Minutes:
Report presented on behalf of the Strategic Development Planning (SDP) Sub Committee by Councillor Jake Berriman, Chair of the SDP Sub Committee.
Feedback is sought from the CJC members in relation to correspondence (circulated this morning) from the Welsh Government in respect of funding for Strategic Development Plans.
Brief overview
The CJC has an obligation to prepare a Strategic Development Plan across Mid Wales to bring together a plan through the relevant members of the CJC with the constituent Local Authorities and the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority.
The sub-committee met on 14th October and 2nd December. Terms of Reference were agreed and a letter had been written to Julie James, Minister for Climate Change. The letter outlined the position and requested that Powys be permitted to lose its ‘drop dead’ end date in terms of its existing adopted local development plan, so that resources could be set aside for the production of the replacement plan.
In the 2nd December meeting, a response from the Minister advised that the Welsh Government was disinclined to remove Powys’ ‘drop dead’ end date, stating that Powys needed to carry on preparing the local development plan.
Members will be aware regarding cost of the work and an options paper was produced with six options with focus on option 2 which was how to commence the SDP alongside the local development plans.
The Local Authorities are in different positions with Ceredigion and the National Park having suspended their local development plans for a variety of reasons.
Agreed to focus on option 2 with a caveat that the Chair of the SDP would again write to the Minister to highlight the fact the Brecon Beacons National Park is involved in three SDP’s in addition to its own replacement plan and there are no new resources available and that Powys is already committed to a costly replacement plan with no option other than to continue with that provided by the Government.
The CJC Chair wished to note two points –
1. With regards to the letter to Julie James, Minister whilst acknowledging the position the SDP Sub Committee Chair, the Chair recommended that sight of the letter before it was sent would have been useful.
The CJC Chair wishes to be kept informed of any future correspondence to Minister’s from the CJC or any of the Sub Committees
2. With regard to the letter received from the Welsh Government this morning, is there a requirement to reply to that letter from members of the CJC or The Chair?
It was acknowledged that the Chair of the CJC would have a copy of any correspondence in this respect going forward.
It was reported that the pressure is to progress the RTP first before the SDP. The RTP guidance is imminent with the SDP manual forecast by the end of this year.
It is acknowledged that the manual is due at year end and an expectation to have the CJC to sign off a Delivery Agreement with the Welsh Government over the timetable of producing an SDP by the end of the year also.
The Chair of the SDP stresses a further conversation led by the CJC Chair and the Chief Executives is required.
Endorsement noted of comments regarding the timeline and expectations.
Concerns were raised about being asked to provide a system without guidance which is essential for formulating for compliance with the Welsh Government.
The Chair welcomes opinions regarding meeting with Welsh Government and agreed that a meeting needs to be arranged urgently to have the drop-dead date lifted, get clarity on the guidance, expectations of an SDP and how it interlinks with Local Plans.
Eifion Evans, Chief Executive of Ceredigion CC stated it was critical that support be given to Powys to get the drop dead date removed.
The CJC Chair, Vice Chair and BBNP are happy to support.
· ACTION - Chair of the Mid Wales CJC to contact the Minister Julie James to request a meeting to discuss Powys issue with the review of the LDP.
Supporting documents: