Assuming that, at its meeting on 23 June, council rejects our motion to delay the local plan process (agenda item 11), then the focus moves to the two cabinet meetings on 15 July and 22 July, and the Extraordinary council meeting on 28 July. According to the forward plan, this ECM is where the legal decision will be taken to submit our revised local plan to further public scrutiny, and then on to inspection, accompanied by the public comments ('Reg.19', Item 6), effectively freezing our plans until after the inspector has commented, or legal challenges are brought!
As may be seen in the published timetable, it is still possible for changes to be made in light of the inspector's report, but will any major changes to the chosen strategic development sites (the current main bones of contention with the public at large) be made? Who knows, but I would have thought it unlikely - but then, a few years ago, I'd have thought it likely that the UK would still be in the EU, so what do I know!
I am, of course, writing this on the day that the Chesham and Amersham by-election result has been announced, with opposition to the HS2 rail line, which is being built through the constituency, and the government's planning reforms, which could see more homes being built in rural areas, being cited as major factors in the overturning of a big government majority. Sadly there's no prospect of any major rail upgrades, let alone resurrected lines, in Horsham District but, if our mail is anything to go by, there is major opposition to housebuilding, especially in the form of new settlements (near Adversane, West Grinstead and Henfield). To meet the government's current housing requirements, it will probably be necessary to have at least one of these settlements in the plan - will that fuel similar election upsets in the years to come?
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