The Chelmsford City Council Duty to Co-operate Scoping Report was available for focused consultation from 9 July to 21 August 2015.  As a neighbouring local planning authority Brentwood Borough Council has a legal duty to cooperate on planning matters of cross-boundary significance. 

The Scoping Report identifies potential cross boundary strategic matters associated with Chelmsford’s next Local Plan.  It also identifies authorities and bodies that the City Council will need to co-operate with and explains the methods that may be used to engage with these bodies.

The report provided a summary of the Duty to Co-operate Scoping Report aims and sets out Brentwood Borough Council’s proposed response.  A response was submitted in August to meet the consultation deadline subject to the approval of Committee.

A motion was MOVED by Councillor McCheyne and SECONDED by Councillor Trump to agree the recommendation in the report.

A vote was taken by a show of hands and it was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY that: 

1.    The response to the Chelmsford City Council Duty to Co-operate Scoping Report July 2015 consultation as set out in Appendix A of the report was approved.

REASON FOR RECOMMENDATION:

The response set out that Brentwood Borough Council support the approach Chelmsford City Council had taken with regard to the scope of the consultation document.  In particular we welcomed setting out co-operation methods to engage with relevant authorities/bodies on each of the strategic matters identified.

Responses to each of the 15 questions be provided, including suggestions for how the Scoping Report could be improved and issues that required further discussion.

The Council will continue to engage with Chelmsford City Council as progress our Local Plans.

(Cllr Morrissey declared a non pecuniary interest due under the Council Code of Conduct by virtue of her employment at local Estate Agents).