Issue - meetings

To receive a report seeking agreement to act upon the Examiner’s report into the Great Gransden Neighbourhood Plan leading to a referendum on whether or not it should be brought into force as part of the statutory development plan.

Executive Councillor: T Sanderson.

The Cabinet has agreed that the District Council should act upon the Examiner’s report to accept the recommended modifications and progress the neighbourhood plan to referendum.

See Minute No. 22.63 – Members Interests.

Consideration was given to a report by the Chief Planning Officer (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) seeking agreement to act upon the Examiner’s report into the Great Gransden Neighbourhood Plan leading to a referendum on whether or not it should be brought into force as part of the statutory development plan. The report also sets out a timetable for this process.

The Executive Councillor for Planning acquainted the Cabinet with the background to the report, drawing attention to the 3 appendices and the options available to the Council on how to respond to the examiner’s recommendations outlined in paragraph 2.2 of the report. In noting the proposed referendum date of 9th March 2023 and if the majority of votes cast by residents indicate a “yes”, Council would be asked to “make” the neighbourhood plan at its meeting on 29th March 2023. This would mean that the plan would become part of the statutory development plan for Huntingdonshire.

In noting the views of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Performance & Growth), specifically that Conservation Area Appraisals were not a requirement of the Neighbourhood Plan process, the Executive Councillor for Planning indicated that he would be raising this point with the Planning Policy Team.

Having commended Great Gransden Parish Council for the production of the Neighbourhood Plan and in thanking Officers for their support and production of the report whilst also acknowledging the level of work required to produce the Neighbourhood Plan, it was

RESOLVED

  that the Cabinet agree that the District Council should act upon the Examiner’s report to accept the recommended modifications and progress the neighbourhood plan to referendum.

The Panel is invited to comment on the Great Gransden Neighbourhood Plan Report detailing the outcome of the Examiner’s report and proposed progression to referendum.

By means of a report by the Chief Planning Officer (a copy of which was appended in the Minute Book) the Great Gransden Neighbourhood Plan was presented to the Panel.

In response to a question from Councillor Pickering, the Panel heard that Conservation Area Appraisals are not a requirement of the Neighbourhood Plan process, it is a separate process. The approach to updating Conservation Area Appraisals, and timings for review is under consideration as part of the work associated with Development Management.

Councillor Gray observed that whilst there is acceptance of the examiner’s report, it is important to liaise with local communities to establish and maintain the features which make their community special.

Following the discussion the committee praised the detail and quality of the report, recognising the work undertaken by the team. It was thereupon

RESOLVED

that Cabinet be encouraged to endorse the recommendations within the report.