Issue - meetings

Following the successful examination and referendum, this report seeks to make and bring into force the Englishcombe Neighbourhood Plan, so that it will be used by the Local Planning Authority to help determine planning applications within the Neighbourhood Area.

Councillor Liz Richardson said that The Localism Act 2011 had reformed the planning system to give local people new rights to shape the development of the communities in which they live.  The Act had provided for a new type of community-led initiative known as a Neighbourhood Development Plan which sets out the policies on the development and use of land in a parish or ‘Neighbourhood Area’.

The Council had a duty to assist communities in the preparation of Neighbourhood Development Plans and orders, to take a Plan through a process of examination and referendum, and to bring the Neighbourhood Plan into force.  In line with the Neighbourhood Planning Protocol (version dated 9th September 2015) the decision to make the Plan was for the Council’s Cabinet.

The referendum took place on the 15th September 2016, and there was a 25.9% turnout of the overall Neighbourhood Area electorate.  A majority (91%) were in favour of using the Englishcombe NDP to help decide planning applications in the Neighbourhood Area.

Councillor Liz Richardson moved the recommendations.

Councillor Patrick Anketell-Jones seconded the motion by welcoming the Englishcombe NDP as the 4^th plan adopted in Bath and North East Somerset. 

RESOLVED (unanimously) that the Cabinet agreed to make and bring into force the Englishcombe Neighbourhood Development Plan, as part of the Development Plan for the Englishcombe Neighbourhood Area, in accordance with Section 38A(4) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended by the Localism Act 2011).