Cabinet Member for Planning

It was RESOLVED:-

1.1          That Woolpit Parish Council be requested to make the necessary modifications to their Neighbourhood Plan in accordance with the Examiner’s recommendations.

1.2      That, subject to satisfactory completion of the above (to be agreed by the Corporate Manager for Strategic Planning), this Neighbourhood Plan be advanced to a local referendum covering the parish of Woolpit.

Reason for Decision:  To enable the Council to meet its statutory obligations under Section 17A of the  Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended) and to allow the Woolpit Neighbourhood Plan to proceed to a local referendum.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

1.1      A Local Planning Authority may propose to make a decision on a recommendation that differs from that set out by the Examiner. If so, it must give its reason why and undertake further consultation before issuing a final decision. As appropriate, this may require the matter to be re-examined. For the reasons set out in section 4 below this option has been discarded.

1.2      The recommended option as set out below is that Mid Suffolk agree that, subject to modification, the Woolpit Neighbourhood Plan proceed to a local referendum.

Any Declarations of Interest Declared: None

Any Dispensation Granted: None

8.1      The Cabinet Member for Planning introduced the report which provided an update on the Woolpit Neighbourhood Plan.

8.2      Councillor Burn moved the recommendations in the report. The recommendations were seconded by Councillor Brewster.

8.3      The Leader of the Council invited the Ward Member for Woolpit, Councillor Mansel, to speak.

8.4      Councillor Mansel expressed support for the recommendations in the report.

8.5      Councillor Eburne queried whether training will be available to members of the planning committees on policies within Neighbourhood Plans. Councillor Burn confirmed that training had been discussed.

8.6      In response to a query from Councillor Eburne, the Corporate Manager for Strategic Planning provided clarification of the timing of the consultations for both the Joint Local Plan and the Woolpit Neighbourhood Plan, and the housing numbers in comparison with other areas.

8.7      It was RESOLVED:-

1.1      That Woolpit Parish Council be requested to make the necessary modifications to their Neighbourhood Plan in accordance with the Examiner’s recommendations.

1.2      That, subject to satisfactory completion of the above (to be agreed by the Corporate Manager for Strategic Planning), this Neighbourhood Plan be advanced to a local referendum covering the parish of Woolpit.

Reason for Decision: To enable the Council to meet its statutory obligations under Section 17A of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended) and to allow the Woolpit Neighbourhood Plan to proceed to a local referendum.