Issue - meetings

That Cabinet:

a)       note the report;

b)      approve the scoping consultation proposals contained in Appendix 1 to the report;

c)       delegate authority to the Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Economic Development to agree the final Scoping Consultation document in consultation with the Planning Policy Board ready for consultation in July 2026; and

d)      delegate authority to the Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Economic Development to amend the proposed timetable for the Local Plan Scoping consultation, should this be necessary if the Council receive the Inspectors Report on the Amended Allocations and Development Management DPD.

The Assistant Director - Planning & Economy presented a report which sought approval for the scoping consultation which was required ahead of the process for making a Local Plan. The requirements for the scoping consultation were prescribed under Regulation 20(1) of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026 and the proposed approach to this consultation, including the framework, was set out in the report.

AGREED      (unanimously) that Cabinet:

a)           note the report;

b)          approve the scoping consultation proposals contained in Appendix 1 to the report;

c)           delegate authority to the Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Economic Development to agree the final Scoping Consultation document in consultation with the Planning Policy Board ready for consultation in July 2026; and

d)          delegate authority to the Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Economic Development to amend the proposed timetable for the Local Plan Scoping consultation, should this be necessary if the Council receive the Inspectors Report on the Amended Allocations and Development Management DPD.

Reasons for Decision:

To allow the Scoping Consultation in line with the agreed Newark & Sherwood Local Plan timetable. 

Options Considered:

It was considered that the Scoping Consultation could be delayed, however this will have knock on consequences to the agreed timetable. Furthermore, additional government funding requires the Council to progress through Gateway 1 by the end of October 2026, which would be difficult if the scoping consultation was pushed into August and September 2026.