Minutes of the exploratory Meeting of the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group held in the Mayor’s Parlour, Town Hall, Bideford on Wednesday 17 October 2018
PRESENT:
South Ward:
Cllr D Brenton
East Ward:
Cllr Mrs R Craigie
IN ATTENDANCE: Mrs H Blackburn (Town Clerk)
Mrs C Parsons (Administration Assistant)
01. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN
Councillor Brenton was proposed by Councillor Mrs Craigie, and it was seconded and
RESOLVED That: Councillor Brenton be elected as Chairman of the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group for the year 2018/2019.
(Vote – For: 2, Against: 0, Abstentions: 0)
02. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Day. Councillor Day was present via ‘Skype’ however due to legislation was unable to vote on any items on the agenda.
03. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
There were no declarations of interest made at this point of the meeting
04. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SESSION
There were no members of the public in attendance.
05. TO RECEIVE EXAMPLES ON HOW OTHER COUNCILS TACKLED THE NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN
The Chairman considered the Neighbourhood Plan examples showing how other Councils had co-ordinated and tackled the initial stages of the Neighbourhood Plan.
A dedicated website page was considered to be beneficial in order to involve the wider community in the Neighbourhood Plan, and give a two-way flow of information between the lead groups and the community. A website page/tab would give a platform on which to make people aware of the intention to prepare a Neighbourhood Plan and the opportunity to be engaged in the process.
The Town Clerk advised members to consider the appointment of an Advising Consultant to advise the Steering Group on best practice, structure and legal framework involved in the Neighbourhood Plan process moving forward with the Steering Group.
It was proposed by Councillor Brenton, and it was seconded and
RECOMMENDED That:
(a) The Town Council’s IT Consultant be asked to set up a separate tab/page on the Bideford Town Council website which would be dedicated to the Neighbourhood Plan for the sharing of information, community consultation and engagement.
(b) Martin Parkes of Devon Communities Together be approached to obtain initial costs for his services on a consultancy basis, and to help identify what costs will be associated with the delivery the project, along with a suggested timetable for the Neighbourhood Plan.
(Vote – For: 2, Against: 0, Abstentions: 0)
06. TO IDENTIFY STAKEHOLDERS TO BE INVITED TO ATTEND FUTURE MEETINGS: TO ENSURE ALL SECTORS AND INDIVIDUALS IN THE AREA HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN
Councillor Brenton, Chairman felt that the Steering Group should not be top heavy with Councillors and that it needed to be Community led, with representatives from local sectors and the community, who would be able to bring value and identifiable skill sets to the Neighbourhood Plan project.
The Chairman explained there would be opportunity for stakeholders to be invited to appoint a representative(s)to join the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group and attend meetings. These representatives, would in turn form task sub-groups once the key areas that were to form the Neighbourhood Plan were identified.
It was identified that representatives from Education, Health, Housing, Renewables, Care and the Economy sectors would be sought, along with interested individuals in the community. It was felt that this would provide a range of views, skillsets and knowledge.
Councillor Brenton proposed, it was seconded and
RESOLVED That: a list of contacts of organisations, groups and businesses within the Parish be drawn up for the next meeting. Each will to be invited to appoint a representative to attend a future meeting to express their interest and join the Steering Group, which time the full steering group will be formed.
(Vote – For 2, Against: 0, Abstentions: 0)
07. TO DISCUSS THE NEXT STEPS
The steps needed to move forward were discussed:
It was agreed that:
(a) Members of the Steering Group should look at the Local Plan to familiarise
themselves with it.
(b) The Housing Needs survey to be requested from Torridge District Council.
(b) Start to identify the key areas which will form the basis of the Neighbourhood Plan. These will be finalised once the full Steering Group has been formed.
(c) An advance notice to be sent to organisations, groups and businesses advising that Bideford Town Council has agreed to put together a Neighbourhood Plan, and would be approaching for representatives, who can bring value to the project to join the Steering Group at a meeting to be convened in the future.
(d) Once the Advisory Consultant has been appointed, they be invited to attend the future meeting of stakeholders and interested parties.
08. TO AGREE THE DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING
Councillor Brenton proposed, and it was seconded and
RESOLVED That: the date of the next meeting would be Wednesday 12 December 2018.
(Vote – For: 2, Against: 0, Abstentions: 0)
The business of the meeting having been completed, the Chairman thanked the members for their attendance and the meeting concluded at 2.40 pm.
