Agenda and minutes

Councillors and officers were invited to declare any interests they had in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

The following interests were declared:

Personal interests

There were no call-in items to consider.

To consider a joint report of the Deputy Chief Executive and Assistant Director Place Making and Planning (Chief Planning Officer).

The report sets out details relating to the emerging draft Stockport Local Plan and seeks Cabinet agreement that it be subject to a period of public consultation commencing early September 2024 and continuing into October 2024.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to comment on and note the report.

Officer contact: Richard Wood 07800617505 | richard.wood@stockport.gov.uk

The Deputy Chief Executive and Assistant Director Place Making and Planning (Chief Planning Officer) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated), which set out detail relating to the emerging draft Stockport Local Plan and sought Cabinet agreement that it be subject to a period of public consultation commencing early September 2024 and continuing into October 2024.

The Cabinet Member for Climate Change & Environment (Councillor Mark Roberts) responded to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         The report provided background information to the draft Local Plan for Stockport and an explanation as to proposed next steps for the plan. The emerging draft Stockport Local Plan was at appendix 1 and accompanied by the relevant policies.

·         As part of the plan-making process, local authorities were required to undertake public consultation on their emerging draft local plans under Regulation 18 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012. This was the first of two public consultations local authorities were required to undertake as part of the plan-making process. The draft Stockport Local Plan had now reached this substantive stage of the plan-making process.

·         It was queried, given the recent general election and under the current context of what the new government had set out in relation to housing targets, whether proceeding with the consultation would be appropriate at this time. It was reported that reform of the National Planning Policy Framework was likely.

·         Members were advised that, given the information before them and as no firm detail had been announced by government, it was sensible to move forward with the consultation on the draft Stockport Local Plan in light of the submission deadline of June 2025. Further, that any situation would be dealt with as it arose. It was noted that officers had been in contact with government on the matter but had not received a clear steer on what information would be coming forward.

·         The importance of listening to resident voices on the draft plan was recognised.

·         A concern was raised that the council could consult on a draft plan that was no longer fit for purpose, and that a further Regulation 18 consultation might disenfranchise people. Members were also mindful of member and officer time and resource.

·         It was reiterated that this was not the only opportunity to receive resident feedback, and that feedback from the Regulation 18 consultation would help to shape the Regulation 19 consultation.

·         Members were advised that the plan would help to deliver the homes and infrastructure needed, with Stockport’s brilliant town and district centres at the heart of the plan, alongside climate action and nature.

·         It was noted that the recommendations to Cabinet included a proposed delegation to the Director of Place Management to pause progression of the plan in consultation with the Leader of the Council in the event of significant changes to the national picture.

·         It was clarified that there was no proposal to utilise greenbelt for development in Heald Green.

·         It was asked that advice be sought as to the decision-making process for the final draft Stockport Local Plan at Full Council, namely, the position of councillors that took part in e.g., the consultation and/or work of the Development Plan Working Party in the decision-making process.

·         It was reported that story maps were an intuitive way for residents to be involved in the consultation process and enabling the consultation to be accessible whilst providing the detail needed. It was noted that not all consultation questions were required to be completed, which would support accessibility of the process. Expertise from accessibility colleagues had also been sought and informed work on the consultation process. A variety of methods would be used to consult which included but was not limited to, online information, drop-in events at libraries and the use of digital champions.

·         The council was incredibly proud of the neighbourhood plans in place and recognised some  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.