Pre Meeting

N Northumberland Coastal area: Neighbourhood plan meeting

9 October 2013

28 people, principally parish councillors from Bamburgh/Beadnell and N Sunderland, met to discuss the implications of developing a neighbourhood plan covering the three parishes.

After an introduction to the idea and to the detail of neighbourhood plans from John Woodman (County Councillor) and David English (Northumberland CC planning team), the group discussed the issues that should be covered and the process for launching and managing the plan. The group was divided into four groups but the conclusions were remarkably similar.

It was confirmed:

- We should develop a neighbourhood plan covering the three parishes. N Sunderland would be the lead parish. We should keep in close touch with the neighbouring parishes, particularly Belford as it moved to develop a similar plan, and Newton which had similar issues; the chairs of both parishes were at the meeting.

It was agreed:

- there should be a steering committee initially consisting of 2 people from each parish, with more people to be added with specific skills as the project developed. The steering committee would need to have delegated powers from the three parishes so it didn’t have to go back when decisions needed to be made; a model terms of reference was available from NCC. There would be plenty of scope to involve other groups, and more councillors, as specific tasks or areas of investigation were undertaken.

- the first task of the meeting (after agreeing terms of reference) should be to arrange a launch event. This would be a public meeting, probably at the Seahouses Sports and Social Centre, that would present the idea and seek to motivate interest. The plan needs to be developed from the bottom up through the community so there should be as big an involvement as possible.

- although the public meeting should be as soon as possible, it was equally important to get it right. A good time might be early January to give plenty of time to arrange while avoiding the holiday season.

- the views of the large estate owners (Bamburgh Castle; Lord Crewe Trust; Northumberland Estates) were important and they should be consulted.

- the existing parish plans should be used in  developing the neighbourhood plan.

- the phrase “Vital Villages” was coined during the discussion on the issues and summed up the vision for the area.

The key issues which should be dealt with by the plan were:

Housing;

A focus on affordable housing and housing for permanent residents.

A need for suitable accommodation for the elderly .

Encouraging development to be focused on encouraging the community coupled with a concern about too many second homes and limiting the development of large houses.

Identifying areas for development and areas which should be “green space”.

Business

The plan needs to encourage employment other than tourism – to encourage all year and better paid jobs. Ideas are:

- Establishing a business forum;

- Identifying locations for industrial/commercial units

- Balancing the needs of the tourist industry and holiday homes with permanent residents.

Infrastructure

Identifying infrastructure improvements needed:

- Better access from A1

- Broadband

Planning issues

The AONB plan and objectives should be considered.