Agenda item
Cabinet Member Questions
The Cabinet Member may request clarifications on the report and the proposed decision, including any alternative options for consideration.
Decision:
Moreton-in-Marsh
The Cabinet Member asked the officer to clarify whether the proposed Local Green Space remained disputed and questioned whether the decision was now entirely in the hands of the independent examiner?
The Officer clarified that the examiner would make recommendations, but the Council would decide whether to accept them, taking account of the Town Council's views. The disagreement stemmed from whether the site met the Local Green Space criteria.
Cirencester
The Cabinet Member questioned how Cirencester could prepare neighbourhood plan policies when the new Local Plan was not yet adopted?
It was stated that the neighbourhood plan must be assessed against the current adopted Local Plan, despite a new plan being in preparation. Cirencester had therefore focused on design, green spaces, parking and similar matters rather than housing allocations, allowing the neighbourhood plan to complement future Local Plan policies.
Chipping Campden
The Cabinet Member asked for clarification on the following points:
· What would happen following the examiner's recommendation on Policy 4 (Non-Designated Heritage Assets)? Would Chipping Campden make the decision?
In reply the officer noted that the decision rested with Cotswold District Council. The examiner's recommendations could be accepted or rejected. Chipping Campden Town Council had been consulted and supported the officer recommendation to accept the wording change from "designated" to "identified" but reject the reference restricting the assets to Local Plan Policy EN12.
· Would the examiner accept changes suggested to their recommended wording?
It was noted that where wording lacks clarity, officers and the Town Council could suggest amendments during the examination process. In the case of Policy 5, the examiner had accepted revised wording to clarify the intended hierarchy for Local Nature Recovery Areas.
The Cabinet Member questioned when were decisions on the disputed Local Green Spaces made, and when were the Town Council aware?
The Officer answered that the hearing had gathered evidence and representations but no decisions had been made on the day. The examiner had considered the evidence afterwards and set out conclusions in the final report.
· Was Local Green Space hearing public and who could participate?
The Officer clarified that the hearing had been open to the public to observe, but that only specified participants could speak: CDC officers, Chipping Campden Town Council representatives, the affected landowners and their planning agents. Discussion had been limited to the disputed Local Green Spaces and the town centre boundary.
· Had the Town Council consulted landowners before proposing Local Green Spaces?
The Officer responded that it was good practice to consult landowners early, although ownership does not determine whether land can be designated as Local Green Space. In this case, landowners had been able to submit representations and participate fully in the examination and hearing process.
· The Cabinet Member asked whether a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) already provided protection for Local Green Space 21 ("The Cleys")?
Officer responded that the site was covered by a TPO, and any future tree works would require approval from the Council. Landowners were also working with Forestry England on a management plan for the site. This factor had been considered during examination.