Issue - decisions

          The Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, Sustainability, and Transport and the Head of Planning, Regulatory Services, Heritage and Libraries submitted a joint report concerning the Council’s formal adoption of the Swindon Borough Local Plan for the period to 2026.

          Councillor Dale Heenan, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, Sustainability, and Transport, explained that the Local Plan was the principal development plan document for the Borough, identifying how much new development would take place, and when, where and how it should occur. He referred to the all-party working that had assisted in the preparation of the Plan and to the consensus that had been achieved with local developers on its contents. He explained the procedure associated with the preparation and approval of the Plan, and the process that would be followed following its formal adoption by the Council. A special Council meeting was to be held on 26^th March 2015 for this purpose.

          Councillor Garry Perkins, Cabinet Member for the Economy, Regeneration, and Skills welcomed the report and referred to its significance for Swindon and its future development. He commented on the allocation within the Plan of employment land and the flexibility that existed in how this might be used to support and grow the local economy.

Councillor Stan Pajak, Leader of the Minority Group on the Council, expressed his support for the Plan and welcomed the all-party approach that had assisted its preparation. He noted the way in which the proposed 9,000 house Eastern Villages project had been dealt with involving the Borough, local parishes, residents and developers, and believed that this was a demonstration of the Council’s One Swindon principles in action.

Councillor Russell Holland, Cabinet Member for Finance, expressed his support for the Plan and referred to the collaborative working that had been undertaken to produce a Local Plan that had required few changes from the Planning Inspector.

          Resolved – That the Council be recommended to –

          (a) Adopt the ‘Swindon Borough Local Plan 2026’, as set out in Appendices 2b and 4 to the joint report.

          (b) Authorise the Head of Planning, Regulatory Services, Heritage and Libraries to make the ‘Swindon Borough Local Plan 2026’ publically available, together with the Sustainability Appraisal report, as set out in Appendix 3 to the joint report, in accordance with the arrangements detailed at paragraph 3.15 of that joint report.

          (c) Authorise the Head of Planning, Regulatory Services, Heritage and Libraries, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, Sustainability, and Transport, and the Director of Law and Democratic Services, to make minor non-material changes to the content of the Swindon Borough Local Plan 2026, prior to publication.

          The reasons for the decision and alternative options are as set out in the report to the meeting.