Issue - meetings

To consider the Great and Little Chesterford Neighbourhood Plan.

RESOLVED:

I.              That Cabinet accepts the Independent Examiner’s recommended modifications to the Great and Little Chesterford Neighbourhood Plan in full as set out in the Schedule at Appendix 2 and notes the recommendation that the amended Great and Little Chesterford Neighbourhood Plan should proceed to a Referendum of voters within the Parishes of Great and Little Chesterford to establish whether the plan should form part of the Development Plan for Uttlesford District Council.

II.                 That the Cabinet approves the holding of a referendum relating to the Great and Little Chesterford Neighbourhood Plan and, that it will include all the registered electors in Great and Little Chesterford Parishes.

The Chair resolved to move to agenda item 12 as Councillor Gregory was required to leave to attend a Parish Council meeting.

Councillor Evans, the Portfolio Holder for Planning, Stansted Airport, Infrastructure Strategy and the Local Plan, presented the Great and Little Chesterford Neighbourhood Plan report. He commended the work of the Steering Group and proposed that Cabinet accept the Independent Examiner’s recommended modifications to the Great and Little Chesterford Neighbourhood Plan in full and that the amended Great and Little Chesterford Neighbourhood Plan proceed to a Referendum in the Parishes of Great and Little Chesterford.

Councillor Coote seconded the proposal.

Councillor Gregory expressed his thanks to Officers who had assisted during the six years it had taken to reach this point. He also acknowledged the extensive work undertaken by the Parish Council’s Steering Group, and in particular Councillors Fiona Wilkinson and Rachel Thackray who had both contributed an outstanding amount of detailed work over many years.

Councillor Pepper congratulated Great and Little Chesterford for their significant efforts. She said that it was important that the government provided the opportunity for communities to set out their positive vision of how they want their community and neighbourhood plan area to develop over time and ensure that new development was sympathetic to the surrounding area and met the needs of the community. She praised the introduction of allotments and the reopening of the village shop and asked whether consideration had been given to the introduction of electric vehicle charging points, which could possibly be grant funded.

Councillor Evans said that a Neighbourhood Plan did not prevent development but was an influential document that was part of the development plan once made and attention and weight would be afforded to them. He said that the Director of Planning had confirmed that there was a policy GLCMB3 which covered travel and electric vehicle charging points and was reflective of the Essex Design Guide.

The Leader moved to a vote. The proposal was approved unanimously.

RESOLVED:

1. That Cabinet accepts the Independent Examiner’s recommended modifications to the Great and Little Chesterford Neighbourhood Plan in full as set out in the Schedule at Appendix 2 and notes the recommendation that the amended Great and Little Chesterford Neighbourhood Plan should proceed to a Referendum of voters within the Parishes of Great and Little Chesterford to establish whether the plan should form part of the Development Plan for Uttlesford District Council.
2. That Cabinet approves the holding of a referendum relating to the Great and Little Chesterford Neighbourhood Plan and, that it would include all the registered electors in Great and Little Chesterford Parishes.

Councillor Gregory left the meeting.