Issue - meetings

Reporting Person – Beverley Kuchar

The Executive RESOLVED

That the timescales set out in the Local Development Scheme (LDS) be noted and supported.

Reason:   To confirm the Council’s commitment to preparing a new local plan and publish information on when the key stages of new plan preparation will take place.

The Executive received a report which set out the timetable for producing a new local plan for the Woking Borough Council area.  Councillor Lyons, Portfolio Holder for Planning Policy, advised that the Council’s existing local plan was due to expire in 2027.  It was noted that the Environment and Place Scrutiny Committee had considered the report at its meeting on 3 December 2024 under its remit for pre-decision scrutiny.  The Scrutiny Committee had discussed whether new planning regulations would influence the Council’s work on its new local plan, to which Officers had advised that the evidence gathered would still be useful.

Following a question, Officers advised that it would not be possible to adopt a new local plan until 2028 due to revised transition provisions within the new government’s proposals.  It was further asked how the government white paper on devolution, due to be published in December, would impact on the local plan.  It was commented that a significant number of houses would need to be delivered, along with evidence to provide justification, no matter what happened regarding local government reorganisation.  It was confirmed that work carried out now would not be abortive.

RESOLVED

That the timescales set out in the Local Development Scheme (LDS) be noted and supported.

Reason:   To confirm the Council’s commitment to preparing a new local plan and publish information on when the key stages of new plan preparation will take place.