PAPER B

         

  Purpose : for Decision

 

REPORT TO THE CABINET

 

Date:           9 JANUARY 2007

 

Title:            ISLAND PLAN – TO AGREE THE BAY AREA ACTION PLAN OPTIONS          FOR CONSULTATION

 

        REPORT OF THE CABINET MEMBER FOR ASSETS, PLANNING AND         HOUSING

 

IMPLEMENTATION DATE : 19 JANUARY 2007

PURPOSE

 

1.                  To agree the Island Plan Bay Area Action Plan Options paper for consultation.

 

BACKGROUND

 

2.                  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.

 

3.                  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 was the Island Plan Core Strategy, setting the strategic vision for the Island over the next 20 years.  The next stage is to develop an Area Action Plan for the Bay area (The Bay AAP).

 

4.                  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 Island Plan.  Their first task for the Bay AAP was to agree an Issues paper for public consultation (3rd July – 18th Aug 2006).  Following consideration of the comments received from this process the Task Group have now produced a draft Options paper which is intended for formal public consultation over 6 weeks beginning on 22nd January 2007 until 5th March 2007.

 

5.                  The Option Report has been subject to a Sustainability Appraisal against the sustainability criteria set by the SA process and a consultation on this document will run at the same time.

 

6.                  The options document will include policy and delivery options for the Character areas identified within the Bay and the delivery policy and proposal options for economic growth and diversity; tourism development; quality design and public realm.

It will also provide some site specific options for the following:

 

Spa area

Yaverland Seafront and Car Park areas

Shanklin Quarter

Spithead Employment area

Broadway Area

A series of opportunities for public realm enhancement opportunities.

 

As well as sites that may be proposed through the consultation process.  The draft options paper is appended as Appendix A to this report.

 

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.

 

9.                  The results of the issues consultation form part of the formal evidence base for the Bay AAP (Regulation 25 Consultation Statement) (www.iwight.com/islandplan Bay AAP page).  The Regulation 25 Statement details the consultation that was undertaken and summarises the main issues raised. 

 

10.             The draft options report has also be taken to the Bay Steering Group and the Island Plan Task Group for feedback, prior to going to Cabinet in January.

 

FINANCIAL/BUDGET IMPLICATIONS

 

11.             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.  The consultation and document production is budgeted for in the Planning Policy Budget.

 

12.             Delivery of regeneration may require pump prime funding, to be agreed at a later date.

 

LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

 

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

 

EVALUATION/RISK MANAGEMENT

 

14.             Any risk is only associated with meeting the milestones as set out in our Local Development Scheme, and this is low risk if Option 1 is agreed.

 

15.             The Bay AAP is fully project planned and managed to meet the milestones, and the LPA is currently the only one with the GOSE region that has not had to review its LDS because of delays in process.

 

16.             Not meeting our agreed milestones will result in the Island Plan element of Planning Delivery Grant being halved.

 

OPTIONS

 

17.             Option 1:  To agree the Bay AAP Options Report for public consultation.

 

18.             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 an early replacement some of the UDP’s policy guidance.

 

19.             Option 2:  To delay the Bay AAP Options Report for further consideration.

 

20.             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. 

 

21.             Further consideration of the options can in any case be done through the consultation period.

 

RECOMMENDATIONS

 

22.             To agree the Bay Area Action Plan Options Report in Appendix  A for formal public consultation.

 

BACKGROUND PAPERS

 

23.             Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004

 

24.             Island Plan Local Development Scheme, April 2005.

 

25.             Bay AAP Issues Report, IW Council, July 2006.

 

26.             Regulation 25 Consultation Statement, IW Council, August 2006

 

APPENDICES ATTACHED

 

27.             Appendix A – Preferred Options Report

 

 

Contact Point: Ashley Curzon, Acting Head of Regeneration, 821000 ext: 5557, email

                       [email protected]

 

 

DEREK ROWELL

Director of Economic Development and Regeneration

COUNCILLOR GEORGE BROWN

Cabinet Member for  Assets, Planning and Housing