Issue - items at meetings - Local Development Framework Core Strategy - Amendments to the Spatial Strategy

Report of the Director of Environment (copy attached).

(1)       That Cabinet agrees the Spatial Strategy, Urban Fringe and Housing Delivery policy options for consultation and inclusion in the Council’s Core Strategy subject to any minor alterations being made by the Director of Environment in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment.

29.1       The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Environment concerning the Core Strategy’s ‘spatial strategy’ regarding the broad location of development in the city and in particular the urban fringe (for copy see minute book).

29.2       In response to Councillor Mitchell’s concern that the downturn in the housing market had led to a proposed change in policy, Councillor Theobald assured her that the intention was to protect the urban fringe; he was confident that the council could meet government targets on housing without building on the urban fringe.

29.3       The Assistant Director for City Planning added that it was prudent to include the urban fringe as a last resort for housing development to ensure that the Core Strategy is found to be ‘sound’ by the Planning Inspector.

29.4       Councillors Kemble and Caulfield agreed that the report sought to protect the urban fringe and provide assurances that the council was actively looking at development sites within the city.

29.5       RESOLVED - That, having considered the information and the reasons set out in the report, the Cabinet accepted the following recommendations:

(1)       That the Spatial Strategy, Urban Fringe and Housing Delivery policy options be agreed for consultation and inclusion in the Council’s Core Strategy subject to any minor alterations being made by the Director of Environment in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment.