Minutes published unapproved for ratification at the meeting on 8 January 2013
MINUTES OF OKEFORD FITZPAINE PARISH COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING
HELD AT THE PAVILION ON 27 NOVEMBER 2012
PRESENT: Cllr M Burt, Chairman
Cllr E Fox, Vice Chairman
Cllr R Corben
Cllr S Corben
Cllr M Paine
Also present: – Mrs Sandra Deary (Clerk) and 2 members of the public.
1. APOLOGIES: Cllr Frampton, Cllr Wood and Cllr Burch, NDDC
2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Members were reminded of the need to declare an interest if it was not already disclosed on their declaration of disclosable pecuniary interest form held by the Clerk.
3. NDDC DRAFT CORE STRATEGY – CONSULTATION
It was discussed and agreed that in the lead up to the Regional Spacial Strategy it was intended to limit development to towns. Following representations by various people and villages of the South West this view was changed and as a result in North Dorset Stalbridge and the villages were included in the development plans allowing approximately 1200 homes, which could have given the villages the ability for around 60 homes in the planned period.
In the New Plan from NDDC they have now removed that option, in our representations to them as to why they have done this their response is that the villages will be covered by ‘Neighbourhood Plans’. The problem with this is that a ‘Neighbourhood Plan’ has to conform to the ‘District Plan’ which only allows 230 new homes between Stalbridge and the 20 villages. This may not be sufficient to satisfy the need and to increase sustainability to maintain the school, shop, pub and other local facilities.
A member of the public reiterated the feeling that there was a need to allow more housing in villages to increase sustainability.
Cllr Burt advised that at a recent CPEND meeting an Officer from the Development Management Services Department of NDDC had offered to meet with Parish Councils and partnerships to discuss this issue further, however the CPEND Chairman, supported by the DAPTC Chairman did not think this was necessary.
The Council discussed the NDDC Draft Core Strategy at length. Each of the key issues was discussed and a response to each of the questions was agreed.
Community Infrastructure Levy
In June 2011 the Cabinet of NDDC agreed to work towards the production of a Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) charging schedule. The main function of this would be to secure contributions from developers to fund infrastructure needed to support growth proposed in the core strategy. Council discussed this point and felt the revised district wide housing provision of 4,200 homes for the period from 2011 to 2026 with the majority of housing being build in the 4 main towns would result in no CIL being available for villages. It was agreed that 4,200 homes was insufficient to meet the demands for North Dorset.
Neighbourhood Planning
The Localism Act introduces a new tier of planning policy at a local level. Communities can prepare neighbourhood plans to address local issues relating to the development and use of land in their area, once adopted these would become part of the Development Plan and will have an important role in decision making. However they must be ‘in general conformity’ with the ‘strategic policies’ for an area, which in the case of North Dorset would be those set out in the revised Core Strategy. Following discussion it was agreed that if the new plan was accepted as it stood NDDC could say no to housing application in Okeford Fitzpaine as it didn’t fit into the strategy. The new plan is only looking at more housing in villages where there is a local need, in order for villages to be sustainable then growth over and above local need is required.
The Parish Council would encourage as many people as possible to complete the online consultation.
A COPY OF THE COMPLETE COUNCILS RESPONSE FORM IS AVAILABLE BY CONTACTING THE CLERK.
