. It was suggested and agreed at the meeting that the three Councils work together to respond to the questions as a whole, and where there are differences these be noted within the response.

Resolved – That the report be noted.

To note that next meeting of the Joint Advisory Committee is to be held at Chorley Borough Council on 27 March 2023 at 6:30pm.

The next meeting of the Central Lancashire Strategic Joint Advisory Committee will be held at Chorley Council on Monday, 27 March 2023 at 6.30 pm.