Issue - meetings

The Council noted that neighbourhood plans were development plans produced by parish/town councils or neighbourhood forums. Ripley and Ockham parish councils had produced the Lovelace Neighbourhood Plan covering the Lovelace Neighbourhood Area (Lovelace ward, which encompassed the parishes of Ripley, Ockham, and Wisley). Puttenham Parish Council had produced the Puttenham Neighbourhood Plan covering the Puttenham Neighbourhood Area (Puttenham Parish). Send Parish Council had produced the Send Neighbourhood Plan covering the Send Neighbourhood Area (Send Parish).

To meet the requirements of The Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended) (“the Regulations”), the Council held six-week consultations and arranged for an examination for each of the plans. The plans were then amended in line with the examiner’s recommendations and then subject to a referendum of local government voters within the respective neighbourhood areas on 6 May 2021. 

In response to the referendum question “Do you want Guildford Borough Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for the [Lovelace or Puttenham or Send] Neighbourhood Area to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?” The following percentages of those voting voted “Yes”: Lovelace 82.33%, Puttenham 87.62% and Send 81.15%.

By virtue of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended) (“the Act”) and the Regulations, the Council must ‘make’ (adopt) the Plans as soon as reasonably practicable after the referendum is held and, in any event, not later than the last day of the period of 8 weeks from the day after the referendum. The Council did not need to make a neighbourhood plan if it considered that the making of it would be a breach, or would otherwise be incompatible with, any EU obligations (as incorporated into UK law) or any human rights obligations.  Officers were of the view that making the plans would not breach these obligations. The Council must therefore decide whether or not to make the relevant neighbourhood plans.

As a result of amendments to the Regulations, neighbourhood plans now formed part of the statutory Development Plan and carried full weight in planning decisions as soon as they were approved at a referendum, rather than when they are made by the Council at the final stage of the process. Applications for planning permission must be determined in accordance with the Development Plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise.

Upon the motion of the Deputy Leader of the Council, Councillor Jan Harwood, seconded by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Joss Bigmore, the Council:

RESOLVED: That the Council resolves to ‘make’ (adopt) the Lovelace, Puttenham and Send neighbourhood plans.

Reason:

To meet the requirements of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended) and The Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended)