Agenda item

Consideration was given to a report seeking the Council’s agreement to commence a new Local Plan in accordance with Regulations and the establishment of a cross party consultative advisory steering group.

The report had been deferred from the Council meeting in May to allow responses to a number of questions. The responses were set out in Appendix 3 to the report.

It was moved by Councillor Richard Eglington, seconded by Councillor Paul Rowling and

RESOLVED That:

1)    Council approves the commencement of a full update of the Stockton on Tees Local Plan in accordance with the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act (2004) as amended and the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026.

2)    Council delegates the preparation, publication and submission of a ‘Notice of intention to commence the Stockton on Tees Local Plan’ to the Director of Regeneration & Inclusive Growth in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Transport and that this will be made available in accordance with the Local Plan Timetable and no later than September 2026.

3)    Council approves the preparation and submission of an updated Local Plan Timetable in broad accordance with Appendix 1 and authorises its submission to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and its publication.

4)    Council delegates authority to the Director of Regeneration & Inclusive Growth in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Transport to update and publish the Local Plan Timetable monthly or as required, to ensure an up-to-date timetable is publicly available in accordance with Regulation 6 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026.

5)    Council approves the commencement of a Design Guide Supplementary Plan to comply with the requirement of Section 15B and 15F(1) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended) and delegates authority to the Director of Regeneration & Inclusive Growth in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Transport to produce a draft document for consultation.

6)    Council authorises officers to explore the preparation of a Joint Minerals and Waste Plan with neighbouring Local Planning Authorities and delegate to the Director of Regeneration and Inclusive Growth in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Transport, the responsibility for all matters relating to Stockton-on-Tees Borough, including;

a)    the commissioning of an associated evidence base (as necessary);

b)    develop a ‘Joint Minerals and Waste Plan agreement’ under section 15I of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act (2004) as amended;

c)    develop a Minerals and Waste Plan Timetable;

d)    undertake a ‘scoping consultation’ on the joint Tees Valley Minerals and Waste Local Plan; and

e)    produce all associated documentation to allow to progress the joint Tees Valley Minerals and Waste Local Plan to progress through Gateway 1.

7)    Council delegates authority to the Director of Regeneration & Inclusive Growth in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Transport, to agree commencement of the scoping consultation for the Local Plan which will:

a)    provide an opportunity for residents, community groups, businesses and other interested parties to register to be notified of Local Plan updates, via the Council website;

b)    consultation taking place in accordance with the Local Plan Regulations;

c)    consultation material being made publicly available; and

d)    a consultation plan being produced prior to Gateway 1 after having regard to comments made during the statutory scoping consultation.

8)    Council delegates authority to the Director of Regeneration & Inclusive Growth in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Transport, to undertake all necessary steps to inform and prepare the documents for the Gateway 1 self-assessment which may include commissioning evidence, undertaking a call for sites and preparing draft vision, Local Plan content and consultation plan, on the proposed local plan.

9)    Council approves the formation of a cross-party consultative and advisory Members working group in broad accordance with the draft Terms of Reference at Appendix 2 to support the Local Plan process.