URL: https://committeeadmin.lancaster.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=1550

Decision Maker:

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Purpose:

Content: Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Dowding)   Cabinet received a report from the Chief Officer – Planning and Climate Change Service to advise Cabinet Members of the receipt and publication of the Inspector’s Report of the Examination of the Climate Emergency Review of the Lancaster District Local Plan and seek an endorsement of the intention that a report is presented to Council, provisionally on 22 January 2025, recommending that the Council adopts the updated Local Plan Development Plan Documents as elements of its statutory development plan.   The options, options analysis, including risk assessment and officer preferred option, were set out in the report as follows:   Members are advised that there is only one realistic course of action in response to the recommendations of this report; that is to acknowledge the receipt and publication of the Inspector’s report and endorse the intention that a report is presented to Council, provisionally on 22 January 2025, with the recommendation that Council adopts the Climate Emergency Review of the Strategic Policies & Land Allocations Development Plan Document (DPD) and the Climate Emergency Review of the Development Management.   The officer preferred option was to support the recommendations and have the adoption process proceed to Full Council. Given the resource that the Council has deployed between 2020 and 2024 to update its Local Plan to better respond to the Climate Emergency and the very public commitment it made to the community to be pro-active in addressing Climate Change including though the formal submission of the revised documents to the Government, to then subsequently decide not to proceed to the conclusion of that process by supporting an adoption recommendation to full Council would likely have immediate consequences for the reputation of the Council and potentially cause the Secretary of State to intervene in the adoption process.   It was noted that this had received a lot of publicity both locally and nationally and Cabinet recognised the determination, resilience and tenacity of all those involved in the process of placing the council in a leading position in this area.   Councillor Dowding proposed, seconded by Councillor Tyldesley:-   “That the recommendations, as set out in the report, be approved.”   Councillors then voted:-   Resolved unanimously:   (1)        That Cabinet acknowledge the receipt and publication of the Inspector’s report of the Examination of the Climate Emergency Review of the Lancaster District Local Plan, which concludes that the reviewed planning documents provide an appropriate basis for the planning of the district, subject to compliance with her binding recommendations.    (2)       That Cabinet endorse the intention that a report is presented to Council, provisionally on 22 January 2025, with the recommendation that Council adopts the Climate Emergency Review of the Strategic Policies & Land Allocations Development Plan Document (DPD) and the Climate Emergency Review of the Development Management Policies DPD.   Officers responsible for effecting the decision:   Chief Officer – Planning and Climate Change   Reasons for making the decision:   The decision is consistent with the Council Plan which is underpinned by four principles:  · A Sustainable District · An Inclusive and Prosperous Local Economy  · Healthy and Happy Communities · A Co-operative, Kind and Responsible Council,   and four themes: · The Climate Emergency · Community Wealth Building · Increasing Wellbeing. Reducing Inequality · Deliver Effective Services, Take Responsibility.   Work to update the Local Plan through the preparation of a Climate Emergency Review addresses all these principles and themes as development outcomes that better address the Climate Emergency will bring benefits to the community, the environment and the economy.   The City Council is legally obligated to maintain a Policy Framework and the Local Development Plan and Development Plan Documents are components of that Framework. The constitution states that decisions made about documents on the Policy Framework must be made by Full Council, usually on the recommendation of Cabinet. This report enables the expectations of the processes described in the constitution and facilitates decision making.    

Date of Decision: January 14, 2025