Agenda item

Report of the Leader

The Leader introduced the report and explained that CBC had chosen to meet its statutory obligation to prepare a development plan by means of the Gloucester, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury Joint Core Strategy and the Cheltenham Plan.

He explained that the first part of the Cheltenham Plan to be developed would deal primarily with policy relating to the development and protection of land for residential and employment use; the potential to use the designation “local green space” for some green areas in Cheltenham; and would introduce evidence to assist in the development of the Borough’s economic strategy.  He said that the local green space designation was a new feature and the Leader explained how officers had been working with Gloucestershire Rural Community Councils who had suggested 29 sites which could be suitable in the Borough. The Leader reported that Athey consulting had been commissioned to undertake an economic study which would deliver a corporate economic development strategy and economic evidence for the economic policies within it. It aimed to find specialities in the local area, the example given was cybersecurity in the context of GCHQ. The second part of the Plan would deal with specific and detailed policies in parallel with Phase 1. He explained that this was a non-statutory consultation and was scheduled to take place in June with a 6 week consultation period.

Members welcomed the consultation and hoped that there would be significant contributions. The linkage with the Asset Management Plan in terms of the role it played in economic regeneration and development was highlighted.

RESOLVED

1.     That the Cheltenham Plan Part 1, Issues and Options document set out in Appendix 2, be approved for public consultation

2.     That authority be delegated to the Head of Planning to make any minor amendments to the document prior to consultation.