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Terms of reference

DRAFT

SURREY STRATEGIC PLANNING AND INFRASTRUCTURE FRAMEWORK PARTNERSHIP

Terms of Reference

1.	Objectives
1.1	Surrey Leaders agree to meet as The Surrey Strategic Planning and Infrastructure Board (SSPIFB / the Board) to provide a vehicle for cooperation and joint working, between local authorities within Surrey.
1.2	The Board will address matters relating to the Duty to Cooperate, collectively covering; strategic planning (within Surrey and beyond), infrastructure investment and funding streams, and strategic planning interaction with Greater London and other adjoining and relevant authorities and associated planning issues that are of joint interest to the member organisations. In summary: to identify and manage spatial planning issues that impact on more than one local planning area across Surrey; and support better integration and alignment of strategic spatial infrastructure and investment priorities across Surrey
1.3	The Board comprises local authorities acting together in accordance with their powers under S2(1) of the Local Government Act 2000 to promote the environmental well being of their areas and the requirements under the Duty to Cooperate set out in S33A of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 together with other groups as necessary to fulfil those requirements. It will achieve these aims by: providing a framework to evidence that the Local Authorities are working 'constructively, actively and on an ongoing basis' on strategic planning matters to support compliance with the duty to cooperate and deliver 'sound' plans being 'spatially specific' where there is a strategic focus on particular areas within Surrey or overlaps with adjoining areas providing a basis for working collaboratively with the GLA/Mayor and other authorities on the long term growth of London, particularly in relation to the next full review of the London Plan and the Mayor's Long Term Infrastructure Plan integrating strategic spatial, economic and infrastructure priorities for Surrey with a clear set of (agreed) objectives for delivering 'sustainable' prosperity in Surrey. This should build on the priorities in Surrey Future, the Strategic Economic Plans and local plans and collaboration with the LEPs and Surrey Local Nature Partnership providing a positive voice for Surrey, setting out its case for investment and why it is important to the national economy helping to align business/investment priorities of other key bodies, eg Environment Agency, transport operators and utility companies
1.4	The Board will act to deliver cooperation across the Surrey area to maximise the effectiveness of plan making, infrastructure delivery, growth and a single strategic voice in respect of Greater London planning issues.
1.5	The Board will put in place a single agreed framework, in the form of a Memorandum of Understanding, within which the Duty to Cooperate can be undertaken on an ongoing and rolling programme irrespective of individual plan making timetables of individual authorities.
1.6	For the avoidance of doubt, the Board cannot exercise any of the functions of a planning authority or competent authorities, including setting formal planning policy or exerting control over planning decisions, nor can it fetter any decisions made by other bodies such as the LEPs.
2.	Functions
2.1	The Board will have the following functions: to agree frameworks for working effectively at a strategic planning and infrastructure level to ensure the best and most appropriate outcomes for Surrey through the Duty to Cooperate to act as a vehicle for joint working, liaison and exchange of information related to the Duty to Cooperate to agree a spatially specific strategic vision for Plan and infrastructure delivery to retain an overview of, and monitor, the implementation of projects and plan making across Surrey and the wider area of influence to identify the sustainable development issues that impact on more than one local planning area and agreeing how these should be prioritised and managed (covering the whole local plan cycle from plan-making, through to delivery and monitoring) to support better integration and alignment of strategic spatial and investment priorities in the Surrey area, ensuring that there is a clear and defined route through the statutory local planning process, where necessary
2.2	In carrying out these functions, the Board may: act on behalf of member organisations to commission studies, surveys and reports provide advice to member and stakeholder organisations, including making non-binding recommendations for a course of action
2.3	Surrey Leaders may review these terms of reference at any point.
3.	Meetings of the Board
3.1	Meetings of the Board will be public meetings. The Board may invite key stakeholders to attend the Board as may be agreed. Minutes of the outcomes of meetings of the Board will be made available to constituent members.
3.2	Other communication regarding the activities of the Board will be agreed by the Board.
4.	Statutory/Non-statutory Duty to Cooperate Bodies
4.1	There are a number of public bodies that are subject to the duty to cooperate. These are set out in the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 as amended by The National Treatment Agency (Abolition) and the Health and Social Care Act 2012 (Consequential, Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order 2013. These bodies are currently: the Environment Agency the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England (known as English Heritage) Natural England the Mayor of London the Civil Aviation Authority the Homes and Communities Agency each clinical commissioning group established under section 14D of the National Health Service Act 2006 the National Health Service Commissioning Board the Office of Rail Regulation Transport for London each Integrated Transport Authority each highway authority within the meaning of section 1 of the Highways Act 1980 (including the Secretary of State, where the Secretary of State is the highways' authority) the Marine Management Organisation
4.2	The National Planning Practice Guidance suggests that these bodies play a key role in ensuring Local Plans are as effective as possible on strategic cross boundary matters. The Board will ensure, through its provisions to invite stakeholders when required or through the work undertaken by the Surrey Chief Executives and the Surrey Planning Officers Association, that outcomes from a Local Strategic Statement have involved these statutory bodies as far as is proportionate to do so given the policy context under consideration.
4.3	Local Enterprise Partnerships and Local Nature Partnerships are not subject to the requirements of the duty. But local planning authorities and the public bodies that are subject to the duty must cooperate with Local Enterprise Partnerships and Local Nature Partnerships and have regard to their activities when they are preparing their Local Plans, so long as those activities are relevant to local plan making. Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) and Local Nature Partnerships (LNPs) are prescribed for this purpose in Town and Country Planning (Local Planning (England) Regulations as amended by the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2012 to include Local Nature Partnerships.
4.4	There is existing effective working between Councils, LEPs and LNPs and the Board will ensure that it is aware of Strategic Economic Plans and the delivery of a strategic approach to encouraging biodiversity. The Board will ensure, through its provisions to invite stakeholders when required or through the work undertaken by the Surrey Chief Executives and the Surrey Planning Officers Association (SPOA), that outcomes from a Local Strategic Statement have involved these bodies as far as is proportionate to do so given the policy context under consideration.
4.5	The Board will be advised by SPOA via the Surrey Chief Executives.

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Last modified: 19/09/2025