Lead Member: Councillor Rob Wilson - Portfolio Holder for Transport & Economic Growth

Lead Officer: Hayleigh Deighton – Strategic Partnerships Manager

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet agreed to:

1.     Delegate to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader and Portfolio Holders for both Planning and Transport and Economic Growth, responsibility to respond to the Government consultation on SDS geographies by 26th March with a preferred proposal for Shropshire.

2.     Delegate to the Chief Executive, and, once appointed, the Executive Director for Communities, Growth & Partnerships, responsibility for undertaking proactive strategic partnership engagement with neighbouring local authorities within England to understand SDS proposals.

3.     Delegate to the Chief Executive, and, once appointed, the Executive Director for Communities, Growth & Partnerships, responsibility to undertake proactive strategic partnership engagement with infrastructure providers via formation of a Strategic Infrastructure Forum.

4.     Delegate to the Chief Executive, and, once appointed, the Executive Director for Communities, Growth & Partnerships, in consultation with the Leader and Portfolio Holders for Planning and Transport and Economic Growth, responsibility for taking forward work on the preparation of an SDS, including but not limited to building a strategic planning team to lead the SDS and work alongside the team preparing Shropshire’s Local Plan, in accordance with government requirements and regulations.

The Portfolio Holder for Transport & Economic Growth presented the report which outlined new duties on the Council to work collaboratively at a sub-regional level to produce a Spatial Development Strategy (SDS) and set out a recommended response to a government consultation on the preferred geographies for completing an SDS.

Members noted the importance of early engagement with partners across appropriate geographies to ensure Shropshire has influence over emerging strategic planning arrangements.

Reference was made to existing partnership working across a range of areas, including economic development, health, policing, transport and cross?border collaboration.

Members were advised that Government consultation on SDS geographies is underway, with a requirement for the Council to submit a response by the end of March.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet agreed to:

1.     Delegate to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader and Portfolio Holders for both Planning and Transport and Economic Growth, responsibility to respond to the Government consultation on SDS geographies by 26th March with a preferred proposal for Shropshire.

2.     Delegate to the Chief Executive, and, once appointed, the Executive Director for Communities, Growth & Partnerships, responsibility for undertaking proactive strategic partnership engagement with neighbouring local authorities within England to understand SDS proposals.

3.     Delegate to the Chief Executive, and, once appointed, the Executive Director for Communities, Growth & Partnerships, responsibility to undertake proactive strategic partnership engagement with infrastructure providers via formation of a Strategic Infrastructure Forum.

4.     Delegate to the Chief Executive, and, once appointed, the Executive Director for Communities, Growth & Partnerships, in consultation with the Leader and Portfolio Holders for Planning and Transport and Economic Growth, responsibility for taking forward work on the preparation of an SDS, including but not limited to building a strategic planning team to lead the SDS and work alongside the team preparing Shropshire’s Local Plan, in accordance with government requirements and regulations.