Agenda, decisions and minutes

To receive any declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests, other registrable interests and any non-registrable interests relevant to any matters to be considered at the meeting.

Councillor Lindsay Ferris declared a personal interest in agenda item 122: Twyford Neighbourhood Plan, as a member of the Neighbourhood Plan Working Group prior to becoming an Executive Member. He advised that he would leave the meeting room during the consideration of this item.

Councillor Stephen Conway declared a personal interest in agenda item 122: Twyford Neighbourhood Plan, as he had been involved in working on the Neighbourhood Plan prior to joining the Council as an elected member in 2018. Given that a number of years had passed since his involvement, he would remain present for the consideration of this item.   

Councillor Lindsay Ferris declared a personal interest in agenda item 122: Twyford Neighbourhood Plan, as a member of the Neighbourhood Plan Working Group prior to becoming an Executive Member. He advised that he would leave the meeting room during the consideration of this item.

Councillor Stephen Conway declared a personal interest in agenda item 122: Twyford Neighbourhood Plan, as he had been involved in working on the Neighbourhood Plan prior to joining the Council as an elected member in 2018. Given that a number of years had passed since his involvement, he would remain present for the consideration of this item.   

The Leader advised that he would not be giving a statement as it would not be appropriate to do so during the pre-election period.

The Leader did however pass on his thanks to all officers of the Council, in particular; directors, assistant directors and senior managers who had worked extremely hard during the last year to support the administration.

To answer any public questions

A period of 30 minutes will be allowed for members of the public to ask questions submitted under notice.

The Council welcomes questions from members of the public about the work of the Executive

Subject to meeting certain timescales, questions can relate to general issues concerned with the work of the Council or an item which is on the Agenda for this meeting.  For full details of the procedure for submitting questions please contact the Democratic Services Section on the numbers given below or go to www.wokingham.gov.uk/publicquestions

There were no questions submitted from the public on this occasion.

To answer any member questions

A period of 20 minutes will be allowed for Members to ask questions submitted under Notice

Any questions not dealt with within the allotted time will be dealt with in a written reply

There were no questions submitted from Members on this occasion.

Councillor Lindsay Ferris declared a personal interest in agenda item 122: Twyford Neighbourhood Plan, as a member of the Neighbourhood Plan Working Group prior to becoming an Executive Member. He advised that he would leave the meeting room during the consideration of this item.

Councillor Stephen Conway declared a personal interest in agenda item 122: Twyford Neighbourhood Plan, as he had been involved in working on the Neighbourhood Plan prior to joining the Council as an elected member in 2018. Given that a number of years had passed since his involvement, he would remain present for the consideration of this item.  

Councillor Lindsay Ferris left the meeting room for the consideration of this item.

RESOLVED that the Executive:

i)               Accepted the modifications recommended by the Independent Examination into the Twyford Neighbourhood Plan (as set out in Enclosure 1) and for the modified plan to proceed to referendum;

ii)              Agreed that the Twyford Neighbourhood Plan, as modified in accordance with the recommendations of the Independent Examiner, meets the basic conditions and complies with the provisions of Paragraph 8 (1) (a) (2) of Schedule 4B to the Town

and Country Planning Act 1990 (inserted by the Localism Act 2011);

iii)            Agreed to publish the ‘Decision Statement’ as set out at Enclosure 2 of the report;

iv)            Authorised the Director of Place and Growth, in consultation with the Executive Member for Planning and Local Plan, to agree minor factual and consequential modifications necessary to the Twyford Neighbourhood Plan, the Decision Statement, and other supporting documents prior to the referendum;

v)             Agreed the referendum be organised and conducted in the Twyford neighbourhood area. The Executive were keen to facilitate and support the progress of this neighbourhood plan. It was noted that the cost of the referendum would be covered by government grant.

