Issue - meetings

To consider approving the publication and consultation of the draft version of a new Local Plan for Oldham.

The Cabinet considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) which sought permission to approve the publication and consultation of the draft version of a new Local Plan for Oldham (referred to as the Draft Local Plan in this report).

The council was required to prepare a Local Plan to ensure that it has an up-to-date and comprehensive planning framework to support the borough’s economic, environmental and social objectives. Oldham’s Local Plan will guide development in the borough up to 2039. Once adopted, it would replace the current Local Plan (the Joint Core Strategy and Development Management Policies DPD) which was adopted in November 2011 and any saved older planning policies from the Unitary Development Plan (UDP) 2006.

The Draft Local Plan follows on from public consultations that were carried out on the Issues and Options for a new Local Plan in Summer 2021. It builds also upon the comments the authority has received and has been informed by on-going studies and pieces of evidence that have been completed since the Issues and Options consultation. The Draft Local Plan is accompanied by an Integrated Assessment (IA), which incorporates the Sustainability Appraisal and Strategic Environmental Assessment, an Equalities Impact Assessment (EqIA) and Health Impact Assessment (HIA), and by a Habitat Regulations Assessment. The Draft Local Plan and associated appendices, IA, IA Scoping Report Update, HRA, Consultation Statement and Issues and Options Comments and Response Schedule are attached at Appendix 1 to 8. Approval is sought to publish and consult on the Draft Local Plan and supporting documents, with consultation commencing no earlier than 10 January 2024 for six weeks. Note, following approval there may be further formatting amendments made to the documents to address accessibility requirements prior to publication for consultation.

Topic Papers on key themes and the Site Allocations Background Paper will also be published alongside the Draft Local Plan and accompanying documents. These topic/background papers helped to explain the current guidance and requirements and pull together the evidence available.

The Cabinet was informed that the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) set out the framework for the preparation of a Local Plan, with paragraph 16 stating that plans should be:

• prepared with the objective of contributing to the achievement of sustainable development;

• be prepared positively, in a way that is aspirational but deliverable;

• be shaped by early, proportionate and effective engagement between plan makers and communities, local organisations, businesses, infrastructure providers and operators and statutory consultees;

• contain policies that are clearly written and unambiguous, so it is evident how a decision maker should react to development proposals;

• be accessible, through the use of digital tools, to assist public involvement and policy presentation;

• serve a clear purpose, avoiding unnecessary duplication of policies that apply to a particular area (including policies in this Framework, where relevant).

In considering the report, Cabinet was advised that the Place, Economic Growth and Environment Scrutiny Board, at its meeting held 6^th December 2023 had considered this  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9

The Deputy Chief Executive (Place) provided the Scrutiny Board with an overview of the Council’s Emergency Plan. Feedback and comments on the report were welcomed in addition to advice on how to raise both engagement with members and awareness of Emergency Plan Training, that was scheduled to be held in January 2024.

This annual report provided an update on the current emergency response on-call structures and potential areas to review. The keys areas reviewed include Emergency Planning Structure, current on call structures for Gold, Silver and Bronze Officers, possible changes to Gold, Silver and Bronze Structures from January 2024, a summary of incidents in 2023, completed training 2023 and planned training 2024.

Members of the Board noted that a training session was scheduled for early 2024. The Chair suggested that training on Emergency Planning be made mandatory for all members.

Resolved:

1.    The Scrutiny Board note the Emergency Plan.

2.    The Board recommend that Emergency Plan Training be made mandatory to all members.