Neighbourhood Planning - A Local Authority Perspective Beryl Guiver Principal Planning Policy Officer Tom Rice Planning Enquiry Officer

2 How we are doing

3 South Oxfordshire Approach South Oxfordshire provides positive support and encouragement for NP Some funding available to each group Each NP group has a liaison officer –Advice on process –Ensure they know national and local strategic policy constraints –Help with policy formulation –Help ensure plan meets local community aspirations –Help ensure plan will succeed at examination

4 Area designation Parished area so all relevant bodies are parish councils LA role to ensure NP area appropriate –Encourage some NP areas to extend across 2 or more parishes –Assist in brokering agreements between PCs Advertise and approve NP area Formal confirmation letter

5 Plan Production Low key involvement as required by parishes: –Attending progress meetings –Advice on consultation –Advice on national and local strategic policy –Help with evidence and plan production When plan near completion –Assist with policy writing –Help prepare basic conditions statement –Assist with comments from statutory consultees

6 Pre-submission LAs are a statutory consultee and can comment formally on the plan: –Positive approach –Set out any conformity issues –Provide more informal advice on policy wording, whether plan is likely to achieve what the community wants, issues likely to arise at examination

Thame proposals

8 Submission LA must check all appropriate information submitted including content: –The plan or map –Consultation statement –The proposed neighbourhood plan –Basic conditions statement –HRA and Appropriate Assessment LA can advise on changes required to ensure information is suitable

9 LA check and publish plan In addition LA checks whether: –PC is authorised to act –proposal meets definition of an NDP and scope of NDP provisions –PC has undertaken correct consultation procedures If the plan fails any of these checks LA should not continue Publish plan for comment for 6 weeks Decide if comments will be made public

10 Appoint Examiner Tender process - RICS list of potential examiners Appointment agreed with the PC Examiner must: –be independent, –have no interest in land, –have appropriate qualifications and experience

Indicative timetable to appoint examiner and for examination Invites to quote sent/advertised Submission of the draft plan Deadline for quotes submission Evaluation of quotes Interviews (if required) Agreement with qualifying body Appoint Examiner Publicise Plan Proposal – Evidence to Examiner – Commence Examination Examiners fact check report Examiners final report

Examination Examiner decides: –Does plan meet basic conditions –Comply with definition of an NDP and what can be included in an NDP –Referendum area –Compatible with convention rights –If hearing necessary I.e. assessing process more than content 12

Examination Hearing

Examiners Report Examiner recommends: –draft plan goes to referendum –specifies modifications, then draft plan goes to referendum, or –proposal is refused LA considers examiners report, it can: Agree changes if any and go to referendum Not agree if the draft plan does not meet basic conditions or is incompatible with Convention rights 14

Referendum LA must: –Give 28 days notice (excl weekends) –Publish information statement –Publish relevant documents Regulations set the question: Do you want SODC to use the neighbourhood plan for Thame to help decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area? Only residents vote except in business areas >50% vote yes LA make plan. 15

LA make plan What does this mean? Governance arrangements – Cabinet/council decision? 16

Legal Challenges 3 challenge periods/opportunities: the Examiners recommendations and LA decision on them conduct of the referendum if LA refuse to make plan after >50% vote in favour All within 6 weeks of relevant decision 17

Issues and lessons learnt Legislation limited information, light touch LA governance procedures Referendum influences plan content Trust between LA and NP group Involvement of statutory consultees Pressure from landowners Keep an open mind 18