Appendix 1 to the report has been circulated in conjunction with this agenda (as a hardcopy colour booklet) to all members of the Council, put on deposit at Town Hall Mulberry Place (Reception), made available on the Council Website. A hardcopy is also held by Democratic Services 1^st Floor, Town Hall Mulberry Place, should members of the Council or members of the public wish to view it.

Please Note

It is important that all Councillors attending the meetings set out below bring this document with them, as it comprises part of the associated agenda papers:

·                    Overview and Scrutiny Committee (07 September 2010)

·                    Cabinet (08 September 2010)

·                    Council (15 September 2010)

Resolved

1.           That the Final Core Strategy contained in Appendix 1 to the report (CAB 029/101) be noted and endorsed also noting the Inspectors report and three Annexes as included in Appendix 2 to the report; and

2.           That full Council be recommended to adopt the Local Development Framework Core Strategy (including the Inspectors required amendments) to be a part of the borough’s Development Plan.

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR DEVELOPMENT AND RENEWAL (A. DALVI)

Service Head Major Project Development, Development and Renewal (O. Whalley)

Deputy Service Head Planning and Building Control, Development and Renewal (D. Williams)

Councillor Francis, Lead Member Housing Heritage and Planning, at the request of the Chair, in introducing the report:

·                    Summarised the key points contained therein, highlighting in particular:

o                   That the Core Strategy was the most important part of the Local Development Framework, setting out the framework for planning decisions in the borough for the next 15 years and beyond. 

o                   A great deal of hard work had been undertaken over the past few years during the extensive preparation process for the Core Strategy; and the Final Core Strategy, attached to the report, was the last of a series of iterations.

o                   In December 2009, after lengthy preparation the Core Strategy had been approved for submission to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, by Council. It represented a valuable refresh of the borough’s planning policy. However much work had been undertaken since then to refine and strengthen the strategy, including an examination of the soundness of the Core Strategy by an Planning Inspector appointed by the Secretary of State.

o                   The Inspector wanted the Core Strategy to have a specific spatial vision for Tower Hamlets. The Authority had endeavoured, through extensive consultation, to achieve this in the strategy document prior to its agreement by Council for submission to the Secretary of State. Much consultation had been undertaken subsequently with the planning inspector.

o                   The points raised by the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee earlier in the proceedings, specifically those regarding:

Ø            Improved consultation with/ engagement of local residents.

Ø            Making this and other planning documents more accessible in terms of content/ structure/ language.

were desirable, and would be accommodated as far as was possible, bearing in mind that the strategy was a both a planning document and a legal document to which the Planning Authority must have reference to.

However it should be noted that both concerns had been raised in the Evidence in Public phase of the inspection process, but the Inspector had not agreed that these had been legitimate.

o                   The key aspect of the Inspector’s report was whether she had found the Core Strategy to be sound or not; and she had found it to be sound. Councillor Francis quoted the Inspector as stating in her report that:

Ø                  “I am satisfied that the Core Strategy meets the requirements of the Act and Regulations. My role is also to consider its soundness set out in Planning Policy Statement 12... The changes I have specified in this report are made only where there is a clear need to amend the document in the light of the legal requirements and/ or the criteria of soundness... None of these changes should materially alter the substance of the plan and its policies.”

Ø                  “I conclude that, with the amendments I recommend, the Tower Hamlets Core Strategy DPD satisfies the requirements of s20 (5) of the 2004 Act and meets the criteria of soundness in PPS12.”

o                   That the small number of amendments to the Core Strategy were set out in the annexes to the Inspector’s report attached at Appendix 2 to the Officer report.

·                    Concluded by commending the Final Core Strategy to the Cabinet for endorsement and onward recommendation to full Council.

·                    Addressed (see above), at the request of the Chair, the matters raised by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, held on 7^th September 2010, in relation to the report; as contained in the oral comments/ advice presented by the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee earlier in the proceedings:

A discussion followed, during which the Final Core Strategy was welcomed, and which focused on the following points:-

·                    Noted that this was the latest in a series of iterations which had been reported to Cabinet.

·                    Noted that the amendments proposed by the Inspector were relatively minor.

·                    Clarification/ assurance was sought and given regarding changes to the Core Strategy proposed by the Authority during the Inspection Process, and the reason why these had not been addressed in the Strategy submitted to the Secretary of State.

·                    Consideration that further work was needed to ensure that the planning tools provided by the Core Strategy were fully utilised to effectively address the level of fast food outlets, selling food with high levels of saturated fat, and thereby mitigate the high levels of obesity in the borough. Consideration also, that in this context, officers should examine the experience and practice at other local authorities.

The Chair summarised that the receipt of applications for planning consent and associated decision making was one of the most contested areas of the Council’s activities. The Core Strategy would set the future framework for this and had been the subject of comprehensive consideration by stakeholders including members of the Cabinet and Council. The scope of the Core Strategy was extensive, and it was therefore unlikely that everyone would be content with 100 per cent of it. The Strategy had been strong when submitted to the Secretary of State and the Inspection Process had further strengthened it. It had now been independently assessed to be a strong sound framework to take forward development in Tower Hamlets to the benefit of its residents. Accordingly the Chair Moved for the consideration of members of the Cabinet, that:

·                    In relation to recommendation 2.1 contained in the report, “the Final Core Strategy in Appendix 1 be noted and endorsed and that the Inspectors report and three Annexes as included in Appendix 2, be noted.

·                    That recommendation 2.2 as set out in the report be agreed.

and it was:-

Resolved

1.           That the Final Core Strategy contained in Appendix 1 to the report (CAB 029/101) be noted and endorsed also noting the Inspectors report and three Annexes as included in Appendix 2 to the report; and

2.           That full Council be recommended to adopt the Local Development Framework Core Strategy (including the Inspectors required amendments) to be a part of the borough’s Development Plan.