Agenda item
The Local Development Framework (LDF) Core Strategy - Adoption of the Plan
Clerks Note:
Appendix One to this report was circulated to all Members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in CD format under separate cover on 23 August 2010.
A hard copy is also attached to the Cabinet Agenda for 7 September.
(Time Allocated – 30 mins)
Minutes:
Mr Jonny Moore (Interim Strategy Officer, Development and Renewal) presented the report regarding the Local Development Framework (LDF) Final Core Strategy.
Mr Moore advised that the Final Core Strategy had been through an extensive consultation exercise over the past 3 years including evidence base collection, options testing, public consultation, member approval and independent examination.
Overall the Inspector had found the strategy to be sound. Therefore it was recommended that the Strategy (Appendix 1) and the Inspectors required changes (Appendix 2) and the three Annexes be submitted to Cabinet and Full Council for adoption.
In considering the plan, the Committee raised the following points:
- In relation to the northern part of the Borough (Victoria Park, Hackney, Shoreditch area), there was nothing in it about the promotion of shops in that area. This was important as it provided an important link to the Olympic Site.
- The costs of implementing the strategy. Possibility that the costs would increase and there would be additional expenditure.
- Whether the comments of the Inspector would be feed into future assessments.
- Rational for submitting the strategy to the Committee ahead of Cabinet.
In relation the Inspectors comments, Members drew attention to the following comments and requested that they be addressed:
- The concerns around the diagrams for Millwall, Cubbitt Town (pg 43 of the agenda).
- The concerns around lack of sensitivity to local concerns (pg 44).
- The concerns around the document being too difficult for people to understand.
- Recommendation that the evidence base and decisions should be linked.
The Chair of the Committee requested that the finding of the Scrutiny Review on Childhood Obesity be factored into the LDF, arising from the review on affordable homeownership around open plan living space.
The Chair also stated that she had hoped that the Corporate Director for Development and Renewal would be present at the meeting to reply to questions especially on the budget as there were ongoing costs.
In reply to the comments, officers reported that:
- Officers had held a series of workshops in the Bethnal Green /Shoreditch area as part of the consultation exercise. The aims identified at which mirrored those within the Core Strategy.
- In relation to the shops in the northern part of the Borough, there was other polices and initiatives outside the Core Strategy that supported such aims.
- Officers would be taking forward the next phase of the LDF process and it was possible that during which, new ideas may come to light.
- Explained the purpose of the diagrams for growth in Millwall and Cubbitt Town.
- Referred to the amount of work involved in preparing the detailed documents. This would be funded through existing identified resources.
- The decisions were evidence based, however the link between the evidence and the decisions could have been made cleared and this would be addressed.
- In relation to the Inspectors comments, officers would certainly bear them in mind when producing future documents, especially in determining appropriate consultation levels, and the need to engage residents in the process right from the start. Future documents would clearly explain the purpose of the proposals in more detail.
- The CS had identified a need for a land area for house waste facilities. Consideration was being given to identifying a suitable site for such facilities. Currently a number of sites were being looked at.
The Chair Moved and it was:-
RESOLVED
(1) That the recommendations to Cabinet included in the report be endorsed.
(2) That Cabinet be notified of the Committee’s comments as set out above.
Supporting documents:
- LDF Core Strategy - CABINET SEPT 2010 DG200810 1317pm, item 8.1 PDF 89 KB
- LDF Appendix 2 Final Inspector's Binding Report, item 8.1 PDF 568 KB
- LDF Appendix 2 Annex A, item 8.1 PDF 69 KB
- LDF Appendix 2 Annex B, item 8.1 PDF 34 KB
- LDF Appendix 2 Annex C, item 8.1 PDF 96 KB