Issue - meetings

Purpose: For Council to consider the Schedule of Proposed Main Modifications to the West Berkshire Local Plan Review 2022-2039 (LPR) post hearing sessions earlier this year. Also, the updated Sustainability Appraisal/Strategic Environmental Assessment (SA/SEA) Report, addendum to the Habitat Regulations Assessment (HRA) and the Schedule of Proposed Changes to the Policies Map. The Council is asked to approve the publication of these documents for an 8-week period of public consultation as instructed by the Local Plan Inspector. This is a regulatory stage of the LPR process and requires Council resolution.

Council considered a report (Agenda Item 10) concerning the Proposed Main Modifications to the West Berkshire Local Plan Review (LPR).

MOTION: Proposed by Councillor Denise Gaines and seconded by Councillor Jeff Brooks:

“That Council:

1)    Recognises that the Local Plan Review is still in the Examination Process and therefore, the Council is still under the Direction set out in the letter from the Minister of State for Housing, Planning and Building Safety dated 19 December 2023 that requires the Council to continue the Plan through the Examination Process.

2)    Notes that the Schedule of Proposed Main Modifications to the West Berkshire Local Plan Review 2022-2039 is published in accordance with Section 20 7(c) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended) for an eight week period of consultation.

3)    Notes that the accompanying updated Sustainability Appraisal/Strategic Environmental Assessment (SA/SEA) Report on the Proposed Main Modifications and addendum to the Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) of the Proposed Main Modifications are published in accordance with Section 20 7(c) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended) for an eight week period of consultation.

4)    Notes that the Schedule of Proposed Changes to the Policies Map is published for an eight week period of consultation.

5)    Delegates authority to the Executive Director of Place, in consultation with the Executive Portfolio Holder for Planning and Housing, to agree any further non-material refinements to the wording of the LPR and its accompanying documentation as appropriate, before consultation.”

Councillor Gaines introduced the report and highlighted that the Local Plan had been submitted by the previous Conservative led Administration before the election, and that the current Liberal Democrat Administration believed it to be flawed. Although the policies were sound, they did not believe that the housing site allocations were right for the residents of West Berkshire. She informed Council that the attempt to withdraw the plan was rejected by the Minister for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), who directed the Council to proceed with the process.

In addition, as the current Government had indicated that they would intervene and take over the Plan should the Council refuse to progress it, she believed that the only choice remaining for the Council was to proceed to the next step of the Local Plan process, the public consultation. She emphasised that the decision to move to consultation was only taken after every other avenue had been exhausted, including securing legal counsel, and that this was the final chance for the public to express their unhappiness with the Plan. Overall, in order to ensure that the Council had some influence on the Plan and that it was not taken over by the MHCLG, who could then force housing site allocations on the district, she encouraged Council to approve the recommendations.

Several Members expressed their concern about the Local Plan and indicated that they would not support the Motion. In relation to the site that had been allocated in Theale, it was indicated this would lead  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9