Slimbridge Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) steering group Workshop with GRCC Tuesday 7th July 2020 via Zoom Present: Helen Dunn (Parish Clerk), Cllr Philip Garrett, David Thombs, Jenny Cotterill, Chris Bailes, Phil Butcher, Barbara Pond (GRCC), Liane James (GRCC) Overview of the NDP and requirements for conformity Information was given on an ‘NDP on a Page’ where this lays out a colour coded programme of criteria that needs to be met and demonstrated in order to create the NDP, plus additional templates of the works broken down in more detail. Discussion occurred on the list of dependencies and in what order they are needed to be done. It was also encouraged to involve Stroud District Council along the way of the NDP process to keep them updated, which in the long term can result in less amendments or rejections. Along with information from GRCC, there are other resources to get guidance from such as Locality and Planning Aid. Clerk has completed the Locality grant for the first part of the NDP process which will include costs of putting together a survey and having it analysed. The whole of the parish has been put forward for the designation of the NDP area and this is currently going through the consultation period with Stroud District Council. Terms of Reference The steering group will require Terms of Reference to be put in place as a public document, a template has been provided for this. It can be adjusted and geared towards the group. It will have information in it for a Chair and Secretary for the group and needs to be open and transparent. It will include information on the role of the steering group – to facilitate the NDP; remain neutral by listening and gathering the views of the parish. Discussion on the 7 principles of the Nolan Standards as an overall ethos for the group to work by. The group will need to go through this and decide what to keep, change or add where necessary, whilst not abiding in law it is a useful tool to adhere to for the group. Member declaration To be completed by all members. Whilst a public document, personal details are to remain private and abide by the GDPR regulations. This will allow members to declare interests where conflicts may occur. Discussion was had on those who were members of Wisloe Action Group (WAG) and that potentially many people would be against this development, and therefore have a conflict of interest. It was emphasised that an NDP is there to facilitate the process and gather opinions and to ensure the whole community has an opportunity to have a say. The NDP is not a tool to stop development and WAG has to be recognised as a separate body to the NDP steering group. Communication Strategy Another public document demonstrating how the group will communicate with the parish, including its ‘hard to reach’ members. Information will need to go out regularly and be clear, and a record of this needs to be kept to show an audit trail of how communications were made to encourage involvement an inform the public of the NDP. Current methods of communication currently used in the parish are: bi-monthly village newsletter to every pg. 1 household, parish website, parish council meetings, facebook, noticeboards and parish e- mail database. Discussion on some of the gaps – word of mouth, telephone, information through key organisations, letters in school bags, run focus groups, be present at events such as fetes, Christmas concerts (some of these need to be considered how to be done post-covid) Gathering evidence Clerk to send out information downloaded from Gloucestershire Inform on the parish stats such as population figures, employment etc. Group discussion, sharing the screen and looking at maps – where is the main settlement of Slimbridge parish and where are the sub settlements? Areas identified were the main hub of Slimbridge (St Johns road from roundabout all the way down to Kingston Road) with sub settlements including Cambridge, Moorend, Gossington, Shepherds Patch and Tumpy Green. Looking at business and economy – WWT, Shepherds Patch area, Wisloe industrial estate and Cambridge Mills industrial estate. From identifying these areas on the maps it was clear that the main road infrastructure, which is limited, had a vast amount of traffic that would be using it to access these areas. This could be looked at being one of the question sections in the survey. To demonstrate views on items it is also useful to have an audit trail of these such as parish council minutes, village design statement, parish plan and profiles. Maps are a great tool for evidence gathering and demonstrating locations and issues. Other items to consider for evidence and putting in the surveys – heritage and listed buildings; farm land; community assets; transport; business and economy; environment and conservation The maps can also show potential for land allocation for future development. Divide the map into sections, look at the areas to show details, this can help shape and plan policies. Maps help to understand the area. If all the signs were removed from Slimbridge how would it be described to let people know they are in Slimbridge? WWT – biggest tourist attraction in Gloucestershire; the landscape is very flat; no shops, a couple of pubs Talk to hinterland parishes – this is best practice during the process anyway. Similar issues? A4135 road from Cam to Slimbridge. Looking at blue and green infrastructure – River Cam, River Severn (Ramsar and SSSI sites), Gloucester – Sharpness canal, flooding issues; brooks, streams and ditches. The playing field (protected), Wisloe football club, Rosie’s Wood and a section of wooded area off Ballards Lane, good hedgerows First consultation could therefore include gathering information on the infrastructure of the main roads of the settlements, a landscape character assessment could be useful (done by a consultant) – including views and the importance of these on such a flat area; historical and heritage; green and blue infrastructure; business and economy; community assets, transportation and movement. How is this achieved – previously it would have been done in the village hall as a public event – will now need to consider other methods due to covid. Household surveys (GRCC pg. 2 can assist with this and analyse data), consider themes that come from these consultations, online zoom event – investigate app ‘menti’ as an online survey interactive tool. NDP’s have to be in conformity with the Local Plan and the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). In Stroud Local plan look at the relevant pages and policies for Slimbridge. Wisloe Green – site PS37 in Stroud revised Local Plan It is noted that the Local Plan is currently in consultation stages. Wisloe is a strategic allocated site. Therefore Stroud DC have said this is being looked at as a site as opposed to the NDP group putting forward sites (NDP group can still look at potential sites in the parish that may be suitable too) A couple of options to consider when carrying out the NDP: 1. Treat the whole parish as one and include Wisloe 2. Separate the parish out – treat Wisloe as a separate part of the plan Need to ascertain from Stroud DC where would Slimbridge NDP sit with Wisloe as a strategic site – what parts of the NDP can be looked at in relation to Wisloe. Could the NDP have influence on the design / shape if Wisloe is to go through? Probably not keen to leave Wisloe as a separate section, should it not go through the Local Plan would then want to consider how the land is used / seen / valued in that area. This is a topic that will need to be discussed and to see what is best for the NDP. Important to have this discussion with SDC too. Contact Ashchurch parish who have gone through a similar process with a garden village being allocated in their area whilst undertaking their NDP David gave a brief overview of where WAG are at with discussions with Stroud on the Wisloe site and the many concerns of the site that are included in this. It is to be noted that expectations of the public are to be managed as to what they may expect from the NDP – the NDP will not stop development – it is a development tool. Final discussions NDP’s and their themes – some are now looking at including environment and climate change factors. This can be addressed through connectivity and travel – walking and cycling routes, or buildings with climate change technology. Another theme coming forward is health, especially now. Looking at how to improve designs for health benefits. E.g. some cases of diabetes can be reversed with better diet and better exercise opportunities – how can this be built into better design. How to get people out more walking – are stiles on footpaths a barrier, or lack of pavements? The NDP doesn’t have to be all singing and all dancing, it can focus on a top 3, for example, of the main issues that come from surveys and consultations. Work on it can be based on previous evidence done such as the Village Design Statement (with consideration to what may have changed since 2016 when this was completed). Look at other NDP’s pg. 3 Overall initial questions, thoughts and next steps • How to gain co-operation from the community • Need to see what is trying to be achieved • Re-use what we have already e.g. VDS, • Need to keep it simple • Wisloe – needs to be tackled head on • Risk – once people realise the NDP can’t stop development, will they stop engaging in NDP process? • It is very likely the Local Plan revision will be adopted before the NDP is adopted, NDP has to dovetail the Local Plan – need to be mindful of this along the way.