Issue - meetings

To consider the attached report (C-005-2019/20).

(1)  That the recommendations included in the Examiner’s Report was considered and noted;

(2)  That the draft Moreton, Bobbingworth and the Lavers Neighbourhood Plan, with proposed amendments, which met the basic conditions and was compatible with European obligations was agreed; and

(3)  That the Decision Statement (Appendix A of the report) for the Moreton, Bobbingworth and the Lavers Neighbourhood Plan to progress to referendum be approved.

The Planning Services Portfolio Holder introduced the report on the Moreton, Bobbingworth and the Lavers Neighbourhood Plan. He advised that the Examiners Report for the draft Moreton, Bobbingworth and the Lavers Neighbourhood Plan (MBL Neighbourhood Plan) was received by Epping Forest District Council on 17 June 2019. The Examiners Report recommended that, with modifications, the MBL Neighbourhood Plan met the basic conditions and should proceed to a local referendum. The recommended referendum area was the Parish of Moreton, Bobbingworth and the Lavers.

The report set out the background to the MBL Neighbourhood Plan, the recommendations made by the Examiner, the Council’s proposed action against each of the recommendations and the potential timescale for a local referendum.

Councillor S Kane asked if the District Council would be paying for this referendum. The Portfolio Holder said that they would be, but officers would also be applying for a Government grant.

Decision:

(1)       That the recommendations included in the Examiner’s Report was considered and noted;

(2)       That the draft Moreton, Bobbingworth and the Lavers Neighbourhood Plan, with proposed amendments, which met the basic conditions and was compatible with European obligations was agreed; and

(3)       That the Decision Statement (Appendix A of the report) for the Moreton, Bobbingworth and the Lavers Neighbourhood Plan to progress to referendum be approved.

Reasons for Proposed Decision:

To comply with the statutory requirements in relation to Neighbourhood Planning and to progress the Draft MBL Neighbourhood Plan to referendum stage.

Other Options for Action:

Not to make a decision on the draft MBL Neighbourhood Plan and the recommendations in the Examiner’s Report. This would mean that the Council was not meeting the legislative requirements and was not fulfilling its statutory duty in the production of neighbourhood plans.