Agenda item

A report from the Director of Place Shaping and Enterprise is attached. This seeks endorsement for the Core Strategy, along with additional Minor and Further Minor Changes put forward by the Council during the examination process. The report recommends that the Core Strategy be formally adopted by the Council at its meeting on 10 November 2010. (Key decision – reference number 3159)

Note: Members are asked to refer to the supporting documents circulated under separate cover to the agenda.

(Report No.96)

(8.20 – 8.35pm)

Councillor Del Goddard (Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Improving Localities) introduced the report of the Director of Place Shaping and Enterprise (No.96) seeking endorsement of the Core Strategy, along with additional Minor Changes put forward by the Council during the examination process, for recommendation to full Council at its meeting on 10 November 2010.

Councillor Goddard expressed his thanks and appreciation to all officers who had been involved in the significant and lengthy process of producing the Core Strategy for Enfield. It was recognised that the process had started under the previous Council administration.

NOTED

1.         the importance and significance of the Core Strategy and its influence on many aspects of the Council’s work. The Core Strategy had been through the process of public examination and Members could now either adopt or reject the Strategy. The Planning Inspector had concluded that the Core Strategy was sound;

2.         Joanne Woodward, Planning Policy Team Leader, was invited to give a presentation to Members on the Adoption of the Core Strategy. The process which had been followed and the future work to be carried out were highlighted for Members. The following areas were covered:

·        The Planning System

·        The Enfield Local Development Framework: Relationship of Component Documents

·        The next 12+ months

·        Development Management Document

·        The Inspector’s Report

·        Relationship with other strategic documents

·        Area Plans and Masterplans

A number of key points arising from the Inspector’s report were outlined to Members. The minor changes which had been put forward had been those requested by the Council, no changes had been imposed by the Inspector.

3.         the supporting documentation which had been received by Members including the Inspector’s Report (Appendix 1), Schedule of Extant UDP Policies (Appendix 2), Minor and Further Minor Changes arising from the Inspector’s report of the Core Strategy, and an Executive Summary of the Spatial Strategy and Core Policies.  Copies of the full Core Strategy were also available to Members.

Councillor Taylor expressed his appreciation of the significant work which had been undertaken to date. The Core Strategy would now go forward to full Council for formal adoption.

Alternative Options Considered: None considered; preparation of the Local Development Framework was a statutory local authority requirement. Having an adopted Core Strategy in place brings greater confidence to both public and private sector agencies and investors, and was essential to support the Council’s corporate objectives.

DECISION: The Cabinet noted the Inspector’s conclusion of a “sound” Core Strategy contained within his report, detailed in Appendix 1 to the report. The Cabinet agreed the Minor and Further Minor Changes appended to the Inspector’s report and an Executive Summary of the final version of the Core Strategy which had been circulated to all Members.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL the formal adoption of the Enfield LDF Core Strategy as consolidated with minor changes and the approval of the Schedule of Extant Unitary Development Plan Policies as set out in Appendix 2 to the report.

Reason: The reasons for the recommendations were detailed in the report.

(Key decision – reference number 3159)