Agenda and draft minutes

RLDP Steering Group - Tuesday, 19th December, 2023 10.00 am

Venue: Virtual

Items
No. Item

18.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

To receive disclosures of personal interest from Members in accordance with the Code of Conduct

 

Note:

 

1.      Members are requested to identify the item number and subject matter that their interest relates to and signify the nature of the personal interest: and

2.   Where Members withdraw from a meeting as a consequence of the  disclosure of a prejudicial interest, they must notify the Chairman when they leave.

 

Minutes:

In accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct, there were no declarations made pertaining to the agenda

 

19.

MINUTES pdf icon PDF 186 KB

To receive the minutes of the RLDP meeting held on the 14th March 2023 as an accurate reflection of the discussions.

Minutes:

RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the RLDP Members Steering Group on the 14th March 2023 as an accurate reflection of the meeting.

 

20.

UPDATE ON THE REVISED LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022-2037

To receive an update on the preparation of the Revised Local Development Plan (RLDP), including the Preferred Strategy and it’s proposed consultation.    

 

Minutes:

The Development Services Manager (Planning Policy) served to remind Members of the RLDP Steering Group of the background to the revised LDP and preferred strategy. He advised that the current LDP has a plan period of 2006 to 2021, with the Revised LDP (RLDP) for the period 2022 to 2037, however, the current LDP remains in force until the RLDP is adopted (which is timetabled for early 2026).

The Development Services Manager (Planning Policy) commented that the Preferred Strategy is the first formal stage of publication of the RLDP process.  It sets out the key Issues, Vision, Objectives and strategy options; before presenting a ‘Preferred Strategy’. He added that following the many Members Steering Groups to date, the Preferred Strategy has now been formulated, putting together all the above stages/elements that have previously been discussed in the meetings.

He concluded that the Preferred Strategy for the Revised Local Development Plan (RLDP) 2022 – 2037, will be presented to Full Council at its meeting on the 17th January 2024 and will and seek Council’s approval to carry out a statutory six week public consultation on the RLDP Preferred Strategy.

 

21.

+`PRESENTATION ON THE KEY ELEMENTS OF THE PREFERRED STRATEGY

To receive a presentation on the key elements of the Preferred Strategy.

Minutes:

The Planning Policy Manager and the Planning Policy Team Leader provided an overview of the key points contained within the Power Point presentation under the following headings:

 

 

Ø  The Revised Local Development (RLDP) Preferred Strategy

Ø  RLDP Objectives

Ø  The Settlement Hierarchy

Ø  Growth Options

Ø  Spatial Strategy Options

Ø  The Strategy

Ø  The Strategy Delivery –Housing & Employment

Ø  Sustainable Communities Strategy in the Northern Strategy Area (NSA)

Ø  Sustainable Growth in the Southern Strategy Area (SSA)

Ø  Preferred Strategy – Key Diagram

Ø  Strategic Policies

Ø  Candidate Sites & Evidence Base

Ø  Questions

 

 

Issues, Vision and Objectives

The Planning Policy Manager advised that a suite of issues has been identified, which are shown in detail in the full Preferred Strategy and he explained how  the identification of these issues was achieved, through multiple stages, public engagement, consultation with the LDP Forum, the Housing Stakeholder group, the RLDP Members Steering group and the Council’s internal officer working group. The statutory Integrated Sustainability Appraisal (ISA) also informed the preparation of the stages of the Vision, Objectives, Preferred Strategy and its Strategic Policies.

The Planning Policy Manager set out the following Vision which has been identified for the RLDP;

The Vision by 2037 is for a more resilient and sustainable RCT:

An area of sustainable, cohesive communities, who are healthy, well connected and who have equal access to high quality homes, jobs, services and facilities.

An area more resilient and considerate to the challenges of climate change with protected and enhanced biodiversity and green spaces and a well-connected sustainable transport system.

An area with a diverse and healthy economy, supported by vibrant and viable town centres and a flourishing tourism sector. 

A RCT that celebrates its heritage and is resilient for the future.

The Planning Policy Manager set out the 18 objectives for Members information that have then been identified.

The Revised LDP Settlement Hierarchy

The Planning Policy Manager commented that a key part of the RLDP process is to undertake a Settlement Assessment that informs the identification of a Settlement Hierarchy. This should ensure that the scale of developments are focussed in those places where they can be best accommodated and serviced, in line with the scale of the existing settlements. He explained that the hierarchy has for the most part remained unchanged from the current LDP; with evidence continuing to indicate that there is no individual settlement in the Rhondda area, that is of a necessary large scale, to be identified as a Principal Settlement. However, one outcome of the Settlement Assessment indicates the need for Pontyclun to now form part of the Principal Settlement of Llantrisant/Talbot Green due to the physical interrelationships and social and economic dependencies between them. Aberdare and Pontypridd will remain as the other Principal Settlements.

Growth Options

Members were advised that a Demographic Evidence report has been prepared which sets out a range of growth scenarios; both demographic/housing and employment based. The Planning Policy Manager commented that the preferred growth option for the RLDP/Preferred Strategy is  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.