RESOLVED:

That Cabinet recommended that council resolve to:

A. submit Merton’s Local Plan and Policies Map to the Secretary of State for

independent examination. This would be preceded by a statutory six-week

consultation period between July and September 2021.

B. That Cabinet agreed the timetable for production set out in section 5 of this report, which will amend Merton’s Local Development Scheme.

C. That Cabinet delegated authority to the Director of Environment and Regeneration, Chris Lee, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing, Regeneration and the Climate Emergency Councillor Martin Whelton for changes to the documents between 23^rd June 2021 and the receipt of the Planning Inspector’s final report.

The Cabinet Member for Housing, Regeneration and the Climate Emergency presented the report, thanking the officers in Future Merton for their work on the report which sought formal approval for submission of the report for independent examination preceded by a six week consultation period.

The report itself would set the planning strategy and policies for the Borough as well alongside site designations for new developments and had been a process started in 2017. The report would also be taken to Full Council in July 2021.

The Cabinet Member noted that a number of amendments had been made to the report following feedback from members of the public including in relation to tall buildings in Colliers Wood including a requirement that no building should be higher than the existing tower.

The Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Skills stated that she welcomed the amendments to the plan following residents feedback.

The Chair moved to the recommendations and it was

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet recommended that council resolve to:

A. submit Merton’s Local Plan and Policies Map to the Secretary of State for

independent examination. This would be preceded by a statutory six-week

consultation period between July and September 2021.

B. That Cabinet agreed the timetable for production set out in section 5 of this report, which will amend Merton’s Local Development Scheme.

C. That Cabinet delegated authority to the Director of Environment and Regeneration, Chris Lee, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing, Regeneration and the Climate Emergency Councillor Martin Whelton for changes to the documents between 23^rd June 2021 and the receipt of the Planning Inspector’s final report.