Issue - meetings

The Portfolio Holder for Finance and Spatial Planning introduced the item, saying that following the second period of public consultation there had been two amendments to the text of the proposed modifications. If all the amendments were agreed by Members then they would be submitted to the Planning Inspector the following day and it was hoped that he would report on the whole Plan by the end of the year.  He confirmed that he would circulate the Inspectors report to all Members when it was received. 

The Principal Spatial Planner outlined the two Main Modifications to the Local Plan which it was proposed to change before submission to the Planning Inspector: the simplification of wording to Main Modification 9 and the early review of Main Modification 12 to be completed within 3 years of adoption of the Local Plan. 

In response to questions from Members, the Principal Spatial Planner advised that:-

·         The Planning Inspector had particularly sought further landscaping protection for the North Eastern development proposal, but not for the Southern development and so to put forward a landscaping protection scheme now would be unjustified and would risk the plan being found unsound.

·         The issue of anthrax was considered by the Planning Inspector but not pursued.  Two investigations had been carried out at identified sites and no anthrax spores had been found therefore further investigation work would be carried out at the development stage in agreement with the landowner and developer.

·         With regard to flooding, there was a requirement that any development should create no greater or lesser impact than at present.

During discussion, some Members urged for the retention of a buffer zone at the southern development in Yeovil, however, the Portfolio Holder reiterated that as the allocation of houses in that area had reduced from 2,500 to 800 it was no longer sustainable to support it.

At the conclusion of the debate, each recommendation was voted in turn and the majority of Members were content to agree the recommendations of the report.