Notice of Motion defeated at Full Council

Stratford-on-Avon District Council's Full Council meeting today, Monday 13 September voted against the Notice of Motion for temporary planning policies that had been proposed by Liberal Democrat Councillors.

A last minute amendment, on the advice of the District Council's Monitoring Officer, was introduced to overcome any legal objections to the original Notice of Motion wording.  The amendment recognised the need for a statutory consultation process to be completed in line with planning regulations.

Cllr Gillian Roache, Planning Portfolio said: "Whilst agreeing with the spirit of the Motion I did not want to be introducing additional policies and consultations we already will have to undertake to achieve the Local Development Framework.

"A cross-party working group was set up following The Cabinet meeting on 23 August 2010 to address planning issues in the wake of the abolition of Regional Spatial Strategies by the new coalition Government.  The first meeting of the Local Development Framework (LDF) Working Group will take place next week and will consider a number of important issues such as the housing needs in the District and the distribution of future housing and the types of development that's required to meet the needs of residents.  I recognise, as does the whole Council, the utmost urgency in dealing with these policy issues.

"The existing Local Plan expires in April 2011 and following the Government's decision to abolish the Regional Spatial Strategy the Council has to define its own future housing requirements.  The statutory process means it will take over a year to replace the Local Plan.  The period after April 2011 and before the new Core Strategy is in place must be governed with a robust interim policy.

"The importance of developing planning policies, which meet the needs of current and future generations, in accordance with legal process is essential to preserve and improve the District's Environment."