Issue - meetings

Boscombe and Pokesdown Neighbourhood Plan

Meeting: 11/09/2019 - Cabinet (Item 31)

31 Boscombe & Pokesdown Neighbourhood Plan Decision Statement PDF 182 KB

The draft Boscombe & Pokesdown Neighbourhood Plan has been examined by an independent Examiner who issued her report on 16 July 2019, attached as Appendix 2 to this report. The Examiner has recommended that, subject to modifications to the Plan, it may proceed to referendum. A Decision Statement is attached at Appendix 3, which sets out the Council’s proposed response to the Examiner’s recommendations. This Cabinet report asks Members to agree the Examiner’s recommendations, as set out in the Decision Statement, to enable the Neighbourhood Plan to proceed to referendum.

Additional documents:

Decision:

RECOMMENDED that Council:-

(a) Consider and accept the modifications to the Boscombe & Pokesdown Neighbourhood Plan recommended in the Examiner’s Report 16 July 2019, attached as Appendix 2 to the report;

(b) Agree with the Examiner’s recommendation that the Boscombe & Pokesdown Neighbourhood Plan as modified meets Basic Conditions;

(c) Agree that the Neighbourhood Plan as modified, attached as Appendix 4, can proceed to Referendum, and publish this decision through issuing the Decision Statement;

(d) Agree with the Examiner’s recommendation that the area for referendum will be the designated Boscombe & Pokesdown Neighbourhood area, as shown in the Plan at Appendix 1 (the combined area of Boscombe East & Pokesdown and Boscombe West wards)

(e) As competent authority under the Habitats Regulations, agree to adopt the Habitats Regulations Assessment of the Boscombe &

Pokesdown Neighbourhood Plan, attached as Appendix 5 to the report; and

(f) Delegate authority to the Director of Growth and Infrastructure in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Strategic Planning to agree further minor changes to the Plan.

Voting: Unanimous

REASONS

In line with the Council’s obligations under the Localism Act to facilitate the production and adoption of Neighbourhood Plans and its duties as competent authority under the Habitats Regulations.

Minutes:

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

The Cabinet were asked to agree the Examiners recommendations, as set out in the Decision Statement, to enable the Neighbourhood Plan to proceed to referendum.

The Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Board reported that the Board, at its meeting on 9 September 2019 commended the plan and the hard work which had been carried out but informally requested that Cabinet review the suggested date of the 31 October to ensure that this is the most appropriate date.

Councillors present at the meeting extended their thanks and appreciation to all those involved in the work which had been carried out and urged that the best possible date be chosen in order to ensure the best engagement possible.

Cabinet Members expressed their support for the plan and discussed the potential dates for the referendum, confirming their preference to stick to the suggested 31 October 2019 date.