Decision Details

Motion G

 Proposer:  Councillor Barber

Motion that

This Council notes that:
 
- In a recent planning appeal decision, the inspector concluded that “Colchester Borough Council cannot demonstrate a five-year supply of deliverable housing sites."
 
- A lack of five-year supply would put the Council and the Borough at risk of speculative planning applications being permitted at appeal and highlights the importance of having a new, valid Local Plan.
 
Given that Colchester Borough Council’s 5 year supply is now being challenged, the lack of unanimity on and belief in the suitability of the current proposals in Section 1 of the emerging local plan by council members, it is resolved by this Council that:
 
- Officers are instructed to develop, with immediate effect, a contingency Plan B to the current proposals in Section 1 of the emerging local plan.
 
- This Plan B will go through the necessary local plan procedures and, if agreed by the Local Plan Committee and/or Full Council, be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate and the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government if the current plans in Section 1 of the emerging Local Plan are found to be unsound. This will ensure communities across the borough are protected from speculative development.
 
- That a copy of this motion is sent to all three Colchester Borough MPs, the Planning Inspectorate and the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government by signature of the Leader of the Council

As the motion relates to a non-executive function, it will be considered and determined at the meeting.