Opposition joins forces to tackle fresh Local Plan threat to Rugby's green spaces

The Advertiser reported last week how the borough’s ruling Conservative group had pushed forward a recommendation from cabinet to a meeting of full council tomorrow, Wednesday, December 14, that with fresh action due on the plan, the best approach was to go for full rather than partial review of the current document.

They said this was the best way to ensure the council kept control of the development of the borough and allowed it to plug gaps that had been exposed in the present strategy.

But when that report goes before the council tomorrow it will face a challenge from the Labour and Lib Dem opposition groups.

In a rare show of unity they have today, Tuesday, tabled a joint amendment to the proposal for that full review.

In a statement, the two groups voiced concern that such a review had a number of issues, namely that:

- it is likely to mean added pressure applied to the council by developers who wish to build on the borough’s green belt;

- the council proposes to spend large sums of Rugby taxpayers’ money on consultants’ fees to develop the new plan;

- insufficient time has been provided for councillors from all parties to consider the proposal after taking soundings from the public; and

- the proposal is premature given that national government is soon to reveal new policies on planning.

The two parties are calling for a partial rather than a full review of the plan. It also removes a proposal to delegate authority to officers to make minor amendments to the Local Development Scheme.

The amendment will be proposed by Cllr Jerry Roodhouse, leader of the Lib Dems and seconded by Cllr Maggie O’Rourke, leader of the Labour group.

It recommends:

1. A partial review of the Local Plan be undertaken that seeks to protect the green belt as a priority;

2 Planning Services Working Party prepares a report for council as to what is included in the scope of the partial review;

3. Further reports be presented after further analysis by Iceni focussing on Rugby Borough housing needs which also takes account of recent statements by the secretary of state, outlining the funding required and the timeline to deliver the review.

Cllr Roodhouse said: “The council should slow down and not rush for extra housing and potential loss of green belt.

"Elected councillors have only just had the evidence presented and should be allowed to debate housing numbers.

"We can still fit into timescales and save local taxpayers money, unlike the Conservative administration, who seem to want to spend it.”

Cllr Michael Moran, Labour spokesperson for planning and development, said: “With us all facing a cost-of-living crisis, the last thing this council should be doing is wasting hundreds of thousands of pounds on a totally unnecessary Local Plan review. It’s only 3.5 years since the last Plan was adopted, with the covid pandemic in between, which puts us in a far better position than many councils across the country.

"Plus, with Michael Gove set to potentially announce major changes to the whole process in the coming weeks it just doesn’t stand to reason to start this process now. Instead, we favour a targeted, partial update that can be done at a fraction of the cost that really gets to address some of the town’s key issues”.

“The last thing Rugby needs is ever more new houses built purely for developer profit. We have to stand up and protect what is left of our precious countryside”.

Cllr Neil Sandison, the Lib Dems’ spokesperson for planning and development, said: “What a full review and call for sites will do is reopen the flood gates to all the sites

we previously rejected because they were in the greenbelt, open countryside or had poor connectivity to the road network.

“A partial review would enable the council to complete outstanding work and dovetail it to the forthcoming Local Transport Plan which the county is looking to complete in September 2023.”

Cllr John Slinger, Labour spokesperson on housing, said: “Labour and the Lib Dems are working together on this specific policy because we share concerns that a full review of the Local Plan at this time poses risks to our green belt and an unnecessary cost to local taxpayers.

“Our amendment will ensure that councillors from all parties are able to play a full role in any review, not just the Conservatives and officers. It will also ensure that the housing and other needs of everyone in the borough are met, as well as revising the areas where the existing Local Plan has gaps, such as regarding HMOs, or needs updating.

“The Labour group of councillors will work constructively with the Lib Dems wherever possible, in the long-term interests of everyone in the borough.”

The recommendation on the Local Plan is one of a number of measures put forward from the cabinet to tomorrow’s full council meeting.

It takes place in the council chamber at 7pm and members of the public can attend in person or watch a livestream of proceedings.

The cabinet is made up of the seven Conservative councillors who serve as portfolio holders, while full council, as it name suggests, is when councillors of all parties can attend to discuss and challenge the work of the ruling party.