JULY 2020

The Neighbourhood Plan has been successful in the recent examination!! Please read the statement by Cherwell District Council for further information.

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"Cherwell District Council

Weston on the Green Neighbourhood Plan Second Examiner’s Report Regulation 18 Decision Statement

10 July 2020

Background

Cherwell District Council designated the Parish of Weston-on the-Green as a Neighbourhood Area on 2 November 2015.

The Weston-on-the-Green draft Submission Neighbourhood Plan was submitted by Weston- on-the-Green Parish Council to Cherwell District Council on 11 October 2018. The Neighbourhood Plan and supporting documents were publicised as required and public consultation took place between 19 November 2018 and 11 January 2019.

Following the consultation, the Council, in agreement with the Parish Council, appointed an Independent Examiner to undertake the independent examination. The Examiner’s report was dated 11 September 2019.

The Examiner found that:

• The Weston-on-the-Green Neighbourhood Development Plan has been prepared in accordance with Sections 38A and 38B of the Town and Country Planning Act1990 and the Neighbourhood Planning Regulations 2012 (as amended) and that;

• Having regard to national policies and advice contained in guidance issued by the Secretary of State it would be appropriate to make the Plan;

• The making of the Plan would contribute to the achievement of sustainable development;

• The making of the Plan would be in general conformity with the strategic policies of the development plan for the area;

• The Plan would not breach and will be otherwise compatible with European Union obligations, the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 and the European Convention on Human Rights;

• The Plan should proceed to a referendum subject to the modifications that he recommends;

• The Plan should proceed to a referendum based on the area of the draft Neighbourhood Plan.

On 4 November 2019 Cherwell District Council, having considered each of the recommendations made by the Examiner:

1) approved all the Examiner’s recommendations and modifications with the exception of Modifications 15,21, 24, 26 and 27.

2) Agreed not to proceed to referendum on the Weston-on-the-Green Neighbourhood Plan at this time;

3) Approved the area for the future referendum as being the designated Neighbourhood Plan area in accordance with the Examiner’s recommendations, noting that there will be no extension to the area.

The Council subsequently published its Regulation 18 Decision Statement in response to the Examiner’s Report on 14 November 2019 and invited representations. The consultation period extended to 10 January 2020.

The Schedule of the Examiner’s recommendations not accepted by the Council and its proposed changes, with reasons, were set out in Annex 1 to that Statement.

A total of 7 responses were received to that Decision Statement.

As a result of the representations received an independent examiner was appointed on 17 March 2020 to undertake a further partial examination. The scope of the partial examination was restricted to the Council’s responses to the recommended modifications 15 and 21 and consequentially 24, 26 and 27.

Second Examiner’s Report

Cherwell District Council received the Independent Examiner’s Report on the outstanding issues of the Weston-on-the-Green Neighbourhood Plan on 8 June 2020.

In summary, the Examiner concludes that the Weston-on-the-Green Neighbourhood Plan should proceed to referendum, subject to the Plan being amended in line with his recommendations, which are required to ensure that the Plan meets the Basic Conditions. These include:

• that the changes proposed by the Council to Policy E1 be accepted;

• that the proposed change to Policy C1 not be accepted and that Policy C1 be deleted from the plan with reference to the community’s aspirations for The Schoolfield site, under the consequential changes, retained.

The Council’s Executive has considered the second Examiner’s Report, associated and background documents, and a report presented by officers. On 6 July 2020 the Executive resolved (in summary):

1) To approve all the Examiner’s recommendations and modifications to enable the Plan, incorporating the recommended modifications, to proceed to a referendum.

2) To authorise the issue of a ‘decision statement’ confirming the Executive’s decision including that the Plan will now proceed to a referendum.

3) To authorise the Assistant Director – Planning and Development to make any minor presentational changes and corrections necessary to ready the Plan for referendum.

Further details of the Council’s decision, the Examiner’s Report, the Neighbourhood Plan proposal documents and all other relevant documents can be viewed on the Council website:

https://www.cherwell.gov.uk/NeighbourhoodPlans

This Decision Statement and the Examiner’s Report is also available at Cherwell District Council, Bodicote House, Banbury OX15 4AA (subject to COVID 19 restrictions). If any person has difficulty accessing the documents online then please contact the Planning Policy and Conservation Team on 01295 227985 for assistance.

NOTE: Due to the current COVID 19 pandemic the referendum will not take place before 6 May 2021.

YVONNE REES, CHIEF EXECUTIVE"

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Below is the Neighbourhood Plan with track changes. Once a 'good' copy is completed, it will be posted and some will be printed. 

2. Post  Examination Plan with modifications in track changes