It seems that the premise of ‘duty to cooperate’ might be leading us to weigh our local needs less than those coming from neighbouring authorities. While holistic planning is laudable, the dangers of importing problems from elsewhere cannot be ignored. If unmet housing needs from adjacent councils are tackled at the expense of our own community's stability, we risk long-term repercussions that will take years to remedy. Therefore, it would be sensible to strategically approach any such cooperation by ensuring robust safeguards are in place that protect our environment and existing infrastructure.

Collaboration should enhance our ability to maintain a high quality of living rather than compromise it due to the external demands. A measured, localised approach is necessary before considering moving forward to implement any cross-boundary strategies.