Wigan Local Development Framework First Annual Monitoring Report – December 2005

Report to:	Cabinet Planning Committee Environment Panel
Date:	15 December 2005 10 January 2006 25 January 2006
Subject:	Wigan Local Development Framework First Annual Monitoring Report – December 2005
Report of:	Director of Planning and Regeneration
Contact officer:	Martin Stuart (Telephone: 01942 404238)
Purpose / summary:	This is the first annual monitoring report on the Local Development Framework. It is required to be prepared and submitted to the Secretary of State by the end of December 2005.
Alternative options considered and reason for selecting the one recommended:	Production and submission of the annual monitoring report is a statutory requirement.
Recommendation / decision:	To approve the report for submission.
Key Decision:	This report does not involve a key decision.
Implications:
Financial:	It is understood that submission of the Annual Monitoring Report before the end of 2005 will be a key factor taken into account in determining the Council’s allocation of Planning Delivery Grant for next year.
Staffing:	From within existing resources.
Policy:	All LDF policies.
Equal Opportunities – has a Diversity Impact Assessment been conducted?	No
Wards affected:	All
Special Interest Members – which have been consulted	None

Categorisation of the report:

Discussion leading to a decision	-	Discussion	-
Monitoring	-	Decision	X
Sharing for corporate understanding	-	Information	-

Tracking/Process:

	Consultation	Ward Members	Partners
	-	-	-
Panel / Committee	Overview & Scrutiny	Cabinet	Council
Planning – 10.01.06 Environment – 25.01.06	-	15.12.05	-

List of Background Papers in accordance with Section 100D of the Local Government Act 1972:

Document	Date	File Reference	Place of Inspection
Report to Cabinet – Interim Annual Monitoring Report on UDP	16.06.05	Minute No. 34	Chief Executive’s Dept., Town Hall, Wigan.

Proper Officer	Martin Kimber
Date	2nd December 2005

1. Background:

1.1 Members will recall my report to Cabinet on 16 June 2005 which presented an Interim Annual Monitoring Report on the Unitary Development Plan. That document was referred to as interim in the light of the requirement, placed upon the Council by the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, to produce an Annual Monitoring Report on the Local Development Framework (LDR). The document appended to this report is that annual monitoring report which is required to be submitted to the Secretary of State before the end of December 2005.

2. Proposals:

2.1 The annual monitoring report follows a format that is primarily laid down in national guidance and regulations, particularly the Core Output Indicators. There is, however, some local discretion over how the information is presented and over other local indicators that are to be monitored. In the main, these other indicators are those reported in the Interim Monitoring Report on the UDP and which themselves are set out as indicators and targets in the UDP.

2.2 It is understood that submission of the Annual Monitoring Report as well as adherence to the milestones and targets set out in the Local Development Scheme (and reported in the AMR) will be factors taken into account in determining the Council's allocation of Planning Delivery Grant for next year. It is therefore vital that the targets are met and that the report is submitted on time.

2.3 It is not proposed to repeat the conclusions of the monitoring report in this covering report other than to conclude that, although this is only the first of such annual reports, it seems to demonstrate reasonable progress in the implementation of the Local Development Framework and that the ‘saved policies’ of the UDP are being implemented satisfactorily. The implications of the monitoring in terms of revisions to the Local Development Scheme (LDS) will be reported to a future meeting when the review of the LDS has been further progressed.

2.4 It is also important to emphasise that this is the first of a series of annual monitoring reports. In common with most other authorities, there has been a steep learning curve in adapting our working practices and procedures to the demands of this totally new development planning system. In particular, it will be noted that the monitoring report includes a section dealing with the development of future monitoring systems and data collection exercises so as to ensure that we are able to meet the demands of the new system.

3. Alternative options considered and reason for the recommended option:

3.1 Production and submission of the annual monitoring report is a statutory requirement.

4. Conclusions:

4.1 Although it is difficult to draw meaningful conclusions at this early stage in the new development planning system, the monitoring report system shows reasonable progress in carrying forward our Local Development Framework. Further work is needed to fully develop our data collection systems so as to be able to present the full picture on plan and policy implementation, and to put in to operation the ‘plan, monitor and manage’ concept enshrined in the new planning system.

Appendices

• Appendix 1[63kb]

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