Issue - meetings

Report of the Cabinet Member Development and Safety

Councillor McKinlay introduced the report. He advised that all local authorities were under a statutory obligation to prepare a development plan. The council had chosen to do this through the preparation of two documents the JCS and the Cheltenham Plan which together provided a planning framework for the borough until 2031.

The Plan included a number of key proposals. These included provision of 1300 new homes in the borough the allocation of 7 ha of new employment land and 86 Local Green Space designations across the borough.

There were two particular issues to mention which would require further work, namely the West of Cheltenham Development and the request from GCC that the plan includes an allocation for a new secondary school on the Leckhampton Fields site earmarked for housing. During the JCS process GCC had insisted that there was no need for a new school and their change of mind was only communicated by a letter on 12 November 2017, hence the proposal had not been included in the JCS process. Although this was unsatisfactory there was little doubt that the new school was needed. The inclusion in the plan meant that the proposal for the school at this site would now be subject to full examination via the pre-submission consultation and the examination in public. The timescales were set out in the report.

He highlighted a few of the key changes in the new Cheltenham Plan which were detailed in the report. He concluded that the Cheltenham Plan provided a sound and up-to-date planning framework which would allow the borough to successfully face the challenges of the future.

The Cabinet Member gave the following responses to questions assisted by officers in any technical details:

·         Asked why the site at Oakhurst Rise no longer satisfied the criteria for nomination as local green space, the Cabinet Member advised that all sites were judged against a set of criteria.
The officer added that in all assessments there was a balance between development and other needs. Oakhurst Rise was a constrained site and its heritage sensitivity and landscaped sensitivity were recognized and that was why the original plans for 90-100 units had been reduced to 25. The member working group had been consulted on the proposals.

·         The Cabinet Member confirmed that there was an allocation for housing on the Priors Farm playing field.
The officer confirmed that the master plan for this site was currently being produced by developers and any housing would be accommodated in a large area thereby maintaining green space and allowing for flood alleviation work.

·         A Member welcomed the statement in 13.6 but he asked what situation might arise to change this situation and allow building on the green belt.
The Cabinet Member couldn’t say but he could confirm that there was no anticipated demand at this current time and no part of the green belt had been affected by the Local Plan.

·         He confirmed that that there would be a 8 week period of public consultation in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10