Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Brown and Randall.

Members are asked to declare any interest and the nature of that interest which they may have in any of the items under consideration at this meeting.

There were no declarations of interest by Members.

To approve the Minutes of the meeting held on 16^th March 2022 (to be added 19.04.22)

The minutes of the meeting held on 16^th March 2022 would be brought to the following meeting.

To receive communications from the Chair.

There were no Chair’s Announcements on this occasion.

1.     The Planning Policy Committee:

a)    Agreed that public consultation be undertaken on the draft Newnham Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan SPD (appendix A of the report), which includes proposed changes to the conservation area boundary

b)    Agreed that public consultation be undertaken on proposed Article 4(1) Direction controlling development with regards to:

·       Alteration of windows

·       Alteration of doors

·       Alterations to roofing

The Interim Head of Planning and Climate Change Policy presented a report which sought the Committee’s agreement to consult on the draft Newnham Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan (2022). Newnham was first designated as a Conservation Area in 1998 and no review had taken place to date. Proposals to extensions to the Conservation Area designation were contained within the report. Also proposed within the report was a proposal to include buildings to the Council’s local list of buildings and sites. The Appraisal also identified certain features as being of particular importance to the character of the Conservation Area and therefore the Appraisal and Management Plan contained initial proposals for a non-immediate Article 4 Direction, which would be subject to a formal consultation at a later date.

In regard to the areas between BA2 and BA4 as shown in the appended map, The Heritage Policy Officer explained that those areas were predominantly post-war developments and not in line with the traditional vernacular, so were not included in the proposed extensions.

Members discussed the report.

RESOLVED:

The Planning Policy Committee:

a)    Agreed that public consultation be undertaken on the draft Newnham Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan SPD (appendix A of the report), which includes proposed changes to the conservation area boundary

b)    Agreed that public consultation be undertaken on proposed Article 4(1) Direction controlling development with regards to:

·       Alteration of windows

·       Alteration of doors

·       Alterations to roofing

1.     The Planning Policy Committee:

a)    Noted and welcomed the significant progress in making the PNDP by the Pitsford community.

b)    Accepted the Examiner’s recommended modifications in respect of the PNDP.

c)     Accepted the Examiner’s recommendation that the PNDP, as modified in accordance with recommendation b) above, should proceed to a referendum of voters within Pitsford Parish.

d)    Approved the proposed decision statement set out in Appendix 1 of the report, subject to recommendations b) and c) and any necessary factual alterations.

e)    Agreed that delegated authority be given to the Interim Head of Planning and Climate Change Policy to make further minor editorial changes to the PNDP to address any factual and typographical errors and to reflect the fact that the document will be in its intended final form.

f)      Agreed that the costs of the referendum be met from the earmarked reserve for neighbourhood planning.

The Senior Planning Policy Officer presented a report which sought the Committee’s consideration of the recommendations of the Independent Examiner following the examination of the Pitsford Neighbourhood Development Plan (PNDP) and to seek Members’ approval to put the Plan to referendum. The Examiner was tasked with testing the NDP against specific criteria and conditions which were set out in the report. They must consider all representations received during the Regulation 16 submission consultation, of which there were 9 consultees, and the Examiner visited the neighbourhood area to see any issues in context. The Examiner produced their report which set out recommendations, including whether it met the basic conditions, and if not, which changes should be made. It was noted that it was rare for an Examiner not to propose any changes. The Examiner also considered whether sufficient consultation had been undertaken, if the whole of the parish was appropriate for the referendum, and whether the NDP should proceed to referendum. The report set out the Examiner’s conclusions and recommended modifications. A full schedule of modifications and editorial changes was included within Appendix 1 of the report and a date for the referendum was set for Thursday 16^th June.

In response to a question around proposed relief roads and their impact upon neighbourhood plans, the Committee heard that if a route or route options went through a parish area, then policies within the Neighbourhood Area, once made, would apply (in addition to any policies within the Joint Core Strategy and the Local Plan Part 2). In terms of promoting the referendum, a referendum document would be prepared which would be available at several locations within Pitsford and in the Council’s buildings in Northampton and Daventry, and in Brixworth Library. It would also be available to view on the Council’s website.

Members discussed the report.

RESOLVED:

The Planning Policy Committee:

a)    Noted and welcomed the significant progress in making the PNDP by the Pitsford community.

b)    Accepted the Examiner’s recommended modifications in respect of the PNDP.

c)     Accepted the Examiner’s recommendation that the PNDP, as modified in accordance with recommendation b) above, should proceed to a referendum of voters within Pitsford Parish.

d)    Approved the proposed decision statement set out in Appendix 1 of the report, subject to recommendations b) and c) and any necessary factual alterations.

e)    Agreed that delegated authority be given to the Interim Head of Planning and Climate Change Policy to make further minor editorial changes to the PNDP to address any factual and typographical errors and to reflect the fact that the document will be in its intended final form.

f)      Agreed that the costs of the referendum be met from the earmarked reserve for neighbourhood planning.

1.     The Planning Policy Committee:

a)    Noted and welcomed the progress that has been made, and is being made, in producing Neighbourhood Plans across West Northamptonshire.

b)    Agreed that a report updating this Committee on progress being made with Neighbourhood Plans be presented on a quarterly basis.

The Interim Head of Planning and Climate Change Policy presented a report which asked Members to note the progress made in producing and reviewing Neighbourhood Plans across West Northamptonshire, and to make Members aware of future neighbourhood planning activity. 25 plans had been “made” (adopted) and a number of early plans were currently being reviewed. Key milestones when producing neighbourhood plans are:

·       Designation of the planning area

·       Regulation 14 Consultation: undertaken by the Qualifying Body (Parish/Town council or forum)

·       Regulation 16 Consultation: undertaken by the Council. Any comments received to be sent to the Examiner

·       Examination: undertaken by an independent examiner who would decide if the plan meets “basic conditions” and makes any recommendations if necessary

·       Referendum: the amended plan to be put to referendum and if the majority vote in favour, the plan will be made.

16 areas were currently designated across West Northamptonshire. 3 area were working towards the Regulation 14 Consultation and 3 areas that had undertaken the Regulation 14 Consultation. No areas had reached the next stage at present. The Great Houghton Parish Council Neighbourhood Plan was going to referendum on 5^th May 2022, as agreed by the Planning Policy Committee at its meeting on 16^th March 2022. 3 plans in the Daventry area were under review: Guilsborough, West Haddon and Kilsby.

The Committee heard that it was good practice to review neighbourhood plans when national guidance changed, or local plans were adopted, to ensure that neighbourhood plans continued to carry weight. It was the case that some Parish/Town councils and forums may decide not to go ahead with neighbourhood plans if they found that they did not have sufficient resources to carry out the required work. Regarding Northampton, it was explained that Northampton Town Council was now the Qualifying Body for any neighbourhood plans that sat within any previously unparished areas of the town.

The Interim Head of Planning and Climate Change Policy advised that a project was underway to harmonise the way in which work regarding neighbourhood planning was undertaken, and as part of that work, he agreed to ensure that a briefing note for Members on neighbourhood plans was produced.

Members discussed the report.

RESOLVED:

The Planning Policy Committee:

a)    Noted and welcomed the progress that has been made, and is being made, in producing Neighbourhood Plans across West Northamptonshire.

b)    Agreed that a report updating this Committee on progress being made with Neighbourhood Plans be presented on a quarterly basis.

The Chair to advise whether they have agreed to any items of urgent business being admitted to the agenda.

There was no urgent business on this occasion.