Issue - meetings

Consideration was given to report of the Corporate Director Regeneration & Community Services.

The Team Manager Development Plans presented the report which sought approval for a Revised Delivery Agreement for preparing the replacement Local Development Plan, and a Covid-19 Assessment of the Plan’s evidence base, strategies and policies.

The Officer spoke to the report and highlighted points contained therein.  She said notification was received from Welsh Government on the 18^th March, 2020 regarding the implications of COVID-19 on the preparation of LDPs, and stated that it was important not to progress plans that could be in conflict with legal requirements set out in the Community Involvement Scheme in their Delivery Agreements.  Following discussions with WG, they confirmed that we should not proceed with the planned 2^nd call for candidate sites.

The Officer said while work on the Plan has proceeded in terms of building up the evidence base and considering comments received at Preferred Strategy Stage, the loss of one Member of the team to COVID-19 related redeployment, and limits placed on site visits, certain work streams had been delayed.

Further correspondence from Welsh Government was received on 7^th July, 2020 reflecting on the impact of COVID on the community and the exacerbation of social, economic and environmental inequalities.  The Minister advised that our approach going forward must focus on addressing longstanding inequalities by taking a values based approach to recovery which promoted social economic and environmental justice, and the Minister identified the planning system as being central to shaping a better future for Wales and it was essential that all levels of Government ensure that plans, policies and procedures improve the wellbeing of our people and resilience of our environment.

The Minister also advised that LDPs currently undergoing review should undertake an assessment of the evidence, strategy and policies in terms of sensitivity to the consequences of the pandemic.  A robust conclusion should be reached on the need for new evidence an any consequential changes to strategy and policy before progressing plan preparation.  The Assessment was to be submitted to WG with requests to extend the Delivery Agreement.

A Member commended the Officer on the work undertaken, and agreed that extra time was needed to focus on the impact of COVID-19.  He then referred to section 5.7 of Appendix 2 which referred to plans to close the Civic Centre and replace the site with housing, and asked when this decision had been taken. 

In response the Officer explained that this proposal was already in the current Plan.  The Civic Centre site formed part of the Northern Corridor and was one of our strategic sites identified for housing.

The Member then requested a Member Briefing Session on how the LDP linked in with the Regional Development Plan.

The Committee AGREED to recommend that the report be accepted and supported the Revised Delivery Agreement and Covid-19 Assessment Report as outlined (Option 1).