Issue - meetings

This report provides an overview of the process which Sudbury Town Residents Association has followed to date in producing the draft Sudbury Town Neighbourhood Plan, and a summary of its content. It recommends that the draft Plan be published on 23 October 2014 and made available for comment for 6 weeks. It is also recommended that it be submitted for examination subject to Full Council approval.

(i)         that the draft Sudbury Town Neighbourhood Plan be agreed for publication and public consultation from 23 October 2014 for 6 weeks, and that Cabinet recommend that Full Council agree that the draft Plan be submitted for independent Examination;

(ii)        that the Head of Planning be given delegated authority to deal with any representations received during the statutory consultation period.

The report from the Strategic Director Regeneration and Growth provided an overview of the process which Sudbury Town Residents Association had followed to date in producing the draft Sudbury Town Neighbourhood Plan and a summary of its content. It recommended that the draft Plan be published on 23 October 2014 and made available for comment for six weeks. It was also recommended that it be submitted for examination subject to Full Council approval.

Councillor McLennan in introducing the report, acknowledged the contribution of the Localism Act in delegating plan making opportunities to neighbourhood level and paid tribute to the work of the Sudbury residents in giving the borough the opportunity to be one of the first to work with a Neighbourhood Plan. Councillor Denselow welcomed this positive aspect of the Localism Act and the Councillor Hirani sought assurances on how the plans would be sustained and residents engaged.

Strategic Director Regeneration and Growth, Andrew Donald, outlined the timetable for adopting the neighbourhood plans. Once council had confirmed that the Plan had been prepared in accordance with the statutory requirements, an Examiner would be appointed to determine it met requirements and was in line with strategic policies. The Plan would then be put to a Referendum.  This was the first plan to reach this stage and three more are expected to follow. It would be for officers to develop new ways of working and to proactively take plans forward with local communities. Councillor McLennan added that officers had found it rewarding to work with residents in this way. Councillor Butt added that funding would come from external initiatives such as the Community Infrastructure Levy.

RESOLVED:

(i)         that the draft Sudbury Town Neighbourhood Plan be agreed for publication and public consultation from 23 October 2014 for six weeks, and that Full Council be recommended to agree that the draft Plan be submitted for independent Examination;

(ii)        that the Head of Planning be given delegated authority to deal with any representations received during the statutory consultation period.