KING’S SOMBORNE PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of a Meeting of the Neighbourhood Development Plan Steering Group
held in the Epworth Hall at 7.00pm on Wednesday 2 August 2017
Present: Cllr A Brock (Chairman)
Mr G Searle
Cllr R Lane
Cllr R Sutton
Ms C Thomson,
Mr D StJohn
In attendance: Mr P J Storey (Clerk to King’s Somborne Parish Council)
Public Session: No members of the public were present.
1. Chairman’s welcome and announcements
1.1 The Chairman welcomed everyone and thanked them for their contribution towards the success of the public consultation held on 27 July 2017.
2. Apologies
2.1 Cllr K Hughes.
3. Previous meeting notes
3.1 Minutes of the previous meeting held on 5 July 2017 were accepted as a true record.
4. Matters arising
4.1 Mr Searle had reviewed the housing numbers using the SAPF data.
4.2 Cllr Brock would circulate information on the examination process.
Action: Cllr Brock
5. Declarations of Interest
5.1 None declared.
6. Review of consultation process
6.1 The public consultation had been very well received with some interesting comments made from the floor, many of which would be incorporated into the draft. Full minutes of the public consultation are available on the website and had been circulated to SG members. The Clerk would write a synopsis for The Gauntlet.
Action: Clerk
6.2 An analysis of the preferred sites outside the settlement boundary for potential development showed a clear preference for the southern part (i.e. bottom) of Spencer’s Farm site as opposed to the northern part of the site which if developed would compromise the view from Red Hill which the community is keen to preserve.
An additional adjoining site had also been identified as a potential development site as this too should not compromise the view from Red Hill, though the corner by the ford because of the known flood risk and the existing swale there would need to be preserved. This site will therefore be included.
Two other areas had been identified – apparently in jest in response to the proposed sites, Irrespectively, one site had already been unanimously supported as the LAGS that provided the break between the villages of King’s Somborne and Horsebridge the other area to the south behind the recreation ground which, save for one field, already comprised of resident’s gardens. The open field was considered a) too visible in the main (when tested against the desires of the community) and b) its easterly edge was considered not only too small for a viable development but also way too difficult to access.
6.3 It was agreed that now the proposed sites had been reviewed by the consultation, that all owners would now be contacted to discuss their views on potential development and therefore site allocation in the NDP . This would be done under the leadership of Cllr Brock with Cllr Lane and the Clerk.
Action: Cllr Brock
6.4 All SG members complimented Cllr Brock on his presentation.
7. Communication review
7.1 Concerns were raised with regard to ensuring that the NDP was successfully supported by the Parish as a whole as it was perceived that it might fail if only those impacted by any development voted in the referendum and also, if turnout was low, it may impact the viability of the result and open up the NDP to challenge. Improving the means by which information on the Plan and related development sites and how best to spread this around the community was discussed at length. All the normal means were accepted and would continue but it was thought appropriate that a leaflet drop for all residents highlighting the outcomes of the consultation with the potential for a more targeted communication and leaflet drop for those living in or near areas with development potential be contacted with a localised note explaining how they might be affected by future developments. Cllr Ryan would draft some examples for review and comment
Action: Cllr Ryan
Mr StJohn left the meeting at his point
8. Any other business.
8.1 Cllr Brock introduced changes in the terminology used to earmark land with development potential resulting in previously identified SHLAAs (Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessments) being superseded by SHELAAs (Strategic Housing Economic Land Availability Assessments). TVBC was liaising with SHLAA land owners requiring them to register their interest as SHELAA land owners by 28 October 2017.
8.2 All noted the cost of refreshments for the public consultation evening amounted to £473 to be covered by NDP grants received to date.
8.3 The Clerk would obtain estimates of cost to produce 800 copies of the NDP, double sided and in colour, to determine if further grants should be sought to offset the costs of distributing one copy of the Plan to each household in the Parish.
Action: Clerk
8.4 A communication from a Planning Consultant acting on behalf of a landowner had requested further information form the NDP mail box. The Chairman would respond.
Action: Cllr Brock
9. Date, time and place of next meeting
9.1 It was agreed not to hold a formal meeting in the near future unless some urgent matter arose. However, the Chairman stressed the importance of responding promptly to e-mails to maintain the momentum irrespectively of whether they had anything to add or not. This was particularly the case with regard to public communications and 7.1 above.
Action: All
There being no further business, the Chairman closed the meeting at 9.10pm