Issue - meetings

To consider approving a statutory four week consultation on a new Climate Change Supplementary Planning Document.

The Committee considered a request to go to consultation on a supplementary planning document (SPD) from the Senior Planning Officer. The Committee had previously approved for a Green Initiatives Fund bid to produce an SPD. Following a procurement process, David Locke Associates had produced a Climate Change SPD that would support the delivery of planning policies. The SPD, if adopted, would be required to be submitted alongside planning applications. Other local authority Climate Change SPD’s had been reviewed when compiling the information.

The Committee expressed concern that the language used in the SPD was not strong enough. The Senior Planning Officer advised that the SPD could not introduce new policy that the parent policy did not require. When an up-to-date Local Plan was adopted, the SPD would have more weight.

The Committee resolved to approve to commence a statutory 4 week consultation on a new Climate Change Supplementary Planning Document.

In accordance with Standing Order 21.6, Councillor Nichols requested that his abstention be recorded.