Purpose

The
purpose of this report is to consider the conclusions of the
Examiner’s Report on the Harston Neighbourhood Plan, and
whether those conclusions should be acted upon and therefore that
the Neighbourhood Plan should proceed to referendum. This includes
considering whether the examiner’s recommended modifications
to the Neighbourhood Plan should be made, and whether the Council
agrees that the Neighbourhood Plan meets the Basic
Conditions.
 
Cabinet
agreed at its meeting on 26 July 2018 that where the examiner has
concluded that the Neighbourhood Plan is legally compliant, meets
the Basic Conditions (with or without modifications), and should
proceed to referendum, the Joint Director for Planning and Economic
Development has delegated authority to make the decision on the way
forward, in consultation with the Planning Lead Member.
 

Content

That
the Joint Director for Planning and Economic Development, having
consulted with the Planning Lead Member, agrees:

a.    
that South Cambridgeshire District Council should
act upon the conclusions in the Examiner’s Report on the
Harston Neighbourhood Plan (see Appendix 1) and that the
Neighbourhood Plan should proceed to a referendum as set out by the
national regulations.

b.    
the ‘referendum’ version of the Harston
Neighbourhood Plan (as set out in Appendix 2).

c.    
the ‘referendum’ version of the Harston
Plan be given significant weight in decision making and that the
area for the referendum should be the Neighbourhood
Area.

Reasons for the decision

The
Examiner’s Report on the Harston Neighbourhood Plan was
received on 17 June 2025. The examiner concludes that, subject to a
series of recommended modifications, the Neighbourhood Plan meets
all the necessary legal requirements and should proceed to
referendum. He also recommends that the referendum should be held
within the neighbourhood area only. 
 
National regulations and planning guidance for Neighbourhood
Plans require that the Council considers the conclusions of the
Examiner’s Report, and whether those conclusions should be
acted upon and therefore that the Neighbourhood Plan should proceed
to referendum. This includes considering whether the
examiner’s recommended modifications to the Neighbourhood
Plan should be made, and whether the Council agrees that the
Neighbourhood Plan meets the Basic Conditions. The Council’s
decision must be published in a decision statement. This report is
the Council’s decision statement for the purposes of those
regulations. 
 
The
Council will set a date for the referendum after the decision
statement is published. Until the referendum takes place the
Referendum version of the Plan will be given significant weight in
decision making by the Council as stated by the government in their
revised regulations.

Alternative options considered

Where
an examiner has concluded that the Neighbourhood Plan meets the
Basic Conditions (with or without modifications) and is legally
compliant, and therefore that the Neighbourhood Plan should proceed
to referendum, the Council has limited options in how to respond.
The options are as follows: 
 
Option
1: Act upon the conclusions in the Examiner’s Report,
including making any recommended modifications to the Neighbourhood
Plan, and proceed to referendum, provided that the Council confirms
that the Basic Conditions have been met. 
 
Option
2: Take a decision substantially different from the
Examiner’s conclusions, wholly or partly as a result of new
evidence or fact, or a different view is taken by the Council as to
a particular fact, including that the Council is unable to confirm
that the Basic Conditions have been met. 
 
Officers have concluded that Option 1 should be followed for the
reasons set out in this decision statement. Officers agree with the
examiner’s conclusions, including his recommended
modifications to the Neighbourhood Plan, and agree that the
Neighbourhood Plan should proceed to referendum. Officers have
concluded that Option 2 should be rejected as there is no new
evidence or fact, and officers are able to confirm that the Basic
Conditions have been met (as set out in paragraph 22 in the Purpose
/ Background section of this decision statement).