NDP Committee
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MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF KNARESBOROUGH TOWN COUNCIL’S
NEIGHBOURHOOD DEVELOPMENT PLAN COMMITTEE
HELD AT KNARESBOROUGH HOUSE, KNARESBOROUGH ON
THURSDAY 12TH JULY 2012
7:30 pm – Committee Meeting
PRESENT:
Chair:
Councillor P Ireland
Councillors:
J Batt and M Gallico
Staff present:
The Office Assistant
Also present:
Mr S McBurney and Colleague (Commercial Estates Group), Councillor R
Adams (Scriven Parish Council) and Councillor K White (Goldsborough &
Flaxby Parish Council), Mr M Gudgeon (Chamber of Trade), District
Councillor I Fox and County Councillor B Hoult.
Late arrivals:
None
NC12/ 044
Early Departures: None
Item 1 – To receive Apologies for Inability to attend the meeting
Apologies were received from Councillors P McNamara, A Willoughby & C
Willoughby.
NC12/ 045
Item 2 – Councillors’ Declarations of Interest
Councillor J Batt
Councillor P Ireland
NC12/ 046
Member of HBC and NYCC – will consider any same item
at HBC in the light of any new information.
Member of HBC – will consider any same item at HBC in
the light of any new information.
Item 3 – To consider and if thought fit, approve as a correct record the
Minutes of the Neighbourhood Development Plan Committee meeting held on
Wednesday 13th June 2012
RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Neighbourhood Development Plan
Committee held on Wednesday 13th June 2012 be approved as a correct record
and signed by the Chair subject to the following amendment:
a) Minute Number NC12/038 – That the recommendation to KTC be removed
and replaced with “A discussion was held regarding the allocation of houses
(14%) in Knaresborough”.
NC12/ 047
Item 4 – KTC Public Speaking Session
a) Mrs W Sanderson re: Item 7
Mrs Sanderson was not present at the meeting.
b) Mr S McBurney (Commercial Estates Group) re: Item 6
Mr McBurney informed Members that he was present at this meeting in an
observational capacity and to keep up to date with developments.
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Mr McBurney explained that HBC had spent a number of years searching
various sites and carrying out relevant surveys on these sites. HBC have
found the Manse Farm site to be the most appropriate and sustainable place
for the allocation of new homes. This Committee has made it clear at
previous meetings that it is in favour of more dispersed growth throughout
the town. Mr McBurney stated that he felt the local community was not
opposed to the development taking place at Manse Farm. At the last
consultation to be carried out only 73 comments were made from a total of
200 consultees.
A public exhibition was held on 6th/7th July to which, despite an extensive
advertising campaign, only 70 local people attended out of a population of
approximately 15,000. 17 of these attendees provided feedback. Of these 17
people, 7 supported the development at Manse Farm, 7 opposed the
development and 3 people made comments but gave no opinion. Mr
McBurney stated that the extremely low level of attendance at the public
exhibition is more than just apathy. He believes it is evidence that local
people think that Manse Farm is logical, positive and sustainable for
Knaresborough. A Neighbourhood Plan cannot be passed on the perception
that Knaresborough as a whole is against the Manse Farm development.
Dispersed growth would mean more opposition in each area of development.
The Chair thanked Mr S McBurney for speaking and invited questions from
Members.
Members spoke of how public exhibitions are generally always poorly
attended and this should not be taken as meaning people are in support of
the Manse Farm development. The Chair stated that as a Council, we are in
favour of dispersed growth part of which should be on Brownfield sites. This
would increase the population within walking distance of the town centre
therefore improving the sustainability of the town centre itself. Manse Farm
would promote travel by car to supermarkets and other shopping areas.
Councillor M Gallico asked Mr S McBurney to explain the extent of the
advertising campaign for the public exhibition. Mr S McBurney explained that
leaflets had been sent to 7000 homes and businesses throughout the town,
a press release had been placed in the Knaresborough Post and Harrogate
Advertiser and individual letters had been sent to all County Councillors,
District Councillors and Town Councillors as well as key stakeholders.
Councillor M Gallico stated that Mr S McBurney cannot assume that if people
do not object at a public exhibition then they are in support of the
development being at Manse Farm. Mr S McBurney responded to say that
local people understand planning applications and these events are a good
proxy on the view of the community. The public exhibition did not attract the
level of interest expected. The Chair explained that the whole point of this
Committee is so that the town of Knaresborough can decide where these
houses go for the good of the community.
