The area
comprises the civic parishes of Bamburgh, Beadnell and N Sunderland. The three
parishes, which are adjacent, share common opportunities and problems arising
from their location at the heart the N Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding
Natural Beauty and of the N Northumberland coast tourism business. Residents
and visitors alike regard the three parishes as a shared and common area.
The parishes
are places where there is continual pressure for second homes and for holiday
accommodation; they have some of the highest percentages of second homes in the
country and the average price of property is almost twice that of the rest of N
Northumberland.
The three
parish Councils therefore believe that an integrated neighbourhood development
plan covering the combined area would allow an integrated approach to setting
local planning policies on matters such as:
- housing
delivery, including affordable housing;
- employment
and business development needs in the context of environmental and
infrastructure constraints;
- protection of
the environment, including protection to the built and cultural heritage.
2. Agreement between the three Parish Councils and terms of reference of steering committee, signed on 19 November 2013:
North
Northumberland Coastal Area Neighbourhood Plan Steering group
AGREEMENT
BETWEEN PARISHES and TERMS OF REFERENCE
1. Purpose of the Steering Group
1.1
The three Parish Councils of Bamburgh, Beadnell and North Sunderland
have agreed to prepare a Neighbourhood Development Plan covering the three
civil parish areas. The Parish Councils have agreed to establish separate
project management arrangements to facilitate the delivery of this plan-making
function. The Parish Councils have granted
delegated authority in exercise of all relevant plan-making functions to the North
Northumberland Coastal Area Neighbourhood Planning Steering Group (“the
Steering Group”). The Steering Group
sits as the Project Board for project management and decision making purposes
and will lead the preparation of the Neighbourhood Development Plan. The Group will guide and agree the content of
the Plan and all associated evidence and analysis up to Pre-submission Draft
Plan stage.
1.2
North Sunderland Parish Council will be the qualifying body for the
Neighbourhood Development Plan. Bamburgh
and Beadnell Parish Councils have formally agreed to this.
1.3 The three Parish Councils will:
- actively support and promote the preparation of
the Neighbourhood Development Plan throughout the duration of the project.
- work constructively together to promote the preparation
and subsequent approval of the Plan.
1.4 The Steering Group will:
·
provide a locally accountable and representative lead for plan-making;
·
agree a project timetable and endeavour to secure compliance;
·
agree a project communication, consultation and engagement strategy;
·
agree the initial scope of the Plan prior to early public engagement;
·
confirm, subject to consultation with the Parish Councils, the scope of
the Plan following analysis of early and subsequent community engagement;
·
prepare where necessary any funding applications for grants to support
the preparation of the Neighbourhood Development Plan;
·
approve all background and evidence based reports prior to publication;
·
agree all consultation documents prior to publication;
·
agree, subject to ratification by the Parish Councils, a final
submission version of the Neighbourhood Development Plan; and
·
actively support and promote the preparation of the Neighbourhood
Development Plan throughout the duration of the project.
1.5
The Steering Group will be established for a time-limited period. The project is intended to run until a Plan
has been presented for independent examination.
The Steering Group will remain active at least until the independent
examiners report is published.
2. Steering Group Objective
2.1 The
objective of the Steering Group is to produce a Neighbourhood Development Plan for
the three civil parish areas that meets the basic conditions established
through the Localism Act 2011. The Plan
should define the spatial planning policy priorities identified by the
community taking into account all representations made during the plan-making
process and having regard to all relevant existing plans and evidence. The Plan may include or be supported by an
appropriate delivery plan setting out, where relevant, the means by which these
policy priorities may be implemented.
3. Steering Group Membership
3.1 The
initial Steering Group will comprise the following members:
- Northumberland
County Council
- Three members of each
Parish Council.
3.2
The Steering Group may co-opt additional members as necessary to cover
particular areas of expertise.
3.3 Membership will be reviewed and confirmed
quarterly by the Parish Councils.
4. Reporting
and Communication
4.1 The Steering Group is established having
full delegated authority from the Parish Councils to deliver its plan-making
functions up to and including publication of a Pre-submission Draft Neighbourhood Development Plan. The Group will provide reports to each Parish
Council meeting setting out progress on its work. The Parish Councils must approve the Pre-submission
Draft Neighbourhood Development Plan by majority vote prior to publication for
consultation.
4.2 The plan-making process remains in the
control of North Sunderland Parish Council as the qualifying body but it will
make every endeavour to ensure the process is supported by Bamburgh and
Beadnell Parish Councils. All publications,
consultation and community engagement exercises will be undertaken by or on
behalf of the three Parish Councils with appropriate recognition of the Parish
Councils’ position given in all communications associated with the project.
4.3 The Steering group will consult with and
provide updates to neighbouring Parishes, particularly Belford and Newton.
5. Meetings
5.1 Steering Group meetings will take place
monthly. Parish Councils will arrange appropriate venues for the meetings if
necessary.
5.2 The
Steering Group will elect a Chair and Vice-Chair from its membership and both
persons shall remain in that position following their election until completion
of the project. Clause 3.2 of the Terms
of Reference does not apply to these positions
5.3 Decisions
made by the Steering Group should normally be by consensus at Steering Group
meetings. Where a vote is required each member shall have one vote. A minimum of four members shall be present
where matters are presented for decisions to be taken. A simple majority will be required to support
any motion. The Chair, or in their
absence the Vice-Chair shall have one additional casting vote.
5.4 The
Steering Group may authorise expenditure directly associated with the
preparation of the plan up to a maximum of £1,000 per annum without reference
to the Parish Councils, and any such expenditure should be included in the
report to the next Parish Council meetings. The Parish Councils will contribute
to this expenditure (equally/in the ratio 25:25:50 for Bamburgh: Beadnell: North
Sunderland respectively).
6. Support
6.1 The Parish Councils will provide
secretariat services if required by the Steering Group.
7. Conduct
7.1 The Steering Group will follow the code of conduct set
out by the Nolan
Committee
- Work with mutual
trust and respect, and combine their expertise;
- Be clear when their
individual roles or interests are in conflict;
- Provide feedback from
Steering Group meetings to their parent organisation;
- Assist their parent organisation
to bring appropriate ideas and concerns to the attention of the Steering
Group;
- Inform the Steering
Group when they are unable to deliver agreed actions;
- Treat everyone with
dignity, courtesy and respect regardless of their age, gender, sexual
orientation, ethnicity, ability, or religion and belief; and
- Actively promote
equality of access and opportunity
Signed by Chairs of each Parish
Council
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