Agenda item

Council were presented with a report to seek agreement to be part of the Cardiff Capital Region Strategic Development Plan and the associated governance, funding and staffingresource.

Surprise was highlighted around the weighted panel and the effect on the voting process.  It was explained that there had been considerable debate at regional cabinet and the weighting will give MCC a good opportunity to have a say in final decisions. 

We heard the National Framework Development is in draft form and as it stands would not be in favour of us having a new settlement, and we would want to submit a strong consultation response.

The Head of Place Shaping, Housing and Flood noted concerns of Members and added that a paper will be brought to October Council to agree MCC response to the consultation.

It was explained that the Strategic Development Plan would provide better opportunity to consult on the level of housing than we currently have.  We would be part of the decision making process on what level of housing we have for our County. 

Current local development plans do not have the ability to recommend and bring forward a new settlement.  A joint LDP with another authority would provide the ability of recommending a new settlement.  The SDP does have the ability to bring forward new settlements. 

Reference was made to the effect on residents in the Brecon Beacons National Park area, and that the whole of Monmouthshire should be included within the SDP.

Upon being put to the vote Council resolved to accept the recommendations:

1. That Monmouthshire County Council endorses the content of the report at Appendix 1 and agrees that the Responsible Authority be authorised to submit the Proposal for a Strategic Development Plan (SDP) for the Cardiff Capital Region to the Minister on behalf of the 10 Local Planning Authorities in the region.

2. That Monmouthshire County Council endorses the Vale of Glamorgan Council as the Responsible Authority for the Cardiff Capital Region Strategic Development Plan (SDP).

3. That Monmouthshire County Council endorses the strategic planning area should comprise the 10 local planning authority areas within the Cardiff Capital Region as shown on the map at Appendix A.

4. That Monmouthshire County Council authorises relevant officers to engage with the Welsh Government in drafting the Strategic Development Plan Regulations to deliver the following governance arrangements for the SDP and Strategic Planning Panel (SPP):

     i.        That the Strategic Planning Panel (SPP) will be comprised of 10 Members, 1 from each constituent Local Authority with the weighting of votes for each constituent Local Authority being based on its population and geographical area as set out in the table below:

ii. That constituent Councils will be engaged through a prior consultation process as set out in Figure 1 of Appendix 1 and the SPP shall have full regard to the comments of constituent Councils.

iii. That decisions made on the SDP by the SPP shall require a 70% quorum of voting Members on the Panel and decisions shall require a 70% majority vote of a quorate meeting.

5. That Monmouthshire County Council endorses the setting up of an Interim Strategic Planning Panel prior to the formal establishment of the SPP and the nominated Member below represents Monmouthshire County Council on the Interim Strategic Planning Panel with delegated authority to take initial decisions on the preparation of the SDP (with a vote weighted in accordance with the table at Recommendation 4(i)) and thereafter on the Strategic Planning Panel. Monmouthshire County Council nominates Councillor Bob Greenland, Cabinet Member for Innovation, Enterprise and Leisure, Monmouthshire County Council

That in the event that Councillor Greenland is no longer able to sit on Interim Strategic Planning Panel, give delegated authority to the Leader of the Council to nominate a new Member to represent to Council on the Interim Strategic Planning Panel and Strategic Planning Panel.

6. That a Regional SDP officer team is established to progress the preparation of the SDP to be appointed by representatives of Interim Strategic Planning Panel, with appropriate human resource support from the Responsible Authority.

7. That the cost of preparing the SDP is shared across the 10 Authorities on a proportional cost based on the voting representation on the Strategic Planning Panel, as set out in Appendix F, to be reviewed on an annual basis. This comprises an initial contribution for 2019/20 from Monmouthshire of £6,520, and an annual contribution by Monmouthshire for the following five years of approximately £81,891 per annum. That Monmouthshire’s Medium Term Financial Plan be amended to cover these costs as follows:

2019/20 £6,520 funded by current Planning Policy budget N130

2020/21 c.£81,891 as an addition to the MTFP

2021/22 c.£81,891 as an addition to the MTFP

2022/23 c.£81,891 funded by current Planning Policy budget N130*

2023/24 c.£81,891 funded by current Planning Policy budget N130*

*in-budget funding is possible once work on the replacement LDP is completed

                                                          County Councillor S. Jones left at 17:45pm