URL: https://committeeadmin.lancaster.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=1565

Decision Maker:

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: Yes

Purpose:

Content: (Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Tyldesley)   Cabinet received a report from the Chief Officer Planning and Climate Change that sought Cabinet approval for the publication of an updated Local Plan Preparation Timetable.   The options, options analysis, including risk assessment and officer preferred option, were set out in the report as follows:     Option 1: Approve the publication of an updated Local Plan preparation timetable for the Lancaster District Local Plan. Option 2: Do not approve the publication of an updated Local Plan preparation timetable for the Lancaster District Local Plan. Advantages The Government has been unambiguous in its instruction to Local Planning Authorities in directing them to publish and submit a new local plan timetable that responds to the forthcoming guidance and regulations for preparing a new local plan. Though the Council has published an Interim Timetable it was submitted on the basis that Cabinet would consider the timetable and make a formal decision. By submitting a formally approved new local plan timetable the Council will comply with the Government’s direction and demonstrate its commitment to achieving local development, most particularly the delivery of new housing to the district’s residents, businesses, and stakeholders. None are apparent. Disadvantages None are apparent. The Council would fail to comply with the Government’s unambiguous instruction to Local Planning Authorities to publish and submit a new local plan timetable that responds to the forthcoming guidance and regulations for preparing a new local plan. The Government has not specified what sanctions it might impose on Local Planning Authorities that fail to comply with the directive but by not complying the Council would signal to government that it either is not willing or not enabled to prepare a new Local Plan that demonstrates its commitment to achieving local development, most particularly the delivery of new housing, to the district’s residents, businesses and stakeholders.   Risks None are apparent. Whilst the Council will make a formal commitment to progress to its published timetable it may still need to be revised in future to take account of the impact of changing circumstances and events. The Council might appear on a list of Local Planning Authorities that have not demonstrated the commitment and willingness to comply with responsibilities and obligations to plan for the homes, and other types of development that legislation and national guidance require. Considering the potential need to explore future funding for infrastructure or regeneration proposals an unwillingness or an inability to demonstrate commitment to preparing a Local Plan is not likely to enhance the Council’s reputation as a responsible partner with government.   The officer preferred option is Option 1: Approve the publication of an updated Local Plan preparation timetable for the Lancaster District Local Plan.   The report does provide Cabinet Members with the opportunity to formally consider and approve both the updated timetable and the statements about the matters that the local plan will address. The Government has signalled that it intends to be firm in achieving up to date local plans, the directive to prepare a new timetable is clear and there would seem to be little to achieved by not complying with the government’s clear instruction.   Councillor Tyldesley proposed, seconded by Councillor Hamilton-Cox:-   “That the recommendation, as set out in the report, be approved with the following two additional recommendations:-   (2)             that in confirming the Local Plan Timetable to Government, officers state that this council is ready to start on a new Local Plan following publication of the appropriate Regulations and would like to schedule the first Gateway Assessment for the very beginning of January 2026 as one of the first Local Authorities to engage with the new process.   (3)             that officers take all possible steps to ensure that the process is complete to an adopted Local Plan before Local Government Reorganisation affects Lancaster. In this respect the timetable will be kept under review, in consultation with the Cabinet member for Planning, both when the new Regulations are published and subsequently at all relevant stages.”   By way of an amendment which was accepted as a friendly amendment Councillor Dowding proposed that the word ‘district’ be inserted after Lancaster in recommendation (3).   Councillors then voted on the revised proposition:-   Resolved unanimously:   (1)             That Cabinet approves the publication of an updated Local Plan preparation timetable for the Lancaster District Local Plan.   (2)                   That in confirming the Local Plan Timetable to Government, officers state that this council is ready to start on a new Local Plan following publication of the appropriate Regulations and would like to schedule the first Gateway Assessment for the very beginning of January 2026 as one of the first Local Authorities to engage with the new process.   (3)             That officers take all possible steps to ensure that the process is complete to an adopted Local Plan before Local Government Reorganisation affects Lancaster District. In this respect the timetable will be kept under review, in consultation with the Cabinet member for Planning, both when the new Regulations are published and subsequently at all relevant stages.   Officer responsible for effecting the decision:   Chief Officer Planning and Climate Change   Reasons for making the decision:   Cabinet is the part of the Council which is responsible for taking executive decisions and implementing the Council’s Budget and 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. The Local Plan Timetable is not in itself policy, it is the work programme for creating policy documents that will be decided by full Council. Cabinet is therefore the appropriate component of the Council to make decisions about the work programme for preparing policy documents.

Date of Decision: April 15, 2025