Issue - meetings

To consider a recommendation from Cabinet to adopt of the Sites and Policies Document of the Rotherham Local Plan.

Further to Minute No. 159 of the Cabinet held on 11^th June, 2018, Council were recommended to approve the adoption of the Sites and Policies Document, as modified by the Inspector’s Main Modifications. The Sites and Policies Document allocated development sites to meet the targets for new homes and jobs in the Core Strategy. Having passed examination by a Planning Inspector, the Council could now progress to adopt and implement the Sites and Policies Document.

Adoption of the Plan would enable the release of the development sites chosen by the Council as the most appropriate to promote the sustainable growth of Rotherham. This would significantly boost the supply of new homes and jobs that Rotherham needed and support the delivery of the Council’s Economic Growth Plan and Housing Strategy. Crucially, it would also help ensure a five year supply of housing land to protect the Council against speculative development on other non-preferred sites.

Adoption of the Plan would also bring into force the development management policies designed to protect and enhance the environment. This policy protection was required to complement the Plan’s growth ambitions and ensure new development was delivered in a sensitive manner.

A number of Councillors expressed their concerns and were unable to support the recommendations.

Councillor Cowles believed the process to be flawed and a number of issues remained unsatisfactory answered and some information misleading.

Councillor Carter was also unable to support the recommendation on the grounds that the number of brownfield sites was not known, there was a need to rejuvenate the town centre and this Plan did not go far enough.

Councillor Reeder too was unable to support this on the grounds that there was little chance of younger people getting on the housing ladder.

Councillor Napper too expressed his concern about key sites being left derelict in his own ward, but believed there needed to be a good excuse as to why developers were building on green field land instead of brown.

Councillor John Turner was worried about congestion around some key sites identified in the Plan.

Councillor Steele confirmed the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board had taken a key interest in the document as part of the pre-scrutiny process and sought clarification on issues from the Cabinet Member and relevant officers.

Councillor Cusworth, Mallinder and Watson wished to express their support and took pride in the fact that 70% of the borough remained green.  Only 1.1% of the borough’s green belt was to be included in the Plan for development.

Councillor Lelliott, Cabinet Member for Jobs and the Local Economy, took on board all the comments, confirmed only 1.1% of the borough’s green belt was to be developed and pointed out the negotiations that led to a reduction in the housing target from 17,000 to 14,000 over the next five years.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the Inspector’s final report and the recommended Main Modifications be noted.

(2)  That the Sites and Policies Document, as modified, be adopted as part of the Development  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11

Report of the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment

Cabinet Member:     Councillor Lelliott

Commissioner:         Kenny (in advisory role)

Recommendations:

1.    That the Inspector’s final report and the recommended Main Modifications be noted.

2.    That the Sites and Policies Document, as modified, be referred to Council for formal adoption as part of the Development Plan for Rotherham.

Consideration was given to the report which sought approval for the Sites and Policies Document to be referred to Council for formal adoption as part of Rotherham’s Local Plan.

The document had been examined by an independent Planning Inspector and found to be “sound” subject to some changes. The Inspector’s final report sets out these changes, known as Main Modifications.

This report had been considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board as part of the pre-scrutiny process who were in support of the recommendations, subject to specific briefings in respect major planning developments be delivered to Ward Members on a ward-by-ward basis and for Equality Impact Assessments to be explicitly referenced in the cover report of all items submitted for Cabinet and Pre-Decision Scrutiny.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the Inspector’s final report and the recommended Main Modifications be noted.

(2)  That the Sites and Policies Document, as modified, be referred to Council for formal adoption as part of the Development Plan for Rotherham.

(3)  That the following recommendations from Overview and Scrutiny Management Board be accepted:-

(i)          That specific briefings in respect major planning developments be delivered to Ward Members on a ward-by-ward basis.

(ii)         That Equality Impact Assessments be explicitly referenced in the cover report of all items submitted for Cabinet and Pre-Decision Scrutiny.

Consideration was given to a report which recommended approval for the Sites and Policies Document to be referred to Council for formal adoption as part of Rotherham’s Local Plan. It was reported that the document had been examined by an independent Planning Inspector and found to be “sound” subject to some changes. The Inspector’s final report set out changes, known as Main Modifications.

It was reported that the Sites and Policies Document allocated land to meet the targets for new homes and jobs, fixed in the adopted Core Strategy. Most new development proposed would be focused in the Rotherham Urban Area (including at Bassingthorpe Farm) and the three Principal Settlements for Growth at:

·         Wath upon Dearne, Brampton Bierlow, West Melton

·         Dinnington, Anston and Laughton Common, and

·         Bramley, Wickersley and Ravenfield Common.

Members noted that adoption of the plan would enable the release of the development sites chosen by the Council as the most appropriate to promote the sustainable growth of Rotherham. This would significantly boost the supply of new homes and jobs that Rotherham would need and support the delivery of the Council’s Economic Growth Plan and Housing Strategy. It would also help ensure a five year supply of housing land to protect the Council against speculative development on other non-preferred sites. Adoption of the plan would also bring into force the development management policies designed to protect and enhance the environment. Such policy protection was required to complement the plan’s growth ambitions and ensure new development was delivered in a sensitive manner.

Resolved:-

1.    That Cabinet be advised that the recommendations be supported.

2.    That specific briefings on major planning developments be provided to ward members on a ward-by-ward basis.

3.    That Equality Impact Assessments be explicitly referenced in the cover report of all items submitted for Cabinet and Pre-Decision Scrutiny.