Cllr Paul Spooner

Cllr Spooner is on record saying that, once adopted, the Local Plan will constrain future councils but having it in place will prevent central government stepping in to take over Guildford’s planning, a view supported by the leader of the opposition at Millmead, Cllr Caroline Reeves (Lib Dem, Friary & St Nicolas).

Cllr Susan Parker, leader of the Guildford Greenbelt Group (GGG) said: “It is an outrage that this plan has come forward for adoption now. This plan as put forward by Guildford Borough Council might exclude the additional sites proposed by GBC itself last summer, but it does this only because the housing requirements are less.

Cllr Susan Parker

”Our housing number should be lower still. The Office of National Statistics thinks the real housing need here is 313 homes a year, a total of just under 6,000 homes in 19 years.  We could meet that on brownfield land in the urban areas alone. We are planning to build 14,602 homes over 19 years, a vast oversupply.

”We should reconsider this plan urgently. This is why it is so wrong that the plan is being forced through in the last week of this council. We should wait until the new council is elected before adopting this plan so we can reconsider whether this really meets the needs for Guildford.”

But Cllr Spooner said: “The Local Plan adoption is not being ‘rushed through’ as several activists against the plan are stating. The Local Plan has been through periods of consultation and was voted for submission to the Local Plan PINS [Planning Inspectorate] inspector, Mr Bore, back in 2017.

“It has been through two sets of public hearings and as a result of the latest hearings, in February 2019, the plan has been found sound by the independent inspector and is fundamentally similar to the submitted Local Plan, particularly in relation to site allocations.

“It is therefore logical that the councillors who have been involved in the Local Plan for the past few years are best qualified to vote on adoption at full council.

“I do not view this as political because several members standing down have not supported the plan at submission stage, but are experienced in the process of the plan to date.

“To me, it would be ridiculous to delay adoption until after May 2 when new councillors would not have the experience of the Local Plan process. But there are still significant milestones ahead in shaping development to meet new and existing communities after May.”

A GBC spokesperson stressed that the final inspector’s report showed some proposals which would have required even more development sites had been successfully resisted. “The final schedule of main modifications accompanying the inspector’s report contains only those main modifications recommended by him to make the submission plan sound, legally compliant and capable of adoption.

”Several main modifications consulted on in September to October 2018 were not recommended in the inspector’s final report. These include four additional site allocations that are no longer included as main modifications recommended by the Inspector in the plan proposed for adoption.”

Before the full council meets to decide whether to adopt the new Local Plan, sources believe a QC will explain how the decision can be taken in a period of “purdah” when political activity is restricted, and just a week before the election.

The council statement continued: “Under the council’s Procedure Rule 4.1 (iii), our Monitoring Officer has called an extraordinary council meeting on Thursday, April 25 2019 at 7pm, after a special Executive meeting earlier that day. The agendas, reports and associated documents will be published in advance of these meetings in the usual way.”

Cllr Tony Rooth

Cllr Tony Rooth (Ind, Pilgrims), leader of the Independent Alliance at GBC, said: “The council leadership’s manoeuvre to call an extraordinary council meeting on April 25 is premature and cynical in view of the importance of getting the Local Plan right for our future.

“The size of the public response and the plan’s controversial proposals require the inspector’s report and the Local Plan itself to be properly reviewed. This is now an election issue for every candidate if they continue with this inappropriate vote days before the election.

“Perhaps the council are frightened any new councillors after May 2 will say no to this plan. R4GV [Residents for Guildford and Villages] are right to express concern that producing 40% more housing than our identified need with the 40% all on green belt, no proper infrastructure, no material plans to deal with congestion, no town centre plan and a develop on greenfield first, rather than a brownfield first, approach to sites, all of which are bad for the environment and bad for Guildford.

“Is this why they need to rush it through?

“Therefore, Independent councillors have filed a motion for the April 9 council meeting to defer consideration of the Local Plan until after the elections or, if not, have a larger venue than the council chamber and more time for public participation in the debate.

“Our motion was lodged before the inspector’s report was published and we Independents invite support from our GGG, Lib Dem, Labour colleagues, in fact, all colleagues that share our concern.”

Today (March 31, 2019), Cllr Spooner sent a comment to The Guildford Dragon NEWS: “The inspector has carefully and independently investigated the plan-making process, reviewed the sites, and challenged the numbers, continuously questioning whether the numbers are too low and the council has obtained what we firmly believe is the best-balanced position for the community over the next 15 to 20 years.

“If things change then we will have regular reviews anyway.”

The Lib Dem and Labour groups were invited to comment.

The inspector’s final report and other examination information can be viewed following this link: www.guildford.govuk/newlocalplan/examination to the GBC website.