Purpose

This
report relates to the Southborough and High Brooms Neighbourhood
Development Plan Submission Version, that can be accessed on the
Tunbridge Wells Borough Council website.

Decision

RESOLVED - That the table of
comments presented in Appendix A be submitted as Tunbridge
Wells Borough Council’s representations to the Regulation 16
consultation on the Southborough and High Brooms Neighbourhood Plan
Submission Version.
 

Reasons for the decision

The
preferred option is Option C: ‘to endorse the proposed
representations to the Regulation 16 consultation’ as this
would enable TWBC to continue to provide advice and guidance to the
Southborough and High Brooms Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group and
engage in the consultation process.
 
It is
considered that the polices contained in the Southborough and High
Brooms Neighbourhood Plan Submission Version are in general
conformity with the strategic policies contained in the adopted and
emerging development plan documents for Tunbridge Wells
Borough.
 
 
 

Alternative options considered

Option
A: ‘not
submitting TWBC representations to the Regulation 16 consultation,
the ‘do nothing scenario’’:
This option would involve TWBC not continuing
to provide the advice
and guidance that has been available for the neighbourhood plan
group during the preparation of the draft Southborough and High
Brooms Neighbourhood Plan.
There
is a legal requirement for local authorities to provide support for
those preparing neighbourhood plans. The local planning authority
should take a proactive and positive approach, working
collaboratively with a neighbourhood planning body particularly
sharing evidence and seeking to resolve any issues to ensure the
draft neighbourhood plan has the greatest chance of success at
independent examination.
Planning and specialist officers have been available, wherever
possible, particularly in relation to helping to understand the
TWBC Local Plan context and drafting policies, to provide advice and guidance to
the Southborough and High Brooms Neighbourhood Plan Steering
Group.
 
Option B: ‘submit alternative
representations to the Regulation 16 consultation’: the
representations to the Regulation 16 consultation on the
Southborough and High Brooms Neighbourhood Plan Submission Version
presented in Appendix A reflect advice and comments from a
range of TWBC professional officers in the planning department.
This option would require additional liaison and discussion with
these officers with some indication from the Portfolio Holder as to
what alternatives officers are being asked to consider. This could
mean the consultation deadline is not met.