Neighbourhood Planning Network Meeting

Thursday 23rd March 2017 Council Chamber, District Council

Notes from Meeting

Present: Kathryn Clarke (KC) Horsford Katrina Johnson (KJ) Horsford Ron Simpson (RSi) Horstead with Stanninghall Philippa Weightman (PW) Horstead with Stanninghall Jack Sadler (JS) John Pennells (JP) Sandra Parkinson (SP) Taverham Malcolm Martins (MM) Barry Fiske (BF) Kim Claxton (KC) Wroxham Peter Mantle (PM) Wroxham Malcolm Allsop (MA) Wroxham Rachel Leggett (RL) & Horsford

Richard Squires (RS) Broadland District Council Vicky West (VW) Broadland District Council John Walchester (JW) Broadland District Council Victoria Parsons (VP) Broadland District Council

Apologies Sue Lake (SL) Nick Taylor (NT) Sue Holland (SH) Spixworth

1. Welcome and Introductions

RS welcomed everyone to the meeting, followed by a round table introduction.

2. Neighbourhood Plans – local and national update

RS gave an update on Salhouse & Rackheath NPs which are currently with an independent examiner. He is starting with Salhouse first and we hope to get the first draft of the report in the next week or so.

Gt & Lt Plumstead’s NP was flagged up nationally as an example of incorporating policies requiring a percentage of self/custom build plots on larger development sites (Policy 2 within the plan which encourages self build plots). This could be a useful example if your area is looking to incorporate self/custom build sites. PW asked how you would evidence this and JW stated that you would need to show there is interest in self-build in order to include it.

1 Nationally the latest ministerial statement on NPs strengthens the weight NPs have if they have allocated sites, but are not in an area with 5 year land supply. PW asked if this was the same as land bank and JW explained that these are different things. If you are in an area that does not have 5 year land supply then the strategic policies are considered out of date which makes it harder to refuse planning applications.

The Neighbourhood Planning Bill is now reaching the final stages of process and going through the House of Lords. There has been an amendment approved for the examiners to have more interaction with the communities and even meet and talk through their recommendations. JW added that in every examination so far an examiner has been unhappy about something, but a conversation between the parties has been able to resolve this, so this can definitely be an advantage.

RS also talked through the latest Notes on Neighbourhood Planning bulletin and urged the group to look at these as a useful tool for finding local and national information.

3. Government’s Housing White Paper

JW talked through the Government’s Housing White Paper and in particular talked through the list of proposals relating to NPs. A discussion followed involving the group regarding housing numbers, design aspects and how to guide development and or numbers. (Details of the White Paper are available on the blog).

4. Broadland Blog (https://broadlandneighbourhoodplans.wordpress.com)

RS introduced the Broadland Blog using an interactive demonstration. Talked through how to find the blog from the Broadland Council website, or directly from the web address. There followed a brief overview of the information contained on the blog.

5. Round-table: progress/issues/questions

Horsford – RL stated that a consultation event before Christmas formed the aims and another in January helped to think about themes. Now at stakeholder consultation stage. Planning two events in May to showcase ideas with a draft early autumn and a submission around Christmas time. There is a positive feeling in the group and keenness to move forward.

Horstead – RSi stated that group is 15 months into process. NP seen as an opportunity and the support available were the main drivers. Looking to focus more on community projects than policies. Currently data gathering and setting up meetings at the moment. Following this, the group will be looking to hold a public event.

Spixworth – JS stated they are just starting up following a change to the parish council personnel. Looking to set up a steering group and have set money aside for the NP (although funding still required). The plan is to go out to consultants to undertake the whole process.JS stated they may consider seeing if neighbouring parishes of & Beeston would want to do a joint plan.

Taverham – JP stated they are at the start of the process. They are aware Drayton did an NP and this and the forthcoming NDR form main drivers for developing an NP in Taverham. First meeting was quite lengthy but now at stage of looking to put a brief together to send to consultants to run the whole project. SP stated that there are some passionate people wanting the plan to go ahead and have formed a working party with the intention of setting up a steering group to take over the reins.

TSA – MM stated that in February the Town Council agreed to pursue the plan and a steering group has now been formed. One of the main drivers is the increased CIL revenue that would come to the Town Council if an NP were in place. Looking to tie in early consultation with a St Georges Day event. Details about the NP have been sent out with the newsletter and the aim is to complete process within 18 months.

2 RS stated that we had received the neighbourhood area application today and this process is now quicker if the area proposed is contiguous with the parish boundary as we no longer have to consult on this.

Wroxham – MA explained they are in the early stages and the first meeting is next week with councillors and members of the public. The main drivers are similar to everyone else and don’t want to be left behind on this. Originally considered a joint NP with Hoveton but decided against this because of too many administrative complications with cross- boundary working (not only different parishes, but three different local planning authority boundaries). One of the main issues for the group will be engaging with older community. BF stated it will likely focus on centre of village as there is water on one side and one main landowner on the other. MA also added that another challenge will be to show that it is not a document that seeks to prevent further development.

Rackheath – RL gave a brief update on the plan which is currently with an independent examiner. Touched on this being a relatively unique situation whereby the NP is running concurrently with a significant development proposal in parish and a developer master- planning exercise. Throughout both processes there has been mutual involvement in both parties’ engagement exercises. Whilst different, this has proved very rewarding.

6. Any Other Business

JS asked for clarification on funding available. RS explained that Locality can provide a grant of up to £9000. Once funding is obtained from here, groups can also apply to Broadland for a further £6000. Further detail is available on the Broadland District Council website.

7. Date and venue of Next Meeting

The meeting was drawn to a close and agreed to hold the next one in 3 - 4 months with a date being circulated in due course.

3