Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillor R.J. Hunter with Councillor S.M. Evans in attendance as named substitute and Councillor S.A. Robinson with Councillor J.W. Robinson in attendance as named substitute.

To invite Councillors to declare any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or Other Disclosable Interests they may have in items on the agenda, and to confirm the nature of those interests.

No declarations of interest were received nor of any whipping arrangements.

The Strategic Planning and Conservation Manager presented the Local Development Scheme (LDS) to the Board.

Following Government consultation in the summer of 2024 on the 12th December 2024, a new version of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) was published and to meet the requirement, a new LDS had been produced.  The LDS was the timetable for the Planning Policies which the Council intended to produce and outlined the likely path the Bromsgrove District Local Plan would take to adoption.

The timetable was explained in detail which set out the following timeframes:

·         Draft Plan Consultation – The Draft Plan Consultation was planned to begin in May or  June 2025 and Members would be consulted on progress of this through the Strategic Planning Steering Group (SPSG), Cabinet and Council meetings.

·         Notice of start of plan making under reformed – This was notification of the new local plan process. 

·         Gateway 1 (Advisory) – This date was set to meet with the Planning Inspectorate in February 2026.

·         Public Consultation (8 weeks) was due between June/July 2026.

·         Gateway 2 (Advisory) – The Council would be advised on progress and any likely issues going forwards in December 2026.

·         Public Consultation (6 weeks) – This would be the final public consultation publication in April/May 2027.

·         Gateway 3 (Stop/Go) – This would detail the likely prospects of the local plan in December 2027.

·         Examination – The examination process would take 6 months between January – July 2028.

·         Finalisation and adoption – The finalisation and adoption of the local plan was due in July 2028.

Until the final details of the new system were known, the stages of plan making identified for 2026 and beyond were considered by Officers to be the likely process, however, dates could differ.  Members also noted that the Council would be judged based on its capabilities to deliver against the processes set by Government.

The significant element to note on the timetable was the publication of the draft plan for wide ranging public and stakeholder consultation in May/June 2025. The details of the draft plan and the approach to engagement and consultation would be covered and reported through SPSG, Cabinet and Council meetings.

Following the presentation, Members made the following comments and considerations as follows:

• Members queried why the timetable at the SPSG meetings had not been presented to the Board, which demonstrated the groups involvement. – In response it was explained that the timetable presented during SPSG was appropriate for that meeting, however, the table displayed within the report was more appropriate for publication in the public domain.
• If the 8-week consultation period set for June/July 2026 was “Regulation 18”, which was the start of the formal public consultation period. – Members noted that this terminology would not exist as part of the new regulations.
• Members queried who would be consulted on the Draft Plan set for May/June 2025. – Officers explained that although the exact details were to be worked up there would be a full public consultation.
• If the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 101/24

There was no urgent business for consideration.</AI15>