Purpose

Reason for the
Decision

The Knightsford Neighbourhood Plan 2023 to 2033 – Independent Examiner’s Report and Progress to Referendum  

 

Alternative Options
considered and rejected

The
Council can decide not to follow the recommendations of the examiner, but it
must set out its reasons for doing so.

 

The
Council has agreed to accept all of the examiner’s
recommendations made within his reports (appendix A)

 

Budget implications

On making a formal
decision to progress a neighbourhood plan to referendum, the Council is eligible for a grant of £20,000. The grant is intended to cover the costs associated with the Council’s
input into the production of a neighbourhood plan including the examination and referendum. The grant of £20,000 will be sufficient to cover the costs
associated with the examination and referendum. 

 

Legal Implications

A legal challenge
could theoretically be made against a decision to proceed to referendum.
Such a challenge could be made on the basis that the neighbourhood plan, as
modified, does not meet the basic conditions, is not compatible with the
Convention rights or because it does not comply with the definition of a neighbourhood development plan.
However, the independent Examiner has considered these matters in light of all of the comments received during the public consultation and
examination periods.  Given the evidence
before them, officers consider that there is no basis for reaching a different
view to the Examiner. 

Content

Decision

(a)       The Knightsford Neighbourhood Plan 2023 to 2033, as modified (please see Appendix B), can proceed to referendum. 

 

(b)       A
recommendation to ‘make’ the Knightsford Neighbourhood Plan 2023 to 2033 be made to a Cabinet meeting after the referendum if the
result of the referendum is in support of making the plan and there are no
other issues identified that would go
against such a decision.