Agenda item

10.1

The Service Manager Strategic Planning presented the report which sought agreement on the governance arrangements for overseeing work on Sheffield’s emerging Local Plan (the ‘Sheffield Plan’).

10.2

RESOLVED: That Strategy and Resources Policy Committee:-

1.    Owing to its cross-cutting nature, the Strategy & Resources Committee should have overall responsibility for the Sheffield Plan;

2. Due to the level of work involved in producing the Sheffield Plan, responsibility for overseeing development of it should be delegated to the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Change Policy Committee; and

3. The Sheffield Plan Member Working Group should be re-established under the committee system of governance to enable it to continue to play a key advisory role on the content of the Plan and provide regular progress reports to the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Change Policy Committee

10.3

Reasons for Decision

10.3.1

The cross-cutting nature and significance of the Sheffield Plan for the future development of the city means that it is appropriate for the Strategy & Resources Policy Committee to take overall responsibility for the Plan.  However, delegation to the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Change Policy Committee reflects the level of work required from Members to progress the Plan and the relative capacities of the two Policy Committees.

10.3.2

Continuing the Sheffield Plan Member Working Group will allow officers to obtain a regular political steer on various matters relating to the content of the Sheffield Plan.  The Group will have no decision-making powers.  The Strategy and Resources Policy Committee can be kept up to date on progress and will have ultimate responsibility for deciding whether to support the Publication Draft Plan and refer it to full Council for final approval.

10.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

10.4.1

An alternative option would be for officers to seek a political steer on specific matters relating to the Sheffield Plan directly from either the Strategy and Resources Policy Committee or the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Change Policy Committee.  However, the Strategy and Resources Committee only meets monthly and the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Change Policy Committee every 2 months.  It would cause considerable delay to the Sheffield Plan timetable if each issue under consideration had to be reported to one of the formal Policy Committees. 

10.4.2

A further option would be to formally establish a Task and Finish Group for either the Strategy & Resources Policy Committee or the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Change Policy Committee.  However, under Council Procedure Rules at 25.2, a Policy Committee is only able to have one Task and Finish Group operating at any one time.  Having a Task and Finish Group for the Local Plan would effectively limit the scope to have a Group working on other matters for a considerable period.

10.1

The Service Manager Strategic Planning presented the report which sought agreement on the governance arrangements for overseeing work on Sheffield’s emerging Local Plan (the ‘Sheffield Plan’).

10.2

RESOLVED: That Strategy and Resources Policy Committee:-

1.    Owing to its cross-cutting nature, the Strategy & Resources Committee should have overall responsibility for the Sheffield Plan;

2. Due to the level of work involved in producing the Sheffield Plan, responsibility for overseeing development of it should be delegated to the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Change Policy Committee; and

3. The Sheffield Plan Member Working Group should be re-established under the committee system of governance to enable it to continue to play a key advisory role on the content of the Plan and provide regular progress reports to the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Change Policy Committee

10.3

Reasons for Decision

10.3.1

The cross-cutting nature and significance of the Sheffield Plan for the future development of the city means that it is appropriate for the Strategy & Resources Policy Committee to take overall responsibility for the Plan.  However, delegation to the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Change Policy Committee reflects the level of work required from Members to progress the Plan and the relative capacities of the two Policy Committees.

10.3.2

Continuing the Sheffield Plan Member Working Group will allow officers to obtain a regular political steer on various matters relating to the content of the Sheffield Plan.  The Group will have no decision-making powers.  The Strategy and Resources Policy Committee can be kept up to date on progress and will have ultimate responsibility for deciding whether to support the Publication Draft Plan and refer it to full Council for final approval.

10.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

10.4.1

An alternative option would be for officers to seek a political steer on specific matters relating to the Sheffield Plan directly from either the Strategy and Resources Policy Committee or the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Change Policy Committee.  However, the Strategy and Resources Committee only meets monthly and the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Change Policy Committee every 2 months.  It would cause considerable delay to the Sheffield Plan timetable if each issue under consideration had to be reported to one of the formal Policy Committees. 

10.4.2

A further option would be to formally establish a Task and Finish Group for either the Strategy & Resources Policy Committee or the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Change Policy Committee.  However, under Council Procedure Rules at 25.2, a Policy Committee is only able to have one Task and Finish Group operating at any one time.  Having a Task and Finish Group for the Local Plan would effectively limit the scope to have a Group working on other matters for a considerable period.

10.5

Any Interest Declared or Dispensation Granted

None

10.6

Reason for Exemption if Public/Press Excluded During Consideration

None

10.7

Respective Director Responsible for Implementation

Executive Director, City Futures