Stoke Lacy Neighbourhood Development Plan Steering Group Meeting 4th March 2020 at 6.30pm
Notes
Attendees: Jo Davies, Meg Warren, James Wilson, Phil Platt, Marcel Carrier, Bill Morgan, Alma Westwood
Parish councilors present: Janet Ivison, Anne Reece
3 members of the public
Guest: Sam Banks, Neighbourhood Planning Manager, Herefordshire Council
Apologies: Carole Leonard, Stephanie Kitto
Agenda:
- Welcome members of the community and Sam Banks
BM welcomed three members of the community and SB to the meeting. He outlined what steps the SG had taken so far, specifically a public meeting and work towards appointment of a planning consultant to the project. - Herefordshire Council / Stoke Lacy NDP relationship
• SB explained that Hereford Council’s Neighbourhood Planning Department is there as support to parish NDP groups. They can provide technical support, templates for budgeting and timescales, help with communication strategy, provision of mapping and base data via the HC’s GIS service, housing figures. She recommended looking at some of the 74 completed NDPs in Herefordshire especially Bishops Frome’s which she highlighted as particularly useful according to the development management department of HC. Other areas the support team can help with is peer review of the plan, checking and assistance through the process of examination, referendum and adoption of the NDP.
• The key message is that although Stoke Lacy has exceeded its housing growth allocation up to 2031, the NDP still requires that some site allocation is provided. This may be as little as two dwellings.
• The ‘call for sites’ must be transparent but important not to stir up expectations of landowners as the NDP may only be looking for small site allocation.
• New settlement boundaries in Stoke Lacy should be a starting point. There are number of ways this could be approached e.g. a walk around the village by the SG and the public, or a map at an Open Day where sites may be identified.
• HC can provide such maps and a series of coloured flags to indicate housing development, green spaces, protection of historic areas.
• Separate grant funding can be obtained to fund the call for sites initiative of c.£7k, this phase can be undertaken by ‘Locality’ by AECOM a local planning service and dovetailed in to the planning consultants work.
• Grant funding of £9k is available for the main NDP project and is available until April 2022.
• Other funding may be available through ‘Awards for ALL’ and Dave Tristram the HC grants officer can assist with this and other funding options which may be available.
• PP asked what the specific scope of the NDP is, as there are many ideas from the public which may not fit within its scope. SB explained that the NDP is purely about the development of land for which planning permission is required. She suggested looking at HC’s planning portal which has explanations of all matters requiring planning permission. Other matters e.g. road safety measures, speed etc. can be included as an appendix to the main NDP.
• SB also warned of a new white paper to be published around the time of the next budget regarding accelerated planning, it is billed as being a measure to ‘revolutionise the planning system’. It seems most likely this will be targeting green belt development around larger conurbations rather than the open countryside of Herefordshire. This may or may not be pertinent to the Stoke Lacy NDP, but will be something to bear in mind in the development of the plan.
• When asked about the use of farmland SB pointed out that whilst farmers require planning permission for changes to use such as polytunnels, glamping and go-kart tracks it is possible for landowners to develop barns into housing through permitted development ‘Class Q’ without planning permission.
SB left the meeting at 7.30pm - NDP Planning Consultant, discussion and recommendation to Parish Council – BM
BM led a discussion about the relative merits of the two proposals for provision of planning consultancy to the project.
• David Nicholson’s quote is lower, he is local and has wide experience of Herefordshire planning matters, and was formerly head of planning for HC. However, he is a sole trader, there may be no back-up if he is indisposed and he may be too busy to complete the project in a timely manner.
• Kirkwells’s quote is higher and includes VAT, although that can be claimed back through the parish council. They are based in Burnely and would charge for travel and accommodation but they are a larger organization and have more personnel.
• It was agreed that BM would go back to DN and Kirkwells to clarify some issues with DN on his capacity to complete the work on time and on whether he has back-up resources and to Kirkwells to clarify a reduction in costs. Once BM has consulted, he will post conclusions on the NDP SG forum and a decision will be made about a recommendation in time for the parish council to make a decision at their meeting on 12th March. - Agree date for Open Day – all
After a discussion it was agreed that the first Open Day will take place on Saturday 18th July at the Wye Valley Brewery subject to permission as the village hall is booked that day. Note the church fete will be held on the afternoon of Saturday 20th June.
It was agreed that the SG must start to work on the specifics of the format for the day and how best to engage the community in the process. - Update on project plan and outstanding actions – PP + all – To be discussed at next meeting
- Posters, activity and support needed for April Breakfast ’Show and Tell’
• Display boards will be placed on the floor in front of the stage, some key messages about vision and objectives will be displayed in poster form regarding what the NDP can and cannot do. Ideas about land use, settlement boundaries etc. Possible TV display with YouTube videos on NDPs.
• BM to develop some ideas to be finalized at the SG meeting on 1st April. - Other Community Engagement opportunities}
- NDP Website – James }These items to be discussed at next meeting
- NDP meeting schedule }
- Questions and comments from Community and attendees
There were no questions from the community members at this point although they had all taken part in discussions of earlier agenda items. - AOB
MC and PP to look in detail at the budget template plan provided by HC and begin formulating a budget for the project to account for expenses additional to consultancy – hall hire, printing, food costs etc.
The meeting closed at 8.30pm
NDP Meetings Parish Council Mtgs For info.
Date Time Location Meeting details
Wed
4th Mar 18:30 Village Hall NDP Steering Group Meeting Wed 11th Mar 19:30
Wed
1st Apr 18:30 Plough NDP Steering Group Wed 8th Apr 19:30
Wed
6th May 18:30 Plough NDP Steering Group Wed 13th May 19:30
Annual Parish Mtg
Sat
18th Apr 09:30 Village Hall Village Breakfast and NDP display
Wed 3rd
Jun 18:30 Plough NDP Steering Group Wed 10th Jun 19:30
Wed
1st Jul 18:30 Plough NDP Steering Group Wed 8th Jul 19:30
Sat
18th Jul 9.30am Wye Valley tbc Parish Open Day
Wed 5th Aug 18:30 Plough NDP Steering Group Wed 12th Aug 19:30
Wed
2nd Sep 18:30 Plough NDP Steering Group Wed 9th Sep 19:30
Wed
7th Oct 18:30 Plough NDP Steering Group Wed 14th Oct 19:30
Wed
4th Nov 18:30 Plough NDP Steering Group Wed 11th Nov 19:30
Wed
2nd Dec 18:30 Plough NDP Steering Group Wed 9th Dec 19:30