Hackleton Neighbourhood Development Plan
Steering Group Chairman’s Report
The first session of the Informal Consultation on the Draft Neighbourhood Plan took place on Saturday, 5th October, 10.00 until 4.00, in the Annexe of the Village Hall. More than 60 people attended, looked at the presentation and discussed the content with members of the steering group.
Obviously, much of the attention was focussed on our policies and the choice of Oak Way as our preferred site. As far as I’m aware, there were no negative comments, and there was general surprise at the detail and range of the Plan – and appreciation of the amount of work that had gone into it. A summary of the written comments will follow shortly.
The second public session will take place on the 16th at 6.30, following which the steering group will make amendments and our consultant will produce the next Draft for formal consultation, under Regulation 14 of the Neighbourhood Planning Regulations. This will take about six weeks and may result in further amendments being made and the production of another Draft which will be submitted to SNC, under Regulation 16.
Following that, the Plan will subject to an independent examination by a jointly appointed Examiner, to consider if the Plan meets the basic conditions. This will lead to further amendments, following which the Plan will be the subject of a Referendum. A straight majority vote (50% of turnout +1) of those on the Electoral Register will be required before SNC “make” the Plan. It will then be used to help determine planning decisions in our neighbourhood are, alongside SNC and National Planning Polices.
From that point on, the Parish Council will take ownership of the Plan and act accordingly. It may be that a presentation is made to the Council by the steering group about how the Plan should inform their decision-making.
It will be clear from the timeline outlined above that the process will take a few months yet to complete, though the Plan will have some weight once formal consultation begins. The steering group will continue its work until the Plan is finally made.
The Council may wish to call upon the services of the steering group when the Plan is due for review, which is currently after three years. The Clerk will keep all associated documents in the meantime.
Roy Hawkesford
6th October 2019.
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