Agenda item

The Committee received a report that informed Members of the Government’s current consultation on the White Paper “Planning for the Future” and sought to seek agreement to the Council’s proposed response to the consultation which would close on 29^th October 2020.

The key points of the White Paper were summarised and Members considered the proposed response detailed in section 8 of the report.  It was recognised that the proposals could have significant implications for Slough and the South East Leader’s Group had drafted some key points in response which the Committee was asked to approve as the basis of Slough Borough Council’s reply.  These included rejecting the notion put forward in the White Paper that the current planning system was a fundamental block to delivering housing; that whilst the system could be simplified this should not be done by circumventing local authorities; and that the White Paper did little to address the real block to delivery of housing which was the development industry’s lack of appetite to build at a level sufficient to meet the Government’s aspirations.

Members of the Committee endorsed the proposed response and also commented that the Government’s focus on apparently speeding up the system was at the expense of local democratic oversight; the proposed framework risked lowering environmental standards; and the proposals said little about strategic planning partnerships such as the duty to cooperate between authorities.

At the conclusion of the discussion the recommendations were agreed.

Resolved –

(a)  That the White Paper as at Appendix 1 to the report be noted.

(b)  That the comments made in section 8 of the report be sent to the Secretary of State raising the Council’s concerns about the proposals contained in the White Paper.

(c)  That delegated powers be given to the Planning Manager to make further representations based upon the comments set out in the report.