Local Plan update and election insight – April 2018

• Aylesbury Vale – Aylesbury Vale District Council submitted its local plan for examination on 28 February 2018. There are no elections set to take in Aylesbury Vale this year.
• Basildon –  After a fraught public meeting in which Essex Police arrived to manage the crowds, Basildon District Council’s Regulation 19 consultation will be taking place after the local elections in May.
  
  In the local elections, it is likely UKIP (and Independents) will lose at least 15 per cent of its support, with that being split between the two main parties, possibly the Conservatives more than Labour. Of the 15 seats up for election, 11 could be considered to be marginal, with majorities of less than 10 per cent. If we transcribe the above swing onto these seats, UKIP will lose 11 seats, with Conservatives gaining five seats and Labour six seats. One marginal seat will remain Conservative. This means the Conservatives would have 23 seats, which would be a fairly healthy majority of 5. If, however, Labour took one or two additional seats, the majority would become more difficult to operate.
• Central Bedfordshire – the council are set to approve the draft Local Plan for submission for Examination in Public at a full council meeting this week on Thursday, 26 April 2018. No elections are set to take place this year.
• Chelmsford – the final stage of consultation on Chelmsford City council’s draft Local Plan closed on 14 March 2018. Submission is now planned for Summer 2018. There are no elections set to take place in Chelmsford, with elections planned for 2019.
• Chilterns/South Bucks – We are currently awaiting publication of the Reg 19 of the local plan. There are no elections in either authority this year
• Dacorum – Dacorum Council have no elections set for this this year. Dacorum Borough Council (DBC) has 51 seats and is currently made up of 43 Conservative, four Liberal Democrat, two Labour and one independent councillors. Dacorum are currently considering their response to the issues and options consultation.
• East Herts – The council is expecting a final report from the inspector at the end of April. No elections are set to take place in 2018.
• Epping – The Conservatives have a large majority in Epping and there are unlikely to be any significant changes this May. Epping have submitted their local plan. The Regulation 19 consultation has been delayed due to judicial.
• Epsom & Ewell – Epsom and Ewell have a submission to the Secretary of State planned for May 2018. There are no elections planned for 2018.
• Harlow – Of the 11 seats up for election, there are five wards which are marginal. Of these, two are UKIP (Bush Fair and Staple Tye) seats and likely to be shared between Labour and Conservatives. Of the other seats, the Conservatives are likely to take Harlow Common and perhaps one other, with Labour retaining the other two. Thus, the prediction is that after the election Labour will have 19 (NC) seats and the Conservatives 14 (+2).
  The Local Plan regulation 19 consultation is set to take place after the elections.
• London Borough of Redbridge – Labour are expected to keep control of this council, although it is possible their majority may drop slightly. Their Local Plan has been adopted by the Council on the 15th March.
• Maidstone – Maidstone’s Local Plan was adopted in October 2017. Elections are set to be held for one third of the council. Although there is strong support for Lib Dems locally, the area had wide support for Leave and UKIP, and so will likely stay as no overall control.
• Medway – Medway have no elections set for this year. Medway are currently undertaking Regulation 18 consultation which is set to conclude on 11th May.
• Mid Sussex – Mid Sussex District Council adopted the Mid Sussex District Plan 2014-2031 as a Development Plan Document at its meeting on 28th March 2018. It replaces the Mid Sussex Local Plan 2004. Elections for Mid Sussex are not planned until 2019.
• Milton Keynes – The Council has now submitted the Proposed Submission version of Plan:MK to the Planning Inspectorate for an independent examination into the soundness of the Plan to be undertaken.
• Mole Valley – reg 18 to start in mid-August. Given the significant Conservative majority in the council it is very unlikely that they will lose control of it. Liberal Democrats would have to win all seats up for election this year in order to gain a majority of 1.
• Reigate and Banstead – The Council is currently consulting on its Development Management Plan Proposed Submission document (Regulation 19). Reigate and Banstead have elections for almost all wards,
• Sevenoaks – Draft Local Plan consultation – Summer 2018, Pre-submission Publication – Winter 2018.
• South Northamptonshire – pre submission consultation in the Summer of 2018
  St Albans – preparing draft local plan, to be approved in June/July 2018, reg 19 consultation to follow in the summer
• Surrey Heath – A consultation on the draft plan will take place in Spring  / Summer 2018. Surrey Heath. Elections will not take place until in 2019.
• Tandridge – Later this year there will be another public consultation about the Council’s final draft of the plan, known as the Regulation 19, before it is submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for examination.
• Thurrock – Although the Thurrock Independents (formerly UKIP) could lose at least 10% of its support, that translates into just two seats. A higher loss of support will lead to further Conservative wins, but not enough to take the council. It is likely the current Conservative administration will continue. Reg 18 of the Local Plan concludes this month.
• Tonbridge and Malling – the Regulation 19 consultation is expected to commence in October 2018. Elections will not take place until 2019.
• Tunbridge Wells – One third of the council will be up for an election this May following a fallow year in 2017. It will be impossible for Conservatives to lose control of the Council.
• Waverley – There are no elections set to take place this year. Part 1 of the Local Plan was adopted on the 20th February 2018.