Issue - meetings

To seek approval to give an additional regulation 18 consultation to include in the Black Country Plan additional Walsall sites.

Resolved:-

(1) That approval be given to an additional Regulation 18 consultation to include in the Black Country Plan the additional Walsall sites.

(2) That approval be given to the approach to the consultation as set out in Appendix A and Sustainability Appraisal Report Appendix B.

(3) That approval be given to update of the Sandwell Local Development Scheme 2021 and updated timeline set out in Appendices C & D.

(4) That the Director for Regeneration and Growth be authorised to make any necessary minor amendments to the Draft Plan and other consultation documents prior to the commencement of the Regulation 18 consultation process.

(5) That the Director for Regeneration and Growth be authorised to make minor changes to the Local Development Scheme that may be required prior to making it available to the Public, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Regeneration & Growth.

                  Approval was sought for Regulation 18 consultation on the additional sites identified in Walsall for the Black Country Plan (BCP) and to seek approval for the updated Local Development Scheme (LDS) and timeline 2022.

                  Reasons for Decision

                  Authorisation was sought to consult on those additional suitable housing sites in Walsall for the Draft Plan version of the Black Country Plan.

                  The next stage was the production of a Regulation 19 plan. By including the sites in the Regulation 19 BC Plan, officers would be closer to meeting the housing need of the Black Country for the period up to 2039. This gave a more robust and sound Plan.

                  Whilst the additional sites only lay in Walsall, similar reports were being taken to the respective Cabinets meetings of Dudley, Walsall and City of Wolverhampton.

                  For these reasons it was recommended that approval to consult on the additional sites identified in Walsall be accepted.

                  Alternative Options Considered

                  If a consultation was not conducted on the additional Walsall sites, the BCP could be found unsound at Examination In Public by the Planning Inspector.

Preparation of a LDS was a requirement of the Planning Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. As such there was no alternative to its preparation.

Agreed:-

(1)     that approval be given to an additional Regulation 18 consultation to include in the Black Country Plan the additional Walsall sites;

(2)     that approval be given to the approach to the consultation as set out in Appendix B and the Sustainability Appraisal Report as now submitted;

(3)     that approval be given to update the Sandwell Local Development Scheme 2021 and updated timeline set out in Appendices C & D;

(4)     that the Director for Regeneration and Growth be authorised to make any necessary minor amendments to the Draft Plan and other consultation documents prior to the commencement of the Regulation 18 consultation process;

(5)     that the Director for Regeneration and Growth be authorised to make minor changes to the Local Development Scheme that may be required prior to making it available to the public, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Regeneration & Growth.