To consider recommendations from the Executive in relation to the adoption of the Arborfield and Barkham Neighbourhood Plan.

RECOMMENDATION That:

1)        the Arborfield and Barkham Neighbourhood Plan be “made” (be adopted) to form part of the statutory Development Plan pursuant to Section 38A(4) of The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004; and

2)        the form, content and publication of the Decision Statement (set out in supporting document Appendix A) be agreed pursuant to Regulation 19 of The Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended) (“the Regulations”) in order to give effect to the above recommendation.

The Committee considered a report relating to the adoption of the Arborfield and Barkham Neighbourhood Plan following the referendum which was held on 6 February 2020 and which was recommended for approval by the Executive at its earlier meeting.

The Deputy Leader of Council, on behalf of the Executive, introduced the report and stated that the Plan was the culmination of 3½ years of hard work by members of Arborfield and Newland and Barkham Parish Councils.  It was noted that Neighbourhood Plans were part of a Government initiative to get local parish and town councils involved in the planning framework and as such Councillor Kaiser recommended it wholeheartedly. 

Councillor Ferris was pleased to see the second Neighbourhood Plan in the Borough coming forward and congratulated all involved for doing such a good job.  Given the current situation, and the fact that everyone was living in unprecedented times, Councillor Ferris queried what the impact would be on any Neighbourhood Plan and what the procedure would be if changes were brought in that required the Neighbourhood Plan to be amended in the future.  He highlighted that Twyford Parish Council was currently working on their Neighbourhood Plan and he therefore wondered what the impact would be on that too.  Councillor Kaiser advised that he assumed that if something occurred that necessitated the Plan being changed significantly, and thereby requiring it to be amended, it would have to go back through the same process as before.  It was agreed that the matter would be looked into and Councillor Ferris provided with a response outside the meeting.

RESOLVED that:

1)        the Arborfield and Barkham Neighbourhood Plan be “made” (be adopted) to form part of the statutory Development Plan pursuant to Section 38A(4) of The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004; and

2)        the form, content and publication of the Decision Statement (set out in supporting document Appendix A) be agreed pursuant to Regulation 19 of The Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended) (“the Regulations”) in order to give effect to the above recommendation.

That:

1)        Council be recommended to agree that the Arborfield and Barkham Neighbourhood Plan be “made” (be adopted) to form part of the statutory Development Plan pursuant to Section 38A(4) of The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004; and

2)        that the form, content and publication of the Decision Statement (set out in supporting document Appendix A) be agreed pursuant to Regulation 19 of The Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended) (“the Regulations”) in order to give effect to the above recommendation.

The Executive considered a report relating to the adoption of the Arborfield and Barkham Neighbourhood Plan following the referendum which was held on 6 February 2020.  Of those who voted, 94% voted yes to the question of whether they wished the plan to be used to help determine planning applications within the parishes of Arborfield and Newland and Barkham.

The Executive Member for Planning and Enforcement confirmed that the next step was to adopt the Plan in order that it could become part of the Council’s planning policy.

Councillor Kaiser congratulated the parish councils on having such a well written plan which he felt was a good template for any other parish council who wished to put a plan together.

RESOLVED that:

1)        Council be recommended to agree that the Arborfield and Barkham Neighbourhood Plan be “made” (be adopted) to form part of the statutory Development Plan pursuant to Section 38A(4) of The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004; and

2)        that the form, content and publication of the Decision Statement (set out in supporting document Appendix A) be agreed pursuant to Regulation 19 of The Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended) (“the Regulations”) in order to give effect to the above recommendation.