Issue - meetings

The Highcliffe & Walkford Neighbourhood Plan has been subject to independent examination between November 2021 and July 2022. The examiner’s report concluded that subject to modifications, the neighbourhood plan meets basic and legal conditions. Cabinet on 26 October 2022 agreed the examiner’s report and modifications, together with the council’s decision statement and modified neighbourhood plan and approved the plan for referendum.

The Council held a referendum on 15 December within the Highcliffe & Walkford Parish Council area. The referendum question asked:

‘Do you want BCP Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Highcliffe & Walkford to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?’ 

The turnout for the referendum was 1,955 (representing 16.89% of the electorate in the Highcliffe & Walkford Parish area). Of these voters, 86% voted in favour of the plan and the council must now bring the plan into force so that it forms part of the statutory development plan for the Highcliffe and Walkford neighbourhood area. It will be used alongside the Christchurch Local Plan to determine planning applications in the Highcliffe & Walkford Parish Council area.

Councillor Brooks, Lead Member for High Street Renaissance presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'A' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Members were advised that the Highcliffe & Walkford Neighbourhood Plan had been subject to independent examination between November 2021 and July 2022, and that the examiner’s report concluded that subject to modifications, the neighbourhood plan meets basic and legal conditions. Cabinet on 26 October 2022 agreed the examiner’s report and modifications, together with the council’s decision statement and modified neighbourhood plan and approved the plan for referendum.

In relation to this Members were advised that the Council held a referendum on 15 December within the Highcliffe & Walkford Parish Council area, and that the referendum question had asked:

‘Do you want BCP Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Highcliffe & Walkford to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?’ 

The turnout for the referendum was 1,955 (representing 16.89% of the electorate in the Highcliffe & Walkford Parish area), and of these voters, 86% voted in favour of the plan and the council must now bring the plan into force so that forms part of the statutory development plan for the Highcliffe and Walkford neighbourhood area.

Members were advised that the plan will be used alongside the Christchurch Local Plan to determine planning applications in the Highcliffe & Walkford Parish Council area.

RESOLVED that Council: -

(a)            Note the results of the Highcliffe & Walkford Neighbourhood Plan referendum held on 15 December 2022 (Declaration of Result of Poll - Appendix 1 and Ballot Box Verification Record – Appendix 2);

(b)           Agree to make the Highcliffe & Walkford Neighbourhood Plan (Appendix 3), that was subject to referendum on 15 December 2022, part of BCP Council’s statutory development plan so that it can be used alongside the Christchurch Local Plan to determine planning applications in the Highcliffe & Walkford neighbourhood area.

(c)            Approve the Local Planning Authority’s Decision Statement (Appendix 4) and delegate publication and circulation of the Decision Statement to the Interim Director of Planning in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Development, Growth and Regeneration.

Voting: Unanimous