Councillors from the Labour Party and Liberal Democrats on Rugby Borough Council have today tabled a joint amendment to a proposal by the Conservative leadership of Rugby Borough Council for a full review of the Borough’s Local Plan, to be voted on at Full Council on Wednesday 14 December.

Labour and the Lib Dems are concerned about this proposal for a full review of the Local Plan because: 

• 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 form 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 have proposed an amendment to the Conservatives’ proposal so that the recommendation of the Council would be for a partial not full review of the Local Plan. It also removes a proposal to delegate authority to officers to make minor amendments to the Local Development Scheme. The motion will be proposed by Cllr Jerry Roodhouse, Leader of the Liberal Democrats at the Council, and seconded by Cllr Maggie O’Rourke, Leader of the Labour Group.

Amendment by the Liberal Democrats and Labour 

Recommendation:

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;

and

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 is undertaken outlining the funding required and the timeline to deliver the review.

Cllr Jerry Roodhouse (Paddox Ward), Leader of the Liberal Democrats Group, 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 want to spend it”.

Cllr Michael Moran (Admirals and Cawston Ward), 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”.

“Fundamentally we believe this Council must now finally focus on its residents and actually start providing much needed services such as schools, doctors and local amenities. We are already significantly over the target for house building set by Westminster. 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 (Eastlands Ward), Liberal Democrats’ spokesperson for Planning and Development said: 

“We have no need for a full review of the local plan since the existing one is still incomplete, we do not have for example a policy on Gypsy and Traveller sites, Housing in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) or Stadiums.

“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 (New Bilton Ward), 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.”