Issue - meetings

Report of the Leader

Having declared an interest earlier in the meeting, Councillor Ryder and Councillor Harman left the meeting for this item and the following agenda item.

The Leader introduced the report and explained that the Joint Core Strategy had been prepared jointly over nine years between Gloucester City Council, Cheltenham Borough Council and Tewkesbury Borough Council and provided the vision and planning framework to meet the development needs of the area between 2011 and 2031. He reported that Gloucester City Council and Tewkesbury Borough Council had now adopted the strategy. He added that work would continue as there would immediately be a review as regards housing supply for Gloucester and Tewkesbury and collectively for all three authorities an immediate retail review.

The Leader reminded Members that also in progress was the Cheltenham Plan which was now potentially at pre-submission stage and which would be considered by Council that evening. He highlighted the momentum at Government level for the JCS with the Secretary of State rejecting a call in request from the Tewkesbury MP within 48 hours of receiving it.

The Leader highlighted the following key points:

·         The JCS assessed the general housing need for the area which was essential to provide affordable housing for the future.

·         In respect of the AONB and the green belt he welcomed the proactive involvement of local communities in putting forward green space requests which had now been incorporated into the JCS however he did note that the Inspector had not used the same opportunity to include mention of the West Cheltenham green space which was equally important for that area.

·         The JCS would ensure that adequate infrastructure would be in place and made reference to the £22m growth deal for the cyberpark which illustrated Government’s enthusiasm for the scheme. He highlighted that all were keen to see improvements at Junction 10 of the M5 before 2031 and Government would be lobbied to ensure central funding was available.

In terms of the recommendations he highlighted that the Inspector had examined the proposed plan for its soundness and if the main modifications were not accepted there would be no JCS. He referred to the recommendations relating to the Memorandums of Agreement with Tewkesbury Borough Council regarding the delivery of housing at land at Farm Lane and Uckington.

Finally, he gave thanks to all those who had been involved in the long and arduous process in developing the JCS including officers, Members and residents of Cheltenham who had added value in contributing to the process.

The following questions were raised and responses given:

·         If the JCS was not accepted by Council then developers would in theory have a ‘free for all’ in relation to planning

·         There was a need to demonstrate a 5 year housing supply

·         It had taken some time, along with the whole JCS process, to agree that a Memorandum of Understanding with regard to the houses on Farm Lane would be put in place on adoption of the JCS allocating the 377 houses to Cheltenham’s  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9