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Apologies were received from Cllrs Cuthbert, Fryd, Laplain, Lewis, Mrs Pearson and Mrs Tierney.

Cllr Mynott disclosed a pecuniary interest as the virtue of living close to the William Hunter Way car park site, an allocation in the Local Development Plan. A dispensation had been issued to Cllr Mynott on this matter. 

Cllr Aspinell MOVED and Cllr Kendall SECONDED a motion to suspended standing orders for the time allocated for members to speak on this item.

A note was taken by a show of hands and the motion was LOST.

The Brentwood Local Plan 2016-2033 is a vitally important document that provides a framework to guide future development in the borough to 2033. The plan sets out an overarching vision and strategic objectives underpinned by policies to manage growth consistent with our “borough of villages” character. It is the blueprint to help physically deliver the council’s corporate priorities and objectives.

The National Planning Policy Framework requires local planning authorities to produce a local plan for their area. The Council has prepared a new plan having undertaken various stages of public consultation through the plan-making process.

The preparation stage of the plan-making process took place between 2009 and 2019, with several Regulation 18 consultations and publication of the plan at Regulation 19 in 2018 followed by further consultation in 2019. The examination stage began in February 2020 when the plan was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate. The examination included hearing sessions held in December 2020, February, March and July 2021. This was followed by a consultation on Potential Main Modifications. The appointed planning inspectors have completed the examination stage by concluding that the plan and modifications recommended in their final report satisfies the requirements of legal compliance and is sound. This means that the council is now able to progress to the final stage of the plan-making process: adoption.

The report recommended that the council adopt the local plan with the main modifications recommended by the inspectors and additional modifications. In addition, there are several other recommendations related to the need to endorse accompanying material as part of the adoption process. One of the required modifications was that the council needs to immediately begin a partial review and update of the plan to account for longer-term growth needs. The timeframes for undertaking this review need to be considered alongside supporting planning policy documents as part of the council’s Local Development Scheme.

Mr Drane presented the report to Members. He thanked the Planning Policy Team and wider range of partners that had contributed to the plan-making process over several years.

A vote of thanks was given by cross-party members to all the officers for the work undertaken on the Local Development Plan.

Some concerns were expressed by members relating to the wider implications of ground floor commercial change of use permitted development, affordable/social housing mix, car parking and the use of Heath Impact Assessments.

The Motion was MOVED by Cllr Hossack and SECONDED by Cllr Bridge.

After a full debate, a vote was taken by a show of hands.

The Motion was CARRIED and it was RESOLVED to:

R1.     Adopt the Brentwood Local Plan 2016-2033 (Appendix A), which incorporates the Main Modifications recommended by the Planning Inspectors (Appendix C) and Additional Modifications (Appendix D). In doing so, this will replace the Brentwood Replacement Local Plan (2005).

R2.     Subject to recommendation 1, that the council endorses the updated Policies Map (Appendix G) in line with the proposed changes (Appendices E and F), which are necessary to give effect to the policies of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 373.

To consider any matter which, by reason of special circumstances to be specified in the minutes of the meeting, the Mayor considers should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency.

There were no items of urgent business.

The Leader concluded by wishes all Members well in the forthcoming elections and to those not standing he thanked them for all their hard work in the Borough over the years.

The meeting ended at 20.08