Minutes:
O&S.8/18
Members received a verbal update during which specific reference was made to:-
- an experienced officer having recently been appointed (on an initial six-month period) to provide specialist support to the Neighbourhood Planning process;
- progress being made on Neighbourhood Plans. Whilst admittedly it was largely due to the tenacity of the Groups themselves, quite good progress was being made with the development of Neighbourhood Plans. In addition, officers acknowledged that there was still more progress to be made in this regard and the importance of the Council supporting the process was recognised;
- referendums were currently taking place on the Newton and Noss and Thurlestone Neighbourhood Plans;
- Neighbourhood Planning Workshops convened by the Council. The value of these Workshops was highlighted and the Panel endorsed the suggestion whereby Groups (and other potentially interested parties) should be encouraged to attend future Workshops that were convened by the Council; and
- previous single points of failure. With the support of the Locality Team, upskilling steps were being taken to ensure that there were no longer single points of failure within the process. Furthermore, it was hoped that the role of the Team could be expanded further to provide even more support.
In discussion, reference was made to:-
(a) support to those parishes who were considering starting a Neighbourhood Plan. It was confirmed that, as part of his role, the newly appointed specialist officer would be able to provide support to any such parishes;
(b) the intention to re-launch the Council’s offer to the Neighbourhood Planning Groups. Members welcomed the intention to re-launch the offer and it was PROPOSED and SECONDED and on being put to the vote declared CARRIED that:-
‘The Panel welcome the re-launching of the Council’s offer to Neighbourhood Planning Groups and asks that it include reference to the Council’s statutory responsibilities and funding streams that were potentially available; and
That the re-launched version of the offer be circulated to Members and Town and Parish Councils as soon as is practically possible.’
A further debate on the offer and support that the Council could provide ensued and the view was expressed that the Council should be careful to be realistic and to not over promise the levels of support that it can provide to Neighbourhood Planning Groups. A motion to that effect was subsequently PROPOSED and SECONDED and when put to the vote was also declared CARRIED;
(c) the levels of work and commitment involved in developing a Neighbourhood Plan. Some Members were of the view that the amount of work that was carried out to develop a Plan should not be underestimated. As a consequence, a number of the smaller parishes in the South Hams did not have sufficient numbers of volunteers with the time and expertise to drive the process. In response, the point was made that such areas should look at alternative means of working, with the ability for Town and Parish Councils to work together with neighbouring parishes to develop and progress a Plan being emphasised. To strengthen this point, it was PROPOSED and SECONDED and on being put to the vote declared CARRIED that:
‘Town and Parish Councils be informed about the benefits of working together with neighbouring parishes to develop and progress a Neighbourhood Plan.’
(d) production of a Toolkit to support the process. In support of the production of a Toolkit, the Panel requested that it be produced and finalised before the end of August 2018.
It was then:
RESOLVED
1. That the Panel welcome the re-launching of the Council’s offer to Neighbourhood Planning Groups and asks that it include reference to the Council’s statutory responsibilities and funding streams that were potentially available;
2. That the re-launched version of the offer be circulated to Members and Town and Parish Councils as soon as is practically possible;
3. That Town and Parish Councils be informed about the benefits of working together with neighbouring parishes to develop and progress a Neighbourhood Plan;
4. That all Members encourage Groups (and other potentially interested parties) to attend future Neighbourhood Planning Workshops convened by the Council;
5. That the Council is careful that it is realistic and does not over promise the support that it can provide to Neighbourhood Planning Groups; and
6. That the Toolkit be produced and finalised before the end of August 2018.