The decision was made at last night’s (22 July) meeting of Full Council.
The Local Plan sets out where new homes, jobs, community facilities and infrastructure should be provided across the borough over the coming years.
The council submitted the Local Plan for examination earlier this year following public consultation. The decision of councillors does not change the content of the Local Plan. Instead, it reaffirms the earlier submission decision following legal advice.
The decision follows a legal challenge involving another council elsewhere in the country. Legal advice recommended this additional step so the council can clearly demonstrate it considered the Sustainability Appraisal and all consultation responses before the examination continues.
Cllr Isabelle McKenzie, Rugby Borough Council's Portfolio Holder for Growth and Investment, said: “Asking councillors to consider the Sustainability Appraisal and all the comments received is a sensible approach. It demonstrates that we have carefully considered all the relevant matters before the examination continues.
“The decision does not change the Local Plan itself. It is about ensuring our decision-making process is as strong and legally robust as possible.”
Cllr Barbara Brown said: “I'm delighted we agreed to this. We owe it to our residents to ensure we've considered every angle.
“Avoiding unnecessary delay helps protect Rugby and our villages from speculative development.”
The Local Plan will now continue through the independent examination process. An independent Planning Inspector appointed by the Government will consider whether the plan meets all legal requirements and is sound before making recommendations.
The Full Council meeting took place on Wednesday 22 July. The agenda and reports are available on the council's website.