1.        PURPOSE OF REPORT AND EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1.1     With the agreement of the Chairman, the results of the North Loose Neighbourhood Development Plan referendum held on 3 March 2016 are presented in this urgent update report.

1.2     Given the local support for the Neighbourhood Plan as demonstrated by the positive outcome of the referendum, and statutory requirements, this report sets out recommendations regarding the making of the Neighbourhood Plan

2.        INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

2.1     Neighbourhood Plans have proved popular in Maidstone borough with fourteen currently being actively progressed. These are all at different stages of the regulatory process with the North Loose Neighbourhood Development Plan the most far advanced.

2.2     The North Loose Neighbourhood Forum has spent approximately four years working on its plan, seeking local views and aspirations and working to ensure the Plan remains true to these values whilst also reflecting both local and national planning policy. This Neighbourhood Plan is the first to go through a referendum in Maidstone.

2.3     In October 2015 this Committee approved the Council’s response to the formal consultation on the Neighbourhood Plan under Regulation 16[1]. The response, along with all others received, was considered by the appointed Examiner, Ann Skippers, during the latter part of 2015 as part of the independent examination of the Neighbourhood Plan.

2.4     Ms Skippers completed her Examiner’s report in December 2015, concluding the Plan was fit to proceed to referendum subject to some minor modifications. These were brought to this Committee for consideration on 19 January 2016. The subsequent recommