Issue - meetings

Black Country Plan Draft for Consultation

Meeting: 07/07/2021 - Cabinet (Item 9)

9 Black Country Plan Draft for Consultation pdf icon PDF 291 KB

[To approve public consultation on the Draft Plan version of the Black Country Plan]

Additional documents:

Decision:

1.      That the Draft Black Country Plan, Draft Wolverhampton Policies Map, Sustainability Appraisal Reports, and Wolverhampton Summary Leaflet attached as Appendices 1, 2, 3 and 4 to the report be approved for consultation during summer 2021.

 

2.      That authority be delegated to the Deputy Leader: Inclusive City Economy, in consultation with the Director of Regeneration, to make any necessary minor amendments to the Draft Black Country Plan, Wolverhampton Policies Map, Sustainability Appraisal Reports and Wolverhampton Summary Leaflet prior to commencement of the consultation process.

 

3.      That a further report be presented summarising key issues raised during the consultation, to inform preparation of the Publication Black Country Plan.

 

4.      That the Wolverhampton Local Development Scheme, attached as Appendix 5 to the report be approved.

Minutes:

Councillor Stephen Simkins presented the report seeking approval to consultation on the second formal stage of the Black Country Plan preparation process (the Draft Black Country Plan).  The report contained a summary of the implications for Wolverhampton, an outline of the consultation process and next steps, and sought approval of a new Wolverhampton Local Development Scheme. Councillor Simkins said he encouraged all residents of the city and stakeholders to take up the opportunity during the consultations to have their say on how the city and the Black Country should develop and move forward over the next 10 to 20 years.

 

Councillor Ian Brookfield reported that the Council was an agent of the government on this matter and was required to produce the Plan.  However, targets for the number of homes in the city and across the Black Country were set by the government. Every piece of brownfield land in the city had been included in the Plan for housing or regeneration and jobs. The Council had tried to protect the greenbelt as much as possible, but the city was still 7000 homes light on the government’s target. He stressed that the Council was not trying to overbuild the city. It was required to produce the Plan based on the government targets. If the government and local MPs meant comments about being absolutely in support of the greenbelt and would save it all costs, it was in their hands to change their targets. He would be making this point, together with the other Black Country Council Leaders, to the Minister for Housing, Communities and Local Government.

 

Councillor Steve Evans reported that he had an open mind on the report and would make up his mind after the debate.  However, he wished to place on record his dismay at comments made by the government and local Conservative MPs about the housing targets for Wolverhampton and the use of brownfield sites and the greenbelt to achieve those targets.

 

Resolved:

1.    That the Draft Black Country Plan, Draft Wolverhampton Policies Map, Sustainability Appraisal Reports, and Wolverhampton Summary Leaflet attached as Appendices 1, 2, 3 and 4 to the report be approved for consultation during summer 2021.

 

2.    That authority be delegated to the Deputy Leader: Inclusive City Economy, in consultation with the Director of Regeneration, to make any necessary minor amendments to the Draft Black Country Plan, Wolverhampton Policies Map, Sustainability Appraisal Reports and Wolverhampton Summary Leaflet prior to commencement of the consultation process.

 

3.    That a further report be presented summarising key issues raised during the consultation, to inform preparation of the Publication Black Country Plan.

 

4.    That the Wolverhampton Local Development Scheme, attached as Appendix 5 to the report be approved.