Issue - meetings

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

Whitchurch Village Parish Council is the qualifying body authorised to act in relation to the neighbourhood Plan.

Councillor Paul May introduced the report by saying that Whitchurch Village Parish Council had indicated that they would like to undertake a Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) in September 2014 and the Neighbourhood Area, the first formal stage in the process, was designated by the Council on 3rd November 2014. The Plan was considered by an Independent Examiner in September 2017, who recommended that it should proceed, with modifications, to the final stage, the referendum.  The referendum took place on 16th November 2017.  There was a 38.5% turnout of the overall Neighbourhood Area electorate. A majority (96.5%) were in favour of using the Whitchurch Village NDP to help decide planning applications in the Neighbourhood Area.  Councillor May also commended Councillor Karen Warrington for her involvement in the process and thanked all residents from Whitchurch who turned up for the referendum and at Joint Strategic Plan (JSP) events.

Councillor Paul May moved the recommendations.

Councillor Bob Goodman seconded the motion by praising Councillor May for his involvement in the process and invited residents to get engaged in the JSP consultations.

Councillor Karen Warrington also supported the Plan and commended the community for voting in huge numbers at the referendum.

Councillor Charles Gerrish also welcomed the Plan and invited all residents to get engaged with the JSP and Local Plan consultations.

RESOLVED (unanimously) the Cabinet agreed to:

Make and bring into force the Whitchurch Village Neighbourhood Development Plan, as set out in Appendix 1, as part of the Development Plan for the Whitchurch Neighbourhood Area, in accordance with Section 38A(4) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended by the Localism Act 2011 and the Housing and Planning Act 2016).