Issue - meetings

Executive Summary

This report covers the requirement to review the Planning Policy & Built Heritage Working Party ‘Terms of Reference’ and to agree appropriate governance arrangements for the preparation of the Local Plan review under the new Local Plan making system.

Options considered

1)    Establish a ‘Local Plan & Conservation Task Group’

2)    Exclude Conservation, Landscape and Design oversight from the proposed new governance arrangements to focus solely on the Local Plan

3)    Continue with the direct approach of taking all decisions to Cabinet.

Consultation(s)

Portfolio Holder for Planning & Enforcement

Recommendations

That Cabinet agrees to:

1)    Replace the current Planning Policy & Built Heritage Working Party with a new Local Plan & Conservation Task Group

2)    Adopt the Local Plan & Conservation Task Group ‘Terms of Reference’

      and recommend that Full Council:

1)    Approves changes to the overall Committee seat allocations, ensuring that political balance rules are reflected.

2)    Approves any consequential changes to the Constitution arising from the establishment of the new Local Plan & Conservation Task Group

3)    Receives nominations from the Group Leaders to appoint Members and substitutes to the Task Group (in line with recommendation 3 above).

Reasons for recommendations

To recognise the requirements and statutory obligations of the new planning system, as introduced through the 2023 Levelling Up and Regeneration Act and the 2025 Planning and Infrastructure Act, and to provide appropriate governance arrangements for Member engagement and decision making in producing a new Local Plan.

Background papers

Plan-making regulations explainer - GOV.UK

This explains the emerging regulations for the new plan-making system. 

Wards affected

All

Cabinet member(s)

Cllr Andrew Brown

Contact Officer

David Glason, Assistant Director for Planning david.glason@north-norfolk.gov.uk