Agenda item

Report from the Executive Director of Regeneration and Environment.

Recommendations:

That Cabinet:

1.    Note the contents of this report and approve the commencement of preparation of a new Rotherham Local Plan in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026.

2.    Approve the publication of the Local Plan Timetable attached at Appendix 1 and note that it supersedes the current Local Development Scheme timetable for the preparation of the new Local Plan.

3.    Approve the publication of the formal ‘Notice of Intention to Commence’ by 30 October 2026, at the latest, in line with Regulation 19.

4.    Approve the establishment of a Local Plan Steering Group in accordance with the Terms of Reference attached at Appendix 2.

5.    Delegate authority to the Executive Director of Regeneration and Environment, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs and the Local Economy:

·       to approve updates to the Local Plan Timetable during plan preparation;

·       to approve, publish and submit all documents required for the statutory Scoping Stage (Regulation 20);

·       to approve publication and submission of documents required for Gateway 1 (Regulation 21); and

·       to approve the content and commencement of consultation on proposed plan content, draft vision and supporting evidence (Regulation 23).

6.    Agree that Planning Board and Overview and Scrutiny Management Board will be updated and consulted at appropriate stages throughout plan preparation.

7.    Agree to receive a further report as the Local Plan progresses towards plan content and evidence consultation (Regulation 23(1)(a)) and seeking approvals for subsequent stages - Gateways 2 (Regulation 26) and Gateway 3 (Regulation 31).

At the Chair’s invitation a report was presented by Councillor Williams, Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs and the Local Economy on the review of the Local Plan, including progress to date, key stages of the process and the proposed timetable for developing a new plan.

Members were advised that changes to the planning system required local planning authorities to prepare new Local Plans within a 30-month timeframe, significantly reducing the period available for evidence gathering, consultation and plan preparation. It was noted that the review was necessary to ensure planning policies remained up to date, reflected national planning requirements and supported the borough's future housing, employment and infrastructure needs. The report outlined the proposed programme of work, including consultation and engagement activities, leading to the production and examination of a new Local Plan.

The Chair invited members of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board (OSMB) to raise questions and queries.

Councillor Yasseen sought assurance that consultation on the new Local Plan would be open and meaningful and requested clarification on how existing site allocations and underdeveloped sites would be reassessed as part of the new planning framework. Emma Ottewell, Head of Planning and Building Control explained that the report related only to the commencement of the Local Plan process and governance arrangements, with detailed consideration of site allocations and planning policies to follow at later stages.

Councillor A Carter sought clarification regarding the proposed delegation arrangements and asked how members would be involved in scrutinising emerging site allocation options. Assurance was provided by the Head of Planning and Building Control and the Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs and the Local Economy that no final policy decisions would be made through the delegated consultation stages and that both Planning Board and the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board would receive updates throughout the plan's preparation.

Councillor Thorp queried how opposition representation on the proposed Local Plan Steering Group would be determined. The Executive Director of Regeneration and Environment explained that nominations would be sought from opposition groups and that the Steering Group would operate in an advisory, rather than decision-making, capacity.

Councillor Baggaley asked whether members of the Steering Group would receive appropriate training and sought assurance that the challenging 30?month timetable could be achieved, particularly where specialist evidence and procurement exercises were required. The Head of Planning and Building Control confirmed that training arrangements would be developed and advised that project planning, governance arrangements and evidence gathering were already being progressed to minimise the risk of delays.

Councillor Yasseen raised concerns regarding member involvement and requested a more formal scrutiny schedule to ensure adequate oversight throughout the Local Plan process. The Chair advised that arrangements for future scrutiny would be considered through the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board work programme and in discussion with the relevant officers.

Councillor McKiernan welcomed the discussion and noted the Improving Places Select Commissions ongoing engagement with officers regarding the Local Plan, expressing support for ensuring appropriate scrutiny as the process progressed.

The Chair then sought a show of hands from Members in support of the proposed recommendations. Upon being put to the vote, the recommendations were carried noting two members abstained from the vote.

Resolved: That the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board supported the recommendations that Cabinet:

1. Note the contents of this report and approve the commencement of preparation of a new Rotherham Local Plan in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026.
   
   
2. Approve the publication of the Local Plan Timetable attached at Appendix 1 and note that it supersedes the current Local Development Scheme timetable for the preparation of the new Local Plan.
   
   
3. Approve the publication of the formal ‘Notice of Intention to Commence’ by 30 October 2026, at the latest, in line with Regulation 19.
   
   
4. Approve the establishment of a Local Plan Steering Group in accordance with the Terms of Reference attached at Appendix 2.
   
   
5. Delegate authority to the Executive Director of Regeneration and Environment, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs and the Local Economy:

-       to approve updates to the Local Plan Timetable during plan preparation;

-       to approve, publish and submit all documents required for the statutory Scoping Stage (Regulation 20);

-       to approve publication and submission of documents required for Gateway 1 (Regulation 21); and

-       to approve the content and commencement of consultation on proposed plan content, draft vision and supporting evidence (Regulation 23).

6. Agree that Planning Board and Overview and Scrutiny Management Board will be updated and consulted at appropriate stages throughout plan preparation.
   
   
7. Agree to receive a further report as the Local Plan progresses towards plan content and evidence consultation (Regulation 23(1)(a)) and seeking approvals for subsequent stages - Gateways 2 (Regulation 26) and Gateway 3 (Regulation 31).