Agenda item

Neighbourhood forums are organisations empowered to lead on the preparation of a neighbourhood plan within a defined area.

Neighbourhood planning involves the local community in developing a shared vision to help shape the future development and growth of their local area. A neighbourhood plan must proceed through several statutory stages before it can be formally ‘made’ (adopted) by the Council.

BCP Council has received an application for designation of the Lilliput Neighbourhood Forum and Area. The area forms part of the Canford Cliffs ward, a small area southeast of the Parkstone Ward and the southern section of the Penn Hill Ward.

The application was subject to a statutory public consultation inviting representations. The consultation ran between 14 July and 25 August 2025. 64 representations were received by BCP Council.

A prospective forum can determine what area is most suitable to plan for. However, the Local Planning Authority must first formally designate the forum (as a ‘qualifying body’) and designate the neighbourhood area, having regard to a range of factors including comments received from consultation. It is recommended that the Lilliput Neighbourhood Forum and Area are both designated and no amendment to the area is proposed.

RESOLVED that Cabinet approved the application by the Lilliput Neighbourhood Forum and designates both the forum and area.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Leader of the Council

Reason

To meet the statutory obligations including provisions set out in (i) the Localism Act 2011 (ii) the Town & Country Planning Act 1990 and the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended by the Neighbourhood Planning Act 2017) and (iii) the Neighbourhood Planning Regulations 2012 (as amended).

The Leader of the Council presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'I' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was advised that neighbourhood forums are organisations empowered to lead on the preparation of a neighbourhood plan within a defined area, and that neighbourhood planning involves the local community in developing a shared vision to help shape the future development and growth of their local area. A neighbourhood plan must proceed through several statutory stages before it can be formally ‘made’ (adopted) by the Council.

In relation to this Cabinet was informed that BCP Council has received an application for designation of the Lilliput Neighbourhood Forum and Area, and that the area forms part of the Canford Cliffs ward, a small area southeast of the Parkstone Ward and the southern section of the Penn Hill Ward.

Further to this Cabinet was advised that the application was subject to a statutory public consultation inviting representations, and that the consultation ran between 14 July and 25 August 2025 during which 64 representations were received by BCP Council.

Cabinet was informed that a prospective forum can determine what area is most suitable to plan for, however, the Local Planning Authority must first formally designate the forum (as a ‘qualifying body’) and designate the neighbourhood area, having regard to a range of factors including comments received from consultation.

Cabinet was advised that it was recommended that the Lilliput Neighbourhood Forum and Area are both designated and no amendment to the area is proposed.

RESOLVED that Cabinet approved the application by the Lilliput Neighbourhood Forum and designated both the forum and area.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Leader of the Council

Reason

To meet the statutory obligations including provisions set out in (i) the Localism Act 2011 (ii) the Town & Country Planning Act 1990 and the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended by the Neighbourhood Planning Act 2017) and (iii) the Neighbourhood Planning Regulations 2012 (as amended).