Decision details

To approve the designation of Kelham Island and Neepsend neighbourhood area in accordance with section 61G of the Town & Country Planning Act 1990, and the designation of the Kelham Island and Neepsend neighbourhood forum as the only forum for the Kelham Island and Neepsend neighbourhood area in accordance with section 61F of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, for the purpose of preparing a Neighbourhood Development Plan.

1.         Designate the Kelham Island and Neepsend neighbourhood area as shown in Background Paper (a) Appendix 1. Plan Illustrating Recommended Kelham Island and Neepsend neighbourhood area designation in accordance with section 61G of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

2.         Designate the Kelham Island and Neepsend neighbourhood forum as set out in the application (see Background Papers), as the only neighbourhood forum for the Kelham Island and Neepsend neighbourhood area for five years in accordance with section 61F of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

3.         Publicise the Kelham Island and Neepsend neighbourhood area and forum designations in accordance with Regulations 7 and 10 respectively of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended).

4.         Approve the responses to representations on the Kelham Island and Neepsend neighbourhood area and forum applications.

1.    A local planning authority must designate some of a proposed neighbourhood area if it receives a valid application and some or all of the area has not yet been designated .  Furthermore if a decision is not made within the 13 week time period the Council would be required to exercise powers to designate the whole of the proposed area. The proposed area has been assessed and is appropriate in planning terms as set out in paragraph 1.5.3 and 4.3.1 to 4.3.3 of the report.

2.    A local planning authority may designate an organisation as a neighbourhood forum if the authority is satisfied that it meets certain conditions .  The forum application complies with the relevant criteria as summarised in paragraph 1.5.4 and 4.3.4 to 4.3.5 of the report.

3.    Evaluation of the application and consultation has revealed no issues that would warrant refusal of the applications.

1.    The proposed boundary and forum constitution were debated by KINCA and KINNF during 2017 and early 2018, this included a six week consultation locally and online offering a variety of boundary options for choice (see Section 1(iii) (b) of the Application at Background Paper (a)). KINNF had a clear preference by those taking part (greater than 2/3) for the boundary included for designation in their submission.

2.    The proposed draft boundary was then assessed by officers before the application was validated. Officers asked if the group wanted to include land and buildings to the west side of Douglas Road to which KINNF decided that it should. The proposed boundary was amended and then formed part of the submitted application boundary.

3.    KINNF is the only organisation which has applied to be the neighbourhood forum for the Kelham Island and Neepsend neighbourhood area.

4.    The potential for an alternative boundary was considered by officers in relation to Cllr Jones’s representation as described at paragraph 3.6 and 3.7 of the report.