Issue - meetings

Sandbanks Peninsula Neighbourhood Plan

Meeting: 22/05/2024 - Cabinet (Item 9)

9 Sandbanks Peninsula Neighbourhood Plan PDF 268 KB

Neighbourhood Planning gives local people the opportunity to develop a shared vision for their neighbourhood and shape the development and growth of their local area. BCP Council as the Local Planning Authority has a legal duty to support and advise town/parish councils and neighbourhood forums through the process to prepare neighbourhood plans, following statutory legislation, regulations and procedure.

The Sandbanks Neighbourhood Forum is preparing a Neighbourhood Plan, which is at an advanced stage having been through independent examination. The examiner’s report (dated 15 December 2023) has concluded that subject to modifications, it meets basic conditions and legal requirements, and can now proceed to referendum.

Cabinet is asked to accept the findings of the examiner including his recommended modifications; approve the Local Planning Authority’s decision statement; and approve the modified Neighbourhood Plan for referendum on 18 July 2024.

If at referendum there is a majority vote (50% plus 1) in favour of the neighbourhood plan, then the neighbourhood plan will come back to Council to become a ‘Made’ plan for the Sandbanks Peninsula Neighbourhood area and form part of the statutory development plan. It will be used alongside the Poole Local Plan to determine planning applications.

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED that Cabinet: -

(a) Considered each of the recommendations of the examiner which relate to:

i. a number of modifications to the Submission Version Plan (Appendix 1)

ii. that the referendum area should not be extended beyond the designated Neighbourhood Area (Appendix 2)

(b) Agree with the recommendations by the examiner that the Sandbanks Peninsula Neighbourhood Plan (2023-2033) be modified as defined by the examiner (Appendix 3)

(c) Agree that the modified Sandbanks Peninsula Neighbourhood Plan proceeds to referendum on 18 July 2024; and

(d) Approve the Local Planning Authority’s Decision Statement and list of modifications as tabled (Appendix 4).

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Dynamic Places

Reason

To meet the statutory obligations including provisions set out in the from the Localism Act 2011, the Town & Country Planning Act 1990, the Neighbourhood Planning Act 2017, and the Neighbourhood Planning Regulations 2012 (as amended).

Minutes:

The Portfolio Holder for Customer, Communications and Culture presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'E' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was advised that neighbourhood planning gives local people the opportunity to develop a shared vision for their neighbourhood and shape the development and growth of their local area, and that BCP Council as the Local Planning Authority has a legal duty to support and advise town/parish councils and neighbourhood forums through the process to prepare neighbourhood plans, following statutory legislation, regulations and procedure.

Cabinet was informed that the Sandbanks Neighbourhood Forum is preparing a Neighbourhood Plan, which is at an advanced stage having been through independent examination, and that the examiner’s report (dated 15 December 2023) has concluded that subject to modifications, it meets basic conditions and legal requirements, and can now proceed to referendum.

With regards to this Cabinet was asked to accept the findings of the examiner including his recommended modifications; approve the Local Planning Authority’s decision statement; and approve the modified Neighbourhood Plan for referendum on 18 July 2024.

In relation to this Cabinet was informed that if at referendum there is a majority vote (50% plus 1) in favour of the neighbourhood plan, then the neighbourhood plan will come back to Council to become a ‘Made’ plan for the Sandbanks Peninsula Neighbourhood area and form part of the statutory development plan, and that it will be used alongside the Poole Local Plan to determine planning applications.

When presenting the report, the Portfolio Holder highlighted an email received from the Neighbourhood Forum advising that they would be withdrawing the reference made to the Secretary of State concerning the deferral of the Cabinet’s consideration of the plan in April. In addition, the Portfolio Holder advised that the Sandbanks Neighbourhood Forum had expressed thanks to officers for their assistance and further to this highlighted that the Neighbourhood Plan had been finalised at the end of January 2024.

Cabinet spoke in support of the report and highlighted the amount of work which goes into the formation of a neighbourhood plan, and of the considerable benefit a neighbourhood plan can have on an area.