Agenda and minutes

At this point in the meeting, Members are asked to declare:

·        any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests

·        any prejudicial interests or

·        any disclosable pecuniary interests

which they may have in respect of business on this agenda.

Members were asked to declare, at this point in the meeting, any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests, or any prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interests they might have in respect of the business on the agenda. None were declared.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting of the Local Plan Working Group held on 20 September 2018.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 20 September 2018 be approved as a correct record and then signed by the Chair.

At this point in the meeting, members of the public who have registered their wish to speak, regarding an item on the agenda or an issue within the remit of the Working Group, may do so.  The deadline for registering is 5.00pm on Monday 17 December 2018.

Filming or Recording Meetings

Please note that, subject to available resources, this meeting will be filmed and webcast, or recorded, including any registered public speakers who have given their permission. This broadcast can be viewed at http://www.york.gov.uk/webcasts.

Residents are welcome to photograph, film or record Councillors and Officers at all meetings open to the press and public. This includes the use of social media reporting e.g. tweeting.  Anyone wishing to film, record or take photos at any public meeting should contact the Democracy Officers (whose contact details are at the foot of this agenda) in advance of the meeting.

The Council’s protocol on Webcasting, Filming & Recording of Meetings ensures that these practices are carried out in a manner both respectful to the conduct of the meeting and all those present.  It can be viewed at http://www.york.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/11406/protocol_for_webcasting_filming_and_recording_of_council_meetings_20160809.pdf

It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

The report presents the results of the Rufforth with Knapton Neighbourhood Plan referendum. It asks Members to recommend to Executive to formally ‘make’ the Neighbourhood Plan and bring it into full legal force as part of the Development Plan for York. This will allow the Neighbourhood Plan to progress in line with the relevant Neighbourhood Planning legislation and Regulations. This paper will be considered by Members of Executive on 20 December 2018.

Members considered a report that highlighted the results of the Rufforth with Knapton Neighbourhood Plan referendum and asked them to recommend to Executive to formally ‘make’ the Neighbourhood Plan and bring it into full legal force as part of the Development Plan for York. Members noted that this would allow the Neighbourhood Plan to progress in line with the relevant Neighbourhood Planning legislation and Regulations and that this paper would be considered by the Executive on 20 December 2018.

Officers gave an update and informed Members that the Localism Act 2011 introduced new powers for community groups to prepare neighbourhood plans for their local areas and that the Council had a statutory duty to assist communities in the preparation of Neighbourhood Plans including the process of Examination and Referendum.

Members noted that the Rufforth with Knapton Neighbourhood Plan had been prepared by the Rufforth with Knapton Neighbourhood group with on going engagement with the local community and City of York Council. It had been through various stages of preparation where the Examiners Report concluded that subject to modifications the plan met the necessary basic conditions and subject to some modifications should proceed to referendum.  A referendum was held on Tuesday 20 November 2018, where 93% of the votes were in favour of the neighbourhood plan.

Members noted that once the plan was ‘made’, it would achieve its full legal status and form part of the statutory development plan for the area and would sit alongside the Local Plan (once adopted).

Members thanked all of those involved with the neighbourhood plan and commented on the high turnout at the referendum.

Resolved:

                                             i.        That the results of the referendum be considered and a recommendation to Executive to formally ‘make’ the Neighbourhood Plan on 20 December 2018 be agreed.

                                            ii.        That a recommendation to Executive to approve the Decision Statement attached at Annex B to be published in accordance with Regulation 19 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended) be agreed.

Reasons:    

                                             i.        To allow the Neighbourhood Plan to progress in line with the Neighbourhood Planning Regulations.

                                            ii.        To allow the Neighbourhood Plan to progress in line with Neighbourhood Planning Legislation.

Officers informed Members that a letter had been received from the inspector in relation to the submitted Local Plan. This was to indicate their intention to move forward into hearings in early 2019. This letter would be published on the website shortly.

In response to Members questions Officers stated that:

·        There was a statutory requirement to give 6 weeks notice of the hearings and some technical work to be undertaken beforehand;

·        A more detailed timetable would follow shortly;

·        Detailed Matters, Issues and Questions from the inspector, along with the Council’s responses, would also be published online ahead of the hearings; and

·         Venues for the hearings were being considered now that a timeframe had been identified.