Issue - meetings

The Report of the Executive Manager – Communities is attached.

It was RESOLVED that:

a)    the Keyworth Neighbourhood Plan Examiner’s recommended modifications to the Keyworth Neighbourhood Plan be accepted.

b)    a referendum for the Keyworth Neighbourhood Plan, with the area for the referendum being the Parish of Keyworth, be held.

c)     the ‘Keyworth Neighbourhood Plan Decision Statement’ be approved and published.

The Portfolio Holder for Housing and Planning presented the report of the Executive Manager – Communities. It was noted that the Keyworth Neighbourhood Plan was submitted to the Borough Council in July 2017 and following consultation it had proceeded to independent examination. The Portfolio Holder explained that subject to a number of proposed modifications the Plan could now proceed to a referendum if approved by Cabinet.

It was noted that the Borough Council agreed with the proposed modifications and was satisfied that the Neighbourhood Plan met the basic conditions and statutory requirements for neighbourhood plans. The Portfolio Holder noted that comments had been made by some Keyworth Parish Councillors in regards to the independent inspector’s modifications but confirmed that the Keyworth Neighbourhood Plan could now not be significantly modified as it had already been inspected in its draft form and therefore any further changes would create significant time delays.

The Portfolio Holder advised that if taken to a referendum that resulted in a vote in favour of it becoming part of the local development plan, a report would be presented to Council with a recommendation that the Keyworth Neighbourhood Plan be made part of the statutory development plan for Rushcliffe.

In seconding the recommendations Councillor Edyvean congratulated the residents who helped produce the Keyworth Neighbourhood Plan and noted that Keyworth Parish Council believed that some of the modifications outlined in the examiner’s report were not wholly driven by the requirements of a Neighbourhood Plan. Councillor Edyvean advised that despite this Parish Council was satisfied with the proposed plan and that it should now to put to a referendum 

Councillor Robinson noted that the Council were very supportive of the implementation of neighbourhood plans because they produced a voice for local communities within the Borough in the planning process.

It was RESOLVED that:

a)    the Keyworth Neighbourhood Plan Examiner’s recommended modifications to the Keyworth Neighbourhood Plan be accepted.

b)    a referendum for the Keyworth Neighbourhood Plan, with the area for the referendum being the Parish of Keyworth, be held.

c)    the ‘Keyworth Neighbourhood Plan Decision Statement’ be approved and published.

Reason for decisions

The Borough Council, as Local Planning Authority, has a statutory duty to assist in the production of Neighbourhood Plans where communities wish to produce them under the Localism Act 2011.