REASONS FOR DECISION:

The report considers the findings of the examination of the submission Twyford Neighbourhood Plan, the modifications recommended by the Independent Examiner and if those modifications are accepted, seeks approval for the plan to progress to a public vote at referendum.

The Twyford Neighbourhood Plan, prepared by Twyford Parish Council, if made (adopted) will become part of the development plan and be used alongside the Wokingham Borough Council’s local plans to guide decisions on planning applications.

Councillor Lindsay Ferris declared a personal interest in agenda item 122: Twyford Neighbourhood Plan, as a member of the Neighbourhood Plan Working Group prior to becoming an Executive Member. He advised that he would leave the meeting room during the consideration of this item.

Councillor Stephen Conway declared a personal interest in agenda item 122: Twyford Neighbourhood Plan, as he had been involved in working on the Neighbourhood Plan prior to joining the Council as an elected member in 2018. Given that a number of years had passed since his involvement, he would remain present for the consideration of this item.  

Councillor Lindsay Ferris left the meeting room for the consideration of this item.

The Executive were keen to support and facilitate this neighbourhood plan. It was noted that the cost of the referendum would be covered by government grant.

RESOLVED that the Executive:

i)               Accepted the modifications recommended by the Independent Examination into the Twyford Neighbourhood Plan (as set out in Enclosure 1) and for the modified plan to proceed to referendum;

ii)              Agreed that the Twyford Neighbourhood Plan, as modified in accordance with the recommendations of the Independent Examiner, meets the basic conditions and complies with the provisions of Paragraph 8 (1) (a) (2) of Schedule 4B to the Town

and Country Planning Act 1990 (inserted by the Localism Act 2011);

iii)            Agreed to publish the ‘Decision Statement’ as set out at Enclosure 2 of the report;

iv)            Authorised the Director of Place and Growth, in consultation with the Executive Member for Planning and Local Plan, to agree minor factual and consequential modifications necessary to the Twyford Neighbourhood Plan, the Decision Statement, and other supporting documents prior to the referendum;

v)             Agreed the referendum be organised and conducted in the Twyford neighbourhood area. The Executive were keen to facilitate and support the progress of this neighbourhood plan. It was noted that the cost of the referendum would be covered by government grant.

RESOLVED that the Executive:

i)               approved a six week consultation on the draft Ruscombe Neighbourhood Plan (Enclosure 1: Ruscombe Draft Neighbourhood Plan); and supporting information.

ii)              agreed to appoint an examiner to independently examine the draft Ruscombe Neighbourhood Plan, delegating the appointment and submission of the examination documentation to the Director of Place and Growth in consultation with the Lead Member for Planning and Local Plan.

REASONS FOR DECISION

This report seeks approval to consult on the updated draft Ruscombe Neighbourhood Plan submitted by Ruscombe Parish Council in March 2023, and to procure an independent examiner who will subsequently examine the updated draft Plan. The examination will consider all representations submitted during the proposed consultation. Consultation and examination are requirements of the regulations governing neighbourhood plan preparation.

The Ruscombe Neighbourhood Plan, prepared by Ruscombe Parish Council, if adopted in due course, will become part of the development plan and be used alongside the Wokingham Borough Council’s local plans to guide decisions on planning applications.

The Executive Member for Planning and the Local Plan reported that the report sought approval to consult on the updated draft Ruscombe Neighbourhood Plan submitted by Ruscombe Parish Council in March 2023 and to procure an independent examiner who would subsequently examine the updated draft Plan. The Executive noted that government grant could be utilised to help cover the costs of this work.

RESOLVED that the Executive:

i)               approved a six week consultation on the draft Ruscombe Neighbourhood Plan (Enclosure 1: Ruscombe Draft Neighbourhood Plan); and supporting information.

ii)              agreed to appoint an examiner to independently examine the draft Ruscombe Neighbourhood Plan, delegating the appointment and submission of the examination documentation to the Director of Place and Growth in consultation with the Lead Member for Planning and Local Plan.