Decision details

Interest is growing amongst our local communities in preparing Neighbourhood Plans (NP) and taking the opportunity to provide parish level plans to sit alongside the Local Plan. This report looks at the way the district council works with local communities with recommendations on how we move forward and fulfil our statutory duties to advise and support them as they prepare NPs for their areas as effectively as possible. It is proposed to set up a Neighbourhood Plan Task and Finish Group to oversee this review.

The Planning Portfolio Holder agreed to

a)             set up a Task and Finish Group consisting provisionally of four District Councillors, two Parish Councillors and two Parish Council clerks to oversee the development of a number of documents relating to the review of working with Parish Councils to include

                                                             i.         a revised agreement for use between the Council and any Parish Council  preparing a Neighbourhood Plan;

                                                           ii.         a standard and enhanced offer to Parish Councils preparing Neighbourhood Plans; and

                                                          iii.         Guidance to Neighbourhood Plans in South Cambridgeshire

b)             Consider, at a Portfolio Holder meeting in Autumn 2016, the documents referred to in a) above, submit them to consultation with Parish Councils, and then consider proposed modifications (if any) before finalising those documents; and

c)              conduct an annual review of how the Council works with Parish Councils on Neighbourhood Plans.