Decision - Consultation on Policy Options Papers for the new City Plan

2.1       That Cabinet approves the Policy Options Papers and preferred options set out in the appendices.

2.2       That Cabinet approves the publication of the Policy Options Papers and associated Sustainability Appraisal document for a period of focussed consultation to inform the preparation of a draft City Plan subject to minor grammatical or editorial alterations approved by the Strategic Director, Place.

To progress the preparation of the City Plan to ensure the council has an up to date strategic planning framework for the city to replace the current Local Plan.

To ensure that there is effective consultation on four key policy areas that are subject to significant change in accordance with the statement of community involvement and planning regulations.

The process of preparing a development plan document is to test alternative policy options. This testing includes consultation, a robust evidence base and a Sustainability Appraisal. Given the significance of change proposed to four policy areas it was considered necessary for these to be fully tested through an additional ‘issues and options’ stage.