Decision details

Decision Maker: Corporate Director Planning, Growth and Sustainability

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: No

Decision:

Following an application from Whitchurch Parish Council to declare the whole of their parish a neighbourhood area to designate the neighbourhood Area.

Reasons for the decision:

On the 17th November 2020 Whitchurch Parish Council submitted a Neighbourhood Area Application to declare the entire Parish Council area as a Neighbourhood Area.

The Whitchurch Parish Council application was submitted under the Regulation 5A inserted into the 2012 Neighbourhood Planning Regulations by regulations which came into force on the 1st October 2016.

The effect of Regulation 5A is that if a parish council submits a Neighbourhood Area Application to include the whole of its parish area within the Neighbourhood Area the Local Planning Authority (Buckinghamshire Council in this case) has to use its powers under the Act to designate the Neighbourhood Area.

In addition, the regulations state that where a parish has submitted a Neighbourhood Area application to include the whole of its parish in the neighbourhood area that the Local Planning Authority is not required to consult or publicise the Neighbourhood Area Application. Therefore, Buckinghamshire Council has not carried out any publicity of the Neighbourhood Area Application.

Alternative options considered:

Because it is a requirement of the Neighbourhood Planning (England) Regulations 2012 as amended that if a parish council submits a valid application to declare the whole of its parish area as a neighbourhood area the local planning authority has to use its powers to designate the area applied for there are no other alternative options. If the neighbourhood area application had been invalid, then the Council could have rejected it.

Wards Affected: Wing;

Details of any conflict of interest declared: Under the regulations no consultation is required as such not aware of any conflict of interest.

Contact: Steve Bambrick, Corporate Director Planning Growth & Sustainability Email: steve.bambrick@buckinghamshire.gov.uk.

Publication date: 19/11/2020

Date of decision: 18/11/2020

Accompanying Documents: