Agenda and minutes

To elect a Vice-Chairperson for the Planning Policy Committee.

Councillor Ken Taylor was elected Vice-Chair for the Planing Policy Committee.

As noted above.

To receive any declaration of interest by any Member or Officer in respect of any item of business.

None received.

To submit, for confirmation, the minutes of the previous meeting held on 24 October, 2024.

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 24 October, 2024 were confirmed as correct.

To submit a report by the Head of Regulation and Economic Development.

Submitted – a report by the Head of Regulation in relation to the above.

The Planning Policy Manager reported that the main purpose of the report it to set out the key issues, challenges and opportunities faced by Anglesey over the Plan period; set out a vision for the Island over the period of the new Local Development Plan and set objectives for the new Local Development Plan that will help realise the vision.  He noted that Appendix 1 of the report was shared with Members of the Planning Policy Committee who have had the opportunity to review the document and to date, no responses to the document contents has been received.  The document identifies 17 key issues and challenges faced by the Island, covering a wide spectrum of interests, clear and realistic objectives have been formulated to address the issues concerned and these objectives contribute to setting the vision for the Local Development Plan.  The vision reads :-

‘By 2039, Anglesey will be an Island of vibrant, lively, bilingual and engaged communities where people choose to live, work and visit, committed to the resilience of its economy, culture, heritage, environment and natural resources and to health and wellbeing.’

Councillor Kenneth P Hughes said that a Local Development Plan should have an emphasis on ‘local’, and the Plan should address local needs.  He questioned whether there will be an influence from Welsh Government to produce a general Plan that does not cater for local issues.  He noted that Wrexham County Borough Council was the last Council to adopt their Local Development Plan as they challenged Welsh Government due to local housing market assessments as it undermined democracy.  The Planning Policy Manager responded that National Planning Policy needs to be complied with. He noted that the planning policies will respond to local circumstances but must be in general conformity with higher ranking regional and national plans. 

Councillor Nicola Roberts said that gathering requirements of local needs within the Authority is important and that the local plan feeds into the National plans. 

Councillor Ken Taylor ascertained whether there will be changes to the process as regards to the creation of a Local Development Plan if there is a new government within the Senedd following the elections in May next year.   The Planning Policy Manager responded that there are uncertainties, but the Planning Policy Wales document was adopted last year, and it is unlikely that imminent changes will be made to the document.   

It was RESOLVED to endorse the Key Issues, Vision and Objectives Paper as the basis for preparing the draft Preferred Strategy for the new Anglesey Local Development Plan.

To submit, for information, the report of the Head of Regulation and Economic Development.

Submitted – a report, for information, by the Head of Regulation and Economic Development.

The Planning Policy Team Leader reported that the report focuses on confirming the launch of the call for sites process, outlining the extent of the relevant time period and next steps following expiry of the call for sites process.  She noted that the call for sites extends for a period of six weeks commencing from 12 May, 2025 to 23 June, 2025.  It will invite landowners to propose sites for inclusion in the new Local Development Plan for future development or for safeguarding from development where the need arises.  Proposed sites will be assessed against set criteria to establish their suitability for inclusion in the new Local Development Plan.  A Candidate Sites Register will be retained and will include all sites proposed regardless of whether they are progressed as potential development sites for inclusion in the Plan or not.  All sites progressed as potential development sites will be subject to the need to prove their viability and deliverability.  As such, proposers will provide viability assessments at this stage of consideration if the sites are to progress to inclusion in the Local Development Plan.  Assessment of proposed sites will be by way of a two-stage filter process with consultation with the Local Authority and specific bodies, in particular Natural Resources Wales, DŵrCymru, the Health Board being carried out at stage 2.  This will ensure that consultees will only be commenting on sites which have a reasonable change of inclusion the Local Development Plan.  The preferred strategy and deposit stages of the Local Development Plan preparation provide an opportunity for all stakeholders to comment on the sites proposed, submitting representations requesting an amendment of allocation boundaries or propose the deletion or addition of new sites. 

Members wished to thank the staff of the Planning Policy Unit for their work and encouraged people to submit development sites within the timeframe. 

Councillor Ken Taylor ascertained whether there is a specific figure of candidates’ sites that is required for potential development sites and whether the consultation process will be extended.  The Planning Policy Manager responded that there is no specific figure of potential development sites, but it is anticipated that there will be an adequate number of sites proposed on Anglesey.

It was RESOLVED to note the report for information.