Agenda item

To consider the report of the Assistant Director City Development.

(Report circulated)

(Minute 36)

The report of the Assistant Director City Development was submitted, informing Members about the outcome of the Exeter St James Neighbourhood Plan examination, seeking agreement to the Council’s response to the Examination report and to grant delegated powers to take the process forward to referendum.

Executive congratulated the Exeter St James Forum, together with all the members and officers involved in the process, on the impressive progress made so far in producing a Neighbourhood Plan.  Members were pleased to note that they were second in the country, and the first urban forum to pass independent examination, despite being in the fourth round of communities receiving funding to progress their plans.

In response to members’ concerns regarding the importance of effective publicity for the referendum, the Assistant Director City Development informed members of the documentation that was being produced to publicise the vote, including the delivery of leaflets to households in the ward.   

Executive resolved:-

(1)        Executive accepts all of the recommendations made by the Independent Examiner in his report submitted to the Council on 15 February 2013, and that it adopts in full the reasoning of the Independent Examiner in arriving at those recommendations;

(2)        that the modifications to the draft Exeter St James Neighbourhood Plan referred to in paragraph 4.2 of the committee report shall be made to ensure that the draft plan meets the basic conditions;

(3)        that the modifications to the draft Exeter St James Neighbourhood Plan referred to in Appendix C of the committee report shall be made for the purpose of correcting errors;

(4)        that it is satisfied that the Exeter St James Neighbourhood Plan as so modified:

            (a)        meets the basic conditions (as set out in Schedule 4B to the Town and Country Planning Act 1990);

            (b)        is compatible with the Convention rights (within the meaning of the Human Rights Act 1998); and

(c)        complies with the provision concerning neighbourhood development plans made by or under Section 38A and 38B of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004;

(5)        that the decision statement to publicise the result of the Exeter St James Neighbourhood Plan examination be issued on 20 March 2013 in the form, or substantially in the form, of the draft decision statement at Appendix D of the report;

(6)        to proceed to carry out a referendum on the Exeter St James Neighbourhood Plan as so modified, and for that purpose to issue the information statement in the form, or substantially in the form, of the draft information statement at Appendix E of the report, together with the specified documents referred to in paragraph 6.2 of the report, on 21 March 2013;

(7)        that it is not appropriate to extend the area in which the referendum is to take place beyond the existing designated Exeter St James Neighbourhood Area;

(8)        to authorise the Assistant Director City Development, the Electoral Services Manager or other appropriate officers to undertake all necessary action to proceed with the referendum and (if more than half of those voting in the referendum vote in favour of the plan) to seek adoption of the draft Exeter St James Neighbourhood Plan by full Council.

(Report circulated)

The report of the Assistant Director City Development was submitted, informing Members about the outcome of the Exeter St James Neighbourhood Plan examination, seeking agreement to the Council’s response to the Examination report and to grant delegated powers to take the process forward to referendum.

Executive congratulated the Exeter St James Forum, together with all the members and officers involved in the process, on the impressive progress made so far in producing a Neighbourhood Plan.  Members were pleased to note that they were second in the country, and the first urban forum to pass independent examination, despite being in the fourth round of communities receiving funding to progress their plans.

In response to members’ concerns regarding the importance of effective publicity for the referendum, the Assistant Director City Development informed members of the documentation that was being produced to publicise the vote, including the delivery of leaflets to households in the ward.   

RESOLVED:-

(1)        that all of the recommendations made by the Independent Examiner in his report submitted to the Council on 15 February 2013 be accepted, and that the reasoning of the Independent Examiner in arriving at those recommendations be adopted in full;

(2)        that the modifications to the draft Exeter St James Neighbourhood Plan referred to in paragraph 4.2 of the committee report shall be made to ensure that the draft plan meets the basic conditions;

(3)        that the modifications to the draft Exeter St James Neighbourhood Plan referred to in Appendix C of the committee report shall be made for the purpose of correcting errors;

(4)        that it is satisfied that the Exeter St James Neighbourhood Plan as so modified:

            (a)        meets the basic conditions (as set out in Schedule 4B to the Town and Country Planning Act 1990);

            (b)        is compatible with the Convention rights (within the meaning of the Human Rights Act 1998); and

(c)        complies with the provision concerning neighbourhood development plans made by or under Section 38A and 38B of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004;

(5)        that the decision statement to publicise the result of the Exeter St James Neighbourhood Plan examination be issued on 20 March 2013 in the form, or substantially in the form, of the draft decision statement at Appendix D of the report;

(6)        to proceed to carry out a referendum on the Exeter St James Neighbourhood Plan as so modified, and for that purpose to issue the information statement in the form, or substantially in the form, of the draft information statement at Appendix E of the report, together with the specified documents referred to in paragraph 6.2 of the report, on 21 March 2013;

(7)        that it is not appropriate to extend the area in which the referendum is to take place beyond the existing designated Exeter St James Neighbourhood Area;

(8)        to authorise the Assistant Director City Development, the Electoral Services Manager or other appropriate officers to undertake all necessary action to proceed with the referendum and (if more than half of those voting in the referendum vote in favour of the plan) to seek adoption of the draft Exeter St James Neighbourhood Plan by full Council.

(Report circulated)