Agenda item

To receive and consider the enclosed report of the Director of Partnerships, Planning and Policy, to which is attached the draft Publication Version of the Central Lancashire Joint Core Strategy.  

The Executive Cabinet was reminded that the Special Meeting had been convened immediately following the informal discussions between the Cabinets of Chorley, Preston and South Ribble Councils at the Civic Centre, Leyland to consider the draft Publication Version of the Central Lancashire Local Development Framework (LDF) Core Strategy.

A report of the Director of Partnerships, Planning and Policy 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.  Greater emphasis had been afforded to the need to manage growth, in addition to the importance of essential infrastructure and potential method of funding through developer contributions wherever a funding shortfall was likely from other sources.

While the proposals within the new Core Strategy could be accommodated without the need to extend the 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 reminded the Members that a number of amendments and clarifications of text to the draft Core Strategy had been agreed at the earlier informal discussions, which would need to be taken into account by the Executive Cabinet in its deliberations.  The Cabinet’s decision would also need to be ratified by the full Council at its meeting on 13 April 2010.

Decisions made:

(1)       That, subject to Decisions (2) and (3) below and full Council approval on 13 April 2010, the draft revised version of the Central Lancashire LDF Core Strategy, as now presented, be approved for publication and public deposit.

(2)       That approval of the minor clarifications and/or corrections to the Core Strategy, as agreed at the informal meeting of the Cabinets of Chorley, Preston and South Ribble Councils, 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 a copy of the list of agreed minor clarifications and/or corrections be supplied to each Executive Cabinet member, Councillor Harold Heaton and Councillor Roy Lees.

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

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