URL: https://rother.moderngov.co.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=1721

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: Yes

Purpose: Report seeking Cabinet approval of officer's representations on the Submission Neighbourhood Plan

Content: Hurst Green Parish Council had prepared a Hurst Green Neighbourhood Plan (HGNP) following designation of the parish as a Neighbourhood Area in 2017.  The HGNP was subject to a formal public consultation, which ended on 6 December 2024 and representations received would be considered by an independent Examiner to determine whether the CNP met the ‘basic conditions’ required.  The Council was a statutory consultee and therefore was able to make representations as part of the process; the Council’s proposed response to the consultation was attached as Appendix A to the report.   The HGNP consisted of 22 policies and additional community aspirations relating to the period 2018-2028 in line with the end date of the Council’s Rother Local Plan Core Strategy.  It was considered that overall, the HGNP was in ‘general conformity’ with the policies of the adopted Rother Local Plan Core Strategy. The HGNP had been submitted to Rother District Council for a pre-submission review and many of the comments made had been taken on board, resulting in a much-reduced number of comments made at this stage; an approach welcomed by the planning officers.   Some amendments had been recommended in relation to the wording to conform with National and Local Plan policies; deletion and allocation of specific sites; integration of energy efficiency standards; and design codes.  It would be for the examiner to determine whether these would be taken on board.   The local ward Member and Councillor Killeen, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Planning, acknowledged the vast amount of work and effort that had gone into the production of the HGNP by Hurst Green Parish Council, residents of Hurst Green and Council planning officers.  It was agreed that the Council’s representation be forwarded to the Independent Examiner for consideration, as submitted.   RESOLVED: That the:   1)    main body of the report and representations set out at Appendix A to the report be submitted, together with supporting material, for consideration by the Examiner in relation to the submitted Hurst Green Neighbourhood Plan; and   2)    Chief Executive be authorised to consider any potential modifications to the Neighbourhood Plan that may be raised through the examination process, in order to secure a Neighbourhood Plan in general conformity with the adopted Rother Local Plan Core Strategy and Development and Site Allocations Local Plan.    

Date of Decision: December 9, 2024