Councillor J Batt informed the meeting that he had spoken to approximately
40-50 residents, none of whom had received a leaflet regarding the public
exhibition. Mr S McBurney explained that he did not claim that all residents
had received a leaflet and there could be many reasons why people may not
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recall receiving a leaflet through the post. Commercial Estates Group
advertises in the same way as all other major developers.
District Councillor I Fox asked Mr S McBurney which version of the Sites and
Policies DPD he was making his judgements from as the latest version was
published in Autumn 2011. Councillor I Fox questioned the fact that Mr S
McBurney was basing his facts on a draft document published last year.
c) District Councillor I Fox re: Item 7
District Councillor I Fox explained that he had attended meetings on 12th July
2012 with Mr W Sampson (Chief Executive of Harrogate Borough Council)
and Councillor A Skidmore (Cabinet Member for Planning, Transport and
Economic Development, HBC). The outcome of the meeting was as follows:
i.
ii.
NC12/ 048
The revised LDF plans and schedule are fully compliant and will not
allow for speculative approaches by developers. Applications will go
through the normal channels.
Mr W Sampson has been made aware that Leeds City Council has
over 10 Neighbourhood Plans being developed compared to two in
HBC. Mr W Sampson stated that HBC will give its best endeavours to
assist Knaresborough with developing a Neighbourhood Plan
including officers times, expertise and skills.
Item 5 – To Co-opt Members to this Committee
The Chair asked those present at the meeting if anyone would be interested in
being co-opted to this Committee.
RESOLVED: That Mr M Gudgeon be co-opted to this Committee as a representative of the
Chamber of Trade and Commerce.
It was noted that this Committee would welcome another co-opted representative of
The Chamber of Trade and Commerce should they wish for another person to
attend these meetings. Mr M Gudgeon also stated that he would raise this at the
next Chamber of Trade meeting.
District Councillor I Fox stated that he would like to see a representative of Scriven
Parish Council co-opted to this Committee. Members of Scriven Parish Council and
Goldsborough & Flaxby Parish Council informed the Chair that, to date, no decision
had been made by these Parish Councils as to whether they would like to have
representation on the Committee or whether they would like their parishes included
within the boundary of the plan.
NC12/049
Item 6 – To consider what area is to be designated to the Plan
The Chair informed Members that should other parishes wish to be included within
the boundary of the Plan, then they can be added at a later date.
RECOMMENDED:
i)
That KTC adopt the Knaresborough Parish Boundary as the boundary for the
Neighbourhood Plan.
ii)
That KTC formally inform HBC of the Town Council’s intention (Unanimous).
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NC12/050
Item 7 – To consider overall progression of the Plan
The Chair spoke about how progression has been as expected and although this
has been slow to start with it may now progress more quickly as we have agreed a
Parish Boundary to work with. Overall, the plan could take between 18-24 months
to complete.
NC12/051
Item 8 – To consider the following Correspondence:
a) Neighbourhood Planning News (Issue 3), Kirkwells
b) Dawlish Neighbourhood Plan - Revised Draft for Examination, Dawlish Parish
Neighbourhood Planning Steering Group, March 2012
c) Dawlish Parish Neighbourhood Plan Examiner’s Report, Christopher Balch,
Professor of Planning, 18th May 2012
d) Benefits from Dawlish Parish Neighbourhood Plan – Teignbridge District Council
Press Release, 14th June 2012
e) Press Release from the Dawlish Neighbourhood Plan Steering Committee, June
2012
f) Leeds Neighbourhood Planning Guidance, Version 1 – June 2012, Leeds City
Council
RESOLVED: To receive and note all of the items of correspondence (Unanimous).
NC12/052
Item 9 – Reports from Clerk
None. The Chair moved to the next item.
NC12/053
Item 10 – Motions submitted by Members (within the remit of this Committee)
a) Motion submitted by Councillor P Ireland:
“That KTC agree to the definition of the Neighbourhood area as defined at the
NDP meeting on 12th July 2012 and to submit details of the NDP proposal to
HBC for publication and consultation on their website for a minimum of 6
weeks.”
RECOMMENDED: That KTC agree to the definition of the Neighbourhood area as defined at the
NDP meeting on 12th July 2012 and to submit details of the NDP proposal to
HBC for publication and consultation on their website for a minimum of 6
weeks (Unanimous).
b) Motion submitted by Councillor P Ireland:
“That KTC agree to change the Terms of Reference for the NDP Committee to
allow delegated powers on all discussions save those relating to financial
matters.”
RECOMMENDED: That KTC agree to change the Terms of Reference for the NDP Committee
to allow delegated powers on all discussions save those relating to financial
matters (Unanimous).
The meeting closed at 8:40pm
Signed by the Chair:
Date: