Democracy | Leader of the Council – Minutes

Leader of the Council – Minutes – 20 February 2019

8 (8) GOXHILL NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN – APPLICATION FOR AREA STATUS – The Director: Business Development submitted a report informing the Cabinet Member of Goxhill Parish Council’s application to have its area formally designated for the purpose of preparing a Neighbourhood Plan, and seeking approval to advertise and consult on the application.

The Localism Act 2011 introduced new opportunities for local communities to get involved in planning their areas by preparing neighbourhood plans, neighbourhood development orders, and community right to build orders. The Act and associated neighbourhood planning regulations gave town/parish councils and neighbourhood forums powers to shape and encourage delivery of new development.

Before town/parish councils or neighbourhood forums could begin the work of preparing a Neighbourhood Plan they must apply to have the area they wished the plan to cover to be formally designated.

The council was responsible for receiving and determining applications for the designation of a neighbourhood area. The Neighbourhood Planning (General) (Amendment) Regulations 2016 prescribed time limits for the determination of a neighbourhood area application. They required the council to advertise the application for a consultation period of not less than six weeks.

Once the application for designation was publicised and comments invited, a decision must be issued within 13 weeks. Thereafter, the council was required to publicise the designation. If the council failed to determine the application within 13 weeks it must designate the area as a neighbourhood area.

Goxhill Parish Council wished to prepare a Neighbourhood Plan for its area. An application to have the area formally designated was submitted on 11 October 2018. The council now needed to consult with the community and others on the application. The application form and a map showing the extent of the area were appended to the report.

Resolved – (a) That the proposal to advertise Goxhill Parish Council’s application for neighbourhood area status be approved, and (b) that a six week public consultation be undertaken on the application.

9 (9) KIRTON IN LINDSEY NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN – DESIGNATION OF NEIGHBOURHOOD AREA – The Director: Business Development submitted a report informing the Cabinet Member of the outcome of the a six week consultation on Kirton in Lindsey Town Council’s application to have their area formally designated for the purposes of preparing a Neighbourhood Plan, and seeking approval for designation of the area.

The local planning authority was under a duty to support and was obliged by law to help people draw up their neighbourhood plans. Council officers had held discussions with Kirton in Lindsey Town Council and members of the local community with regard to awareness-raising and explanation of the neighbourhood planning process.

Before town/parish councils or neighbourhood forums could begin the work of preparing a Neighbourhood Plan they must apply to have the area they wished the plan to cover to be formally designated.

The council was responsible for receiving and determining applications for the designation of a neighbourhood area. The Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 prescribed time limits for the determination of a neighbourhood area application. They required the council to advertise the application for a consultation period of not less than six weeks. All representations received must then be considered and a recommendation made to either designate or to not designate the neighbourhood area.

Once the application for designation was publicised and comments invited a decision must then be issued within 13 weeks. Thereafter, the council was required to publicise the designation. If the council failed to determine the application within 13 weeks it must designate the area as a neighbourhood area.

Kirton in Lindsey Town Council wished to prepare a Neighbourhood Plan and submitted an application on 17 July 2018 to have its area formally designated for this purpose. The application was published and publicised for the required six-week period to allow comments to be made.

The report gave details of the consultation questions and responses received. Based on the consultation responses there were no reasons why the neighbourhood area boundary should not be formally designated. A decision document would be issued to the Town Council and placed in relevant locations, a formal notice would then appear on local notice boards and on the council website, following approval.

Resolved – (a) That the report be noted, and (b) that the approach set out in Option 1 at paragraph 4.1, be approved.