DRAFT  11/01/2006                                                                                           PAPER D

                                                                                                                                                                                                        

 

                                                                                                              Purpose : For Decision

REPORT TO CABINET

 

Date :              30 JANUARY 2006

 

Subject :         ISLAND PLAN – DRAFT CORE STRATEGY  2006-2026

                       

Report of:       REPORT OF THE CABINET HOLDER FOR ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND PLANNING

 

 

IMPLEMENTATION DATE :

 

SUMMARY/PURPOSE

 

1.                  To agree the Island Plan – Draft Core Strategy for formal public consultation.

 

CONFIDENTIAL/EXEMPT ITEMS

 

2.                  None.

 

BACKGROUND

 

3.                  Under the Planning and Compensation Act 2004 the Council is required to replace its current statutory development plan ( the Unitary Development Plan 2001) with a new Local Development Framework.  This will be known as the Island Plan and is a key document in the future delivery of the Community Strategy, the Local Area Agreement and the 2020 Vision.

 

4.                  Unlike the UDP, the new Island Plan will be a folder of documents covering a range of issues which will be regularly monitored and reviewed to ensure they are delivering agreed outcomes and objectives. The Council has submitted and agreed with government a timetable for producing these various documents known as the Local Development Scheme.  The first document to be produced will be the Island Plan Core Strategy which will set the strategic vision for the Island over the next 20 years.

 

5.                  The Council resolved to set up an Island Plan Task Group comprising Council Members and LSP representatives to drive the preparation and production of the plan.  Their first task was to agree an Issues and Options paper for public consultation.  This set out 6 possible options for future development which were widely consulted on between October and November 2005.  Following consideration of the comments received from this process the Task Group have now produced a draft Preferred Strategy which is intended for formal public consultation over 6 weeks beginning on 13th February 2006.

 

6.                  The timescale for progressing the Island plan beyond this is illustrated by the timetable on the next page.


 

STRATEGIC CONTEXT

 

7.                  The replacement of the UDP with a new Island Plan is a key objective of Aim High and a fundamental delivery mechanism to ensure the sustainable economic regeneration of the Island.

 

CONSULTATION

 

8.                  As part of the new planning process the Council is required to produce a Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) which sets out how it will engage the wider community in the planning process.  The SCI was developed in consultation with a broad range of individuals, groups and organisations and has also undergone examination by the Planning Inspectorate before finally being adopted by the Council in Nov 2005.  All consultation on the Island Plan Core Strategy has been carried out in accordance with the SCI and this will continue over future stages of the Plan.

 

FINANCIAL/BUDGET IMPLICATIONS

 

9.                  The Island Plan has so far been produced by the use of Planning Delivery Grant (PDG) monies and existing staff resources.  Failure to meet the timescales and key milestones agreed with government for the Plan will more than likely result  in loss of future PDG monies from government.

 

LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

 

10.             The Council are required under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act  2004 to produce a Local Development Framework.

 

OPTIONS/RISK ASSESSMENT

 

11.             Option 1:  To agree the draft Core Strategy for public consultation.

 

12.             This will enable the Council to progress the Island Plan in line with the agreed timetable.  It will ensure the authority maximise receipt of PDG monies for plan making and ensure a early replacement of the UDPs strategic policy guidance.

 

13.             Option 2:  To delay the draft Core strategy for further consideration.

 

14.             Any delay in the agreed timetable with government will impact on future PDG monies and could result in future delays for other parts of the process including any public examination.  This would ultimately result in the Island Plan taking longer for the Council to adopt therefore relying on the UDP for ongoing strategic policy guidance. 

 

 

RECOMMENDATIONS

 

15.             To agree the Draft Core Strategy at Appendix A for formal public consultation.

 

BACKGROUND PAPERS

 

16.             Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004

 

17.             Island Plan Local Development Scheme, April 2005.

 

18.             Issues and Options Report, IW Council, September 2005.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

19.             None.

 

Contact Point :     Ashley Curzon,ext: 5557.

 

ANDREW ASHCROFT

Head of Planning Services

CLLR I WARD

Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport and Planning