West Monkton and Cheddon Fitzpaine Neighbourhood Plan (WM and CF NP)
The policies of a Neighbourhood Plan, when made, become part of the raft of legislation used by a Local Planning Authority in determining planning decisions. A Neighbourhood Plan cannot include policies that are contra to national or local planning legislation and strategy.
Having started in 2016, the WM&CF NP was made in early 2018 and nearly two years later towards the end of 2019 preliminary work began on the revisions required to keep the Plan relevant, and up to date.
This was done by a comprehensive survey to all residents and businesses in the Neighbourhood Plan (NP) area, focusing on identifying the area’s outdoor and community needs.
Since the original work done on the NP in 2016, there had been changes in national and local policies on planning, environmental and climate matters. The revisions to the WM&CF NP encompassed these changes and the needs identified in the 2019 survey. It was intended to update the NP to ensure that future development in the area would conform to the most up to date legislation and reflect the Declaration of Climate and Ecological Emergency each Parish made in late December2019/early January 2020.
During the updates, two new policies were developed:H5 and R6 (see main document on SWT website)
The changes incorporated in the revised WM&CF NP were developed by the NP Steering Group following evidence gathered by consultation. Because of the covid pandemic, every consultation stage was given longer than usual time to run to ensure everyone had the best opportunity to make their views known. There were references to the NP revisions in nearly every edition of both Parish newsletters, and reports made very month at both Parish Council (PC) meetings. Further consultation was invited in the letter that accompanied the map of the Play Parks and Open Spaces which was sent by mailshot to every residential address in the NP area.
Early in 2021 an informal pre-Regulation 14 consultation was carried out, with various statutory consultees. Their responses were incorporated into the Revised NP and agreed by both PCs.
Then the formal stage of consultation Reg 14 was carried out, 304 consultations sent out in the Spring of 2021. Each response was logged, and action taken accordingly. The actions were made to the revised NP draft document and involved such things as making minor tweaks to the wording to add clarity, adding additional text to objectives, amending the references to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) from 2012 to 2019, (at the time this was the most recent iteration of that piece of legislation although 2021 has since been made). The required supporting documentation was developed and agreed with both PCs. The supporting documents include the Record of all responses and actions taken, and the Changes Record.
After the closure of the Regulation 14 consultation period, the final revised NP document was agreed by both Parish Councils. The revised document, and the supporting documentation required, were submitted to Somerset West and Taunton Council (SWT) in October 2021. All the documents are available for inspection and comment and can be found on the SWT website under Neighbourhood Planning.
From this stage onwards, the documents remain with SWT and the PCs are not able to make further amendments themselves. SWT carries out its own statutory consultations, publicises the NP, and invites representations, leading to the examination. At examination the Examiner may chose to strike out parts of the proposed revisions. The Examiner will determine if there needs to be a hearing. The Examiner makes a Report, and the LPA decides whether it accepts the Examiners recommendations or not.
If the Examiner decides there is sufficient material change to the nature of the NP there will be a referendum. If changes are not so significant or substantial to change the nature of the plan, the Examiner can recommend that the LPA publish the updated version.
If there is a referendum and the majority vote in favour of the revised NP, the LPA has 8 weeks to have the NP made.