Public reports pack PDF 3 MB - Blaby District Council

Neighbourhood Areas is if an application is received from a group promoting
for instance a Business Led neighbourhood plan where the areas are already
covered by parish councils.
Application by Fosse Villages Neighbourhood Forum
6.11 The Council has received an application from the Fosse Villages Forum to
have the area they have designated recognised as “An appropriate area” for
the purposes of composing a Neighbourhood Plan. Officers are now in a
position to recommend that Blaby District Council approves the designation of
its first Neighbourhood Plan area.
Independent Examination
6.12 A Neighbourhood Plan or Neighbourhood Development Order will need to be
assessed by an “Independent Examiner” who will be paid for by the Council
and appointed in conjunction with the “Qualifying Body.” The examiner will
then recommend either that the plan is submitted to a referendum (with or
without amendments) or that the proposed plan is refused. In reaching the
decision the examiner will have to have regard to the plan’s conformity with
the National Planning Policy Framework and any other national planning
policy and with the Council`s Core Strategy, compliance with EU Directives,
how the plan promotes equality and human rights, any consultation
undertaken and the plan’s response to consultation. Costs of the examination
have been estimated to be around £20,000 according to CLG..
6.13 Blaby District Council will also be responsible for publishing the Examiner’s
report and considering any recommendations that the Examiner may make.
Blaby District Council has the right to endorse the Examiner’s comments and
recommendations or to reject them and refer back to the Examiner for further
examination.
Referendum
6.14 If the Neighbourhood Plan passes the examination then the next stage is for
Blaby District Council to hold a referendum on the making of the plan. The
Council is responsible for organising and paying for the referendum.. A
referendum must take place as a minimum in the designated area to which
the plan relates and those entitled to vote are those persons within the plan
area who are entitled to vote in local elections. If the plan gains support from
over 50% of those voting however small the turnout might be then the Council
have no choice but to adopt the Neighbourhood Plan as part of the
Development Plan.
Duty to Support
6.15 The Localism Act requires local authorities to support communities in all
aspects of neighbourhood planning. This is a new duty. It is up to each local
authority to determine how that support is expressed. To date Blaby District
Council has given financial support in terms of the Front Runner monies
received from CLG that were passed in their entirety to the Fosse Villages
Forum; other authorities have not been so generous. The Duty to Support is a
significant resource challenge to the Council but at the same time could also
comprise an opportunity to better connect with our communities and to work
Page 170