Decision details

At this point Cabinet returned to the debate had had been suspended as detailed in Minute 64.

The recommendations as set out in the report had been proposed by Councillor Hanson and seconded by Councillor Sinclair.

By way of an amendment, Councillor Hamilton-Cox proposed and Councillor Brookes seconded:

“That the following additional recommendations be approved:

(1) Given both the overarching context of the climate emergency and the uncertainty over funding cabinet asks for the AAP and masterplan to be advanced on the basis that the Galgate bypass and connecting road infrastructure may or may not progress.

(2) Given the substantial infrastructure costs of developing new settlements, cabinet asks that the initial work of the AAP should include detailed viability assessments of phases of development.

(3) Given the crucial importance of maintaining and improving biodiversity, cabinet asks that the AAP and masterplan are advanced so as to avoid planned development impacting on the Lancaster canal and adjacent ancient woodland biological heritage sites.”

Councillors then voted on the amendment as follows: -

(3 Members (Councillors Brookes, Hamilton-Cox and Jackson) voted in favour, 6 Members (Councillors Frea, Hanson, Lewis, Parr, Sinclair & Whitehead) voted against whereupon the Chair declared the amendment to be lost.

Cabinet then voted on the original proposition.

Resolved unanimously:

(1)        That Cabinet formally endorses the commencement of work on the statutory stages of preparing the Lancaster South Area Action Plan in accordance with the commitment described in the adopted Local Plan for Lancaster District and the timetable provided in the Lancaster District Local Development Scheme as approved by Council on 29 July 2020.

(2)        That Cabinet authorises officers to commence with the projects as set out in the report.

Officer responsible for effecting the decision:

Director for Economic Growth and Regeneration

Reasons for making the decision:

The Local Development Plan and Development Plan Documents are part of the Council’s Policy Framework. The Council is obliged to prepare and maintain the Development Plan for Lancaster District as described by Section 19 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. A “Local Plan for Lancaster District”, specifically, the Strategic Policies & Land Allocations Development Plan Document and the Review of the Development Management Development Plan Document, was adopted by Council on 29 July 2020. The Local Plan and the adopted Local Development Scheme commit the Council to preparing an AAP for Lancaster South.