Issue - meetings

Judy Holmes, Assistant Chief Executive highlighted the Council’s good progress in delivering Neighbourhood Plans (NP), this plan would leave one left to complete.   Andrew Marsh, Business Unit Leader for Planning Policy confirmed 18  Neighbourhood Plans were already in place.  Cabinet is recommended to approve the Copthorne NP for referendum.  The Parish Council requested designation of the NP area in 2012 and work started the same year.  Though work on the Plan paused in 2017, it resumed in September 2020 and was submitted to the Council for consultation and examination in February 2021.   The examiner’s report was received in June 2021, he confirmed the NP met the legal requirements and recommended the plan go to referendum after some amendments, which are listed in Appendix 1. The Business Unit Leader for Planning Policy confirmed that the officers and the Parish Council have accepted the examiner’s proposed recommendations.  Subject to Cabinet’s approval the provisional date for the referendum is 16 September 2021.  If over 50% of residents agree the plan can be made by Council at its meeting on 29 September 2021.  It will then form part of the Development Plan for the assessment of planning applications.

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning confirmed it was helpful that the Parish Council have accepted the examiner’s recommendations in full and was glad to see another NP come through.  He highlighted that all NPs would be subject to revisions as Government issue revised requirements. He recommended the report to Cabinet for approval.

The Cabinet Member for Economic Growth noted his support and asked what the test was for the loss of employment floor space and land when the purpose is no longer viable.

The Business Unit Leader confirmed no set test is in place. The Inspector for the Site Allocation DPD when reviewing policy SA34 which seeks to retain employment space, suggested the Council add wording relating to a viability test.  This is still to be agreed but similar local authority wording states that “the land has been marketed for a certain length of time”.

As there were no further questions the Leader took the Members to the recommendations which were agreed unanimously.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet:

a) Formally accepted the Examiner’s recommended modifications to the Copthorne Neighbourhood Plan to enable the Plan to proceed to Referendum;

b) Agreed to publish the ‘Decision Statement’ as set out at Appendix 1 of the report.