Agenda item

To consider the enclosed report of the Director of Partnerships, Planning and Policy, with the attached Issues schedule.

A copy of the draft Publication Version of the Central Lancashire LDF Core Strategy is attached separately.

The Council considered a report presented by the Director of Partnerships, Planning and Policy seeking approval of the revised draft Publication Version of the Central Lancashire Local Development Framework Core Strategy.

A joint informal meeting of the Cabinets of Chorley, Preston and South Ribble Councils had been held on 31 March 2010 to discuss the draft Core Strategy, at which a number of minor clarifications and/or corrections had been suggested.  A Special meeting of Chorley Council’s Executive Cabinet had been held immediately after the joint informal meeting, at which the draft Core Strategy had been recommended for approval by the Council, subject to the incorporation of the amendments suggested at the informal joint meeting.

The Council Members had been provided with a copy of the draft Core Strategy, together with a note of the specific issues raised at the joint meeting of the three Authorities’ Cabinets on 31 March 2010, and the possible responses.  In addition, a further note proposing the revision of Paragraphs 2.15 and 5.9 in relation to the Central Lancashire and Blackpool Growth Point was circulated at the meeting.

The Director’s report drew attention to the principal changes that had been made to the draft Publication Version of the Core Strategy in comparison with the earlier Preferred Version.  While the proposals within the new Core Strategy could be accommodated without the need to extend Green Belt boundaries, the Strategy now incorporated ambitious targets for both the reduction of carbon emissions from new developments and affordable housing.

Each of the three Central Lancashire authorities had been requested to consider and agree the revised draft version of the LDF Core Strategy for publication and placing on public deposit in June 2010 for a period of 6 weeks.  Representations raised during the deposit stage would be submitted to the Secretary of State in advance of the appointment of an Inspector to conduct examination hearings.  The Inspector’s binding recommendations would determine any necessary amendments to the Core Strategy before the Strategy could be adopted. It was envisaged that the Core Strategy would reach final adoption stage in June 2011.

The Executive Leader and the Executive Member (Business) highlighted the concerted efforts and collaborative working between the three Central Lancashire authorities that had resulted in the production of the revised Core Strategy.  Members commented on or queried a number of relevant issues, including the inclusion of the Botany/Great Knowley site in the list of sub-regional potential employment development sites; the reference to Brinscall/Withnell in the list of rural Local Service Centres where limited growth and investment will be encouraged to meet local housing and employment needs; the funding of the Buckshaw Railway Station project;  and the implications of the reduced funding allocation for the Growth Point initiative.

Councillor Dennis Edgerley proposed, and Councillor Adrian Lowe seconded, the deletion of the Botany/Great Knowley site from the list of sub-regional potential employment development sites identified in Policy 9.

The proposal was put to the vote  and the Mayor declared it LOST.

It was moved by the Executive Leader (Councillor Peter Goldsworthy), seconded by the Executive Member (Business) (Councillor Peter Malpas), and subsequently RESOLVED:

(1)       That the Council agrees to publish the Core Strategy, as amended to include the schedule of issues raised at the Joint Cabinet meeting with Preston and South Ribble Councils on 31 March 2010, and the revision of Paragraphs 2.15 and 5.9 relating to the Central Lancashire and Blackpool Growth Point, as set out in the note circulated at the Council meeting.

(2)       That approval of minor clarifications and/or corrections to the document prior to formal publication or submission be delegated to the Director of Partnerships, Planning and Policy, in consultation with the Executive Leader and the Executive Member (Business).

(3)       That, subject to there being no significant/fundamental issues raised as a result of representations received at publication, the Core Strategy be submitted to the Secretary of State for examination.

(4)       That, where issues arise following full Council or publication which require significant change(s), then the Strategy be taken to a future meeting of the Cabinet and Council to approve the changes.