Decision details

1. That the Examiner’s recommendations on the proposed modifications to the Ashover Neighbourhood Plan are accepted in full and that the Plan is formally brought into effect i.e. ‘Made’ as amended (see Appendix 1).

2. That a ‘Decision Statement’ to this effect is published on the council’s website (see Appendix 2).

The proposed modifications to the Ashover Neighbourhood Plan have been subject to examination by an independent Examiner. The Examiner’s view is that the proposed modifications to the Plan meet the Basic Conditions and other relevant legal requirements and should be ‘made’ by the Council. Officers concur with these findings and furthermore Ashover Parish Council consider that the report is fair and considered.

In accordance with the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012, (Regulation 17a), the District Council has 5 weeks to decide what action to take in response to each recommendation made by the Examiner in their report, unless an alternative date is agreed with the Parish Council.

In this case, Ashover Parish Council had agreed to the matter being referred to the Council’s Cabinet meeting scheduled for 13th April 2023. Following cancellation of this meeting it is necessary to make a decision under delegated powers to avoid prolonged delay and to meet the timeframe agreed with Ashover Parish Council.

An alternative option would be to reject the Examiners recommendation, but only if there is good reason to do so. The Examiner’s recommendations align with the Officers’ views and as such there does not appear to be any justification for not making the Plan.