Issue - meetings

The Cabinet gave consideration to a report of the Deputy Chief Executive, People and Place which sought approval of the update to and publication of the council’s Local Development Scheme (LDS) 2021.

The council was required to prepare a Local Plan to ensure the Borough had an up-to-date and comprehensive planning framework to support the borough’s economic, environmental and social objectives.

The Local Development Scheme (LDS) was the project plan for the Local Plan. It set out details and timetables about the planning documents we will prepare, including:

• Oldham’s Local Plan (incorporating site allocations); and

• Places for Everyone Joint Development Plan Document for 9 Greater Manchester Local Authorities (Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan)

This update had been prepared to amend references from GMSF to Places for Everyone (PfE), reflect the revised timeline for PfE and the review of Oldham’s Local Plan. This update (‘Issue 12’) was effective from 3 August 2021.

The Cabinet Member for Housing advised Cabinet that there was a slight amendment to the report and timetable. to amend the Places for Everyone Profile - Timetable (page 18) as follows:

-          Examination – ‘2022/23’ added

-          Adoption – ‘December 2022’ deleted and replaced with ‘2023’

Reason: to ensure the Places for Everyone timetable aligns with that presented in the Places for Everyone Joint Committee report (paragraph 3.7) and agreed at the Places for Everyone Joint Committee on 20 July 2021.

Options/alternatives considered

Option 1 - To approve and publish the Local Development Scheme 2021. Advantages – updating the LDS means that people would have certainty over the timetable for preparing our planning documents; national planning guidance and legislation requires the preparation of a LDS and that it must be kept up to date. Disadvantages – there were no disadvantages to updating the LDS.

Option 2 - Not to approve and publish the Local Development Scheme 2021. Advantages – there are no advantages in not updating the LDS. Disadvantages – not approving the LDS means that people will have less certainty and confidence in our planning documents coming forward; not updating the LDS means the Council will not be in line with national planning guidance and legislation.

RESOLVED – That the Local Development Scheme 2021 be approved and published with effect from 3 August 2021.