“The current Summary Introduction to the Local Development Plan (https://www.carmarthenshire.gov.wales/media/1216121/ldp-summary-introduction-english-final.pdf) does not mention climate. A more detailed version mentions climate change http://www.cartogold.co.uk/CarmarthenshireLDP/english/text/05_strategy-and-strategic-policies.htm#Ch5_3will but there is no flesh yet on the bones of strategy or policy. How will the plan reflect the declaration of a climate emergency; will the Council garner public views via a Citizens Assembly?
Minutes:
“The current Summary Introduction to the Local Development Plan (https://www.carmarthenshire.gov.wales/media/1216121/ldp-summary-introduction-english-final.pdf) does not mention climate. A more detailed version mentions climate change http://www.cartogold.co.uk/CarmarthenshireLDP/english/text/05_strategy-and-strategic-policies.htm#Ch5_3will but there is no flesh yet on the bones of strategy or policy. How will the plan reflect the declaration of a climate emergency; will the Council garner public views via a Citizens Assembly?”
Response by Councillor Mair Stephens, Deputy Leader of the Council:-
“Your question has been so appropriate in its timing and coincides with the current consultation on the LDP. I certainly note that the documents that you have referred to within the question are perhaps not the most recent of the LDP publications. The summary introduction document was prepared at the start of the deposit of the revised LDP production and while others referred to in the more detailed version are infact the current adopted plan. However, thank you for taking the time to read them and understand them and know that both those documents form the basis and a great deal of the context of direction and I thank you for everything you have done to date.
I have said many times in this chamber that whenever we go through the various stages of the LDP process, which is long and seemingly arduous, we are continually refining and making it more robust as further evidence is gathered and inputted into the plan. Perhaps it is worth noting at this stage the type of engagement and consultation that has been going on to date and, believe you me, that has been far, far more than has happened in the production of any LDP to date. So, as well as the Advisory Group consultation which consists of members who have brought issues from across the county to the table for discussion, there has been a key stakeholder forum made up of a cross section of people which include people from statutory organisations like the NHS, the NRW and neighbouring Authorities, to comments from Community and Town Councils and Councillors, representatives of the various voluntary organisations that we have in Carmarthenshire and also representatives from the community covering a wide range of interests and, as I have always spoken about, they put their requirements into the plan. We have also met with Community and Town Councils so that there is a more local viewpoint that can be received and indeed so that they can tell us what sort of development is acceptable and, dare I say indeed, unacceptable in their areas. Those have been inputted and are being taken aboard on what is happening. We have also discussed with developers and agents in order to try to ensure that the delivery of this plan at the end of the day is something we can work with, to be proud of for the future of Carmarthenshire.
Part of that plan involves looking at the issues that we have within our own control. It is those things that we know that we have already got an integrated Community Plan, we have got plans for the rural areas. We have got this plan which has generated an awful lot of this discussion, the net zero plan. There are all those plans. How we want to move forward within this Council over a five year period as an Administration. All those are incorporated into this overall plan and indeed is something which can sometimes be very much of a balancing act but it is a balancing act that we will do. But it just proves that we are consulting widely with an awful lot of people all the time. That does not disregard the things that we have been doing with social media and the website and all that.
And indeed, in November 2018 this Council resolved to endorse the Deposit Revised LDP that is now available for public consultation and is available until the 13th March. Once again this has been consulted upon and as I speak there are Roadshows around the county that are asking for people’s comments and views on what is happing around the area. This is to encourage engagement and to ensure that the comments on the consultation is taken on board. The Deposit Plan contains a full range of policies providing for the future of the county and its communities through to 2033. It also identifies the location and the amount of growth for those areas and things that need to be protected.
The Deposit LDP specifically includes a range of policies which reflect and contribute to the climate change agenda. These include a Strategic Climate Change Policy and a series of specific policies ranging from Renewable Energy to Green Infrastructure. The Deposit Plan and supporting documents including the Sustainability Appraisal can be seen on our website or at the Hwbs, Customer Service Centres and public libraries across the county. As part of this consultation we very much welcome any views or comments on any part of the Plan and whether that is local or on a wider scale and we will take those views forward. Thank you very much for asking the question and thank you for ensuring that the process that we have is going to be something that will produce a robust plan. We are in the middle of a consultation process and indeed it is open to the wider community. Are we going to have a Citizens’ Assembly? The answer to that at the moment is no but at on the other hand we welcome all the views we can have from people far and wide on our draft revised LDP.“
Rev. Prof. Jenkins asked the following supplementary question:-
“To bring it right up to date then paragraph 9.32 of the Deposit Plan specifically refers to climate and it seems to me that far from being pervasive throughout the Local Development Plan document it’s somewhat pigeon holed. Given what the IPCC has said about the nature of the emergency, can’t we do away with that long, arduous process that you’ve just been talking about and act like this was an emergency? A Citizens’ Assembly would short circuit it. Don’t you think that a Citizens’ Assembly might be more efficient in the current circumstances than a process which was designed for different times.”
Councillor Stephens responded as follows:-
“I can certainly see where you are coming from, we are obviously two sides of the same coin. We are very, very much open, as I have said, to formal discussions and, as you know, you and I have had discussions in another forum on where we are going and what we are doing. Climate and climate change does not necessarily have to have the word climate in it. There is an awful lot of work within this LDP that actually states that we are ensuring that people have solar panels, we are ensuring that they have electric charging points. You know, those practical things that are not necessarily included under the word climate. It happens and it is happening and indeed that is exactly where we are. We will have those discussions and we will be taking on board. But at this moment in time, we are where we are.”