Refresh of the Council's Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) on developer contributions.  It includes guidance on implementing the Adopted Torbay Local Plan, and sets out more detailed advice on matters such as affordable housing and other S106 (or S278 Highways) Agreements.

It will sit alongside the Council's Community Infrastructure Levy Charging schedule, when adopted.

Council approval is sought on the scope and content and priorities set out in the draft SPD prior to public consultation.

(i)       to publish for six week public consultation the Review of Planning Contributions and Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) as set out at Appendix 1 to the submitted report; and

(ii)      to note that, following consideration of representations received, the SPD, with modifications as necessary, will be considered by the Mayor and submitted to Council for final approval on 8 December 2016.

As the Planning Contributions and Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document forms part of the Council’s Policy Framework formal consultation is required before the Plan is submitted to Council for approval.

Alternative options were set out in the submitted report but not discussed at the meeting.

This decision will come into force on 14 September 2016, so as to commence the formal six week consultation process on this Policy Framework document.

Following adoption of the Torbay Local Plan 2012-30 and submission of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), the Council needed to review its Planning Contributions and Affordable housing Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPD) and conduct public consultation on the revised document.  The existing SPD was adopted in 2008 and has been updated several times (most recently in 2011).  It is therefore in need of refreshing to reflect the priorities of the Corporate Plan and Local Plan.

It was proposed to prioritise Section 106 Obligations into three bands which retained the broad approach of the existing SPD.  These are:

·       Priority 1:  site acceptable matters;

·       Priority 2:  affordable housing, employment and health infrastructure; and

·       Priority 3:  sustainable development infrastructure from larger developments.

A number of observations and comments were made by Members at the meeting which would be picked up by officers as part of the consultation process.

The Mayor considered the recommendation of the Policy Development and Decision Group (Joint Operations Team) made on 14 September 2016 and his decision is set out above.

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