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Agenda item

Proposals for a Strategic Development Plan (SDP) for the Cardiff Capital Region

Minutes:

The Group Manager Development sought authorisation to formally commence the preparation of a Strategic Development Plan (SDP) for the Cardiff Capital Region, with the Vale of Glamorgan Council being Responsible Authority; to identify the strategic planning area as the 10 local planning authority areas within the Cardiff Capital Region, for relevant officers to engage with the Welsh Government in drafting the Strategic Development Plan Regulations to deliver the governance arrangements for the SDP and Strategic Planning Panel (SPP); to agree that the cost of preparing the SDP is shared across the 10 Authorities on a proportional cost based on SPP voting arrangements, which is reviewed annually, and to cover the start-up costs likely to be incurred in this financial year 2019/20 and nnominate an elected Member to sit on the Strategic Planning Panel. 

 

He reported that Council at its meeting on 28 February 2018, authorised officers to proceed with the preparation of the SDP in conjunction with the 10 Local Planning Authorities in the Cardiff Capital Region.  He stated that at this stage the guidance and regulations for the SDP have not been made and the region is in a position to influence how the process can be managed and a successful SDP delivered.  A preferred way forward has been identified in respect of the Strategic Planning Area Boundary; Governance and Scope, Content and Plan Period. 

 

The Group Manager Development reported on the need for joined-up strategic planning for the Cardiff Capital Region and that the best way for achieving this is via a statutory Strategic Development Plan for the Cardiff Capital Region.  He stated that the City Deal Agreement gave a commitment to prepare a Strategic Development Plan for the region and to work collaboratively on strategic transport and strategic planning issues, which reflects the recommendation from the Growth Commission’s report.  A statutory SDP provides certainty to developers, investors and communities that key strategic decisions around housing, transport, employment and infrastructure provision are being taken at an appropriate regional level, whilst still allowing key decisions on planning proposals to be taken locally through Local Development Plan allocations and policies and thereafter in development management decisions.  He stated that a proposal to proceed with an SDP for the Cardiff Capital Region can only be put forward to Welsh Government by an identified Responsible Authority, once all Councils have formally given approval.  Following this the Welsh Government can start preparing the necessary regulations setting out how the SDP should be prepared.

 

The Group Manager Development reported on the role of the responsible authority which is purely administrative, acting in support of the work of the 10 local authorities and as the sole point of contact between the Welsh Government and the 10 local authorities.  The background work, including all technical work and consultation, e.g. identifying the strategic planning boundary, would be done on a collective basis by officers from all 10 Local Authorities.  The role of the Responsible Authority would be to formally submit the proposal on behalf of the whole region to Welsh Government. 

 

He informed Council that consideration has been given by the 10 unitary authorities as to the boundary of the Strategic Planning Area and whether the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority should be included.  The Brecon Beacons National Park Authority has indicated that it agrees with this approach and does not wish to be part of the Strategic Planning Area or covered by the SDP.

 

The Group Manager Development reported on the Governance and Strategic Planning Panel, the governance model represents a transfer of strategic planning powers from local authorities to a Strategic Planning Panel.  He stated that voting on the SPP would be weighted having regard to the size of the population of the constituent authorities and also having regard to the geographical area of the authority.  Bridgend would have 1 member on the SPP but would have 2 votes.  There would need to be a gender balance with no more than 60% of the Panel comprising one gender, except where the make-up of constituent local planning authorities makes the composition requirements unachievable.  He also highlighted the engagement process with constituent councils, in that there will be formal stages of consultation in addition to continuous informal involvement throughout the preparation of the SDP.  It was likely that the process would mirror that of the Local Development Plan.  He stated that standing orders will require a 70% quorum of voting members on the Panel and decisions shall require a 70% majority vote of a quorate meeting.

 

He reported on a proposal for interim governance prior to the establishment of the SPP and that each Council would nominate a Member, ideally the relevant Cabinet Member to represent it on an Interim SPP with delegated authority to take initial decisions on the preparation of the SDP.  He outlined the scope, content and plan period of the SDP, with the period to run from 2020 – 2040.  He outlined the office and financial resources that will be required, with the estimated cost of preparing an SDP with a designated team being £3.14m over 5 years.  The cost of preparing individual LDPs across the region would cost between £1.4m and £2.2m.  It was proposed to share the cost of preparing the SDP across the 10 authorities, the annual cost to this Council would be £54,636, with the total cost to the Council being £273,180.  He stated that in order to proceed, all 10 Councils must first agree to embark on preparing a SDP for the Cardiff Capital Region, which includes starting work on the evidence base as soon as possible, publishing aPreferred Strategy in 2022, a Deposit Plan in 2023 and Examination then Adoption in 2024/25.

 

A member of Council questioned the weighting of votes given to Monmouthshire as 3 votes when it is the least deprived and one of the lesser populated authorities.  The Group Manager Development informed Council that Monmouthshire is strategically placed and is anticipated there would be pressure for growth.  The Leader confirmed that there is likely to be considerable pressure on Monmouthshire for development and stated that each authority would be represented on the Panel by one member, with a shared and ambitious vision for the Region.       

 

RESOLVED:            That Council:

 

(1)  Agreed the content of the report and agreed that the Responsible Authority be authorised to submit the Proposal for a Strategic Development Plan for the Cardiff Capital Region to the Minister on behalf of the 10 Local Planning Authorities in the region.

 

(2)  Agreed that the Vale of Glamorgan Council to be the Responsible Authority for the Cardiff Capital Region Strategic Development Plan.

 

(3)  Agreed that 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 to the report.

 

(4)  Agreed that relevant officers 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:

 

(i)             That the Strategic Planning Panel will be comprised of 10 Members, one from each constituent Local Authority with the weighting of votes for each constituent Local Authority being based on its population and geographical area as follows:

 

Local Authority

No. of Members on the Strategic Planning Panel

Weighting of Vote for Constituent LA

Blaenau Gwent

1

1

Bridgend

1

2

Caerphilly

1

3

Cardiff

1

5

Merthyr Tydfil

1

1

Monmouthshire

1

3

Newport

1

2

Rhondda Cynon Taff

1

3

Torfaen

1

1

Vale of Glamorgan

1

2

Total

10

23

Nominated non-voting Panel Members

5

N

 

(ii)            That constituent Councils will be engaged through a prior consultation process as set out in Figure 1 and the Strategic Planning Panel shall have full regard to the comments of constituent Councils;

 

(iii)        That decisions made on the Strategic Development Plan by the Strategic Planning Panel shall require a 70% quorum of voting Members on the Panel and decisions shall require a 70% majority vote of a quorate meeting.

 

(5)  Agreed to the setting up of an Interim Strategic Planning Panel prior to the formal establishment of the Strategic Planning Panel and that the Cabinet Member Communities be the nominated Member to represent the 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 6(i)) and thereafter on the Strategic Planning Panel.

 

6)    Agreed that in the event that Member is no longer able to sit on Interim Strategic Planning Panel, delegated powers be granted to the Chief Executive, following consultation with the Leader of the Council, to nominate a new Member to represent the Council on the Interim Strategic Planning Panel and Strategic Planning Panel.

 

(7) Agreed that a Regional Strategic Development Plan Officer Team be established to progress the preparation of the Strategic Development Plan to be appointed by representatives of the Interim Strategic Planning Panel, with appropriate human resource support from the Responsible Authority.

 

(8) Agreed that the cost of preparing the Strategic Development Plan be shared across the 10 Authorities on a proportional cost based on the voting representation on the Strategic Planning Panel, to be reviewed on an annual basis, and an initial contribution of £50,005 be paid to cover the start-up costs likely to be incurred in this financial year 2019/20 as indicated above unless funding is made available from Welsh Government Sources.      

      

Supporting documents:

 

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