The Chair had agreed to accept this item as urgent business since the deadline for responses to the Castle Point Local Plan public consultation 2018 was 15 August 2018, ie before the next Planning and Licensing Committee meeting.

The report before Members sought approval to respond to Castle Point Borough Council’s Local Plan public consultation (July 2018).

The proposed response on behalf of Brentwood Borough Council supported steps being taken by Castle Point Borough Council to prepare a Local Plan.  The consultation was not supported by a draft document or proposals, rather views were sought on what the content for the Castle Point Local Plan should be.  In light of this limited information, it was proposed that clarification be provided through the Castle Point plan-making process about the strategy for meeting Objectively Assessed Needs in Castle Point Borough over the 5-10 year timeframe planned for the housing policies and allocations.

Both Brentwood Borough Council and Castle Point Borough Council were partners in the Association of South Essex Local Authorities (ASELA).  Both authorities had approved the ASELA Statement of Common Ground, which included a commitment to joint working through the preparation of a Joint Strategic Plan for the sub-region.  The Castle Point Local Plan would be prepared within the context of the South Essex Joint Strategic Plan.

Cllr Ms Sanders MOVED and Cllr McCheyne SECONDED the recommendation in the report and following a discussion a vote was taken on a show of hands and it was

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY

To approve the response to the Castle Point Borough Council Local Plan public consultation (July 2018) as set out in Appendix A to the report.

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The meeting ended at 10.15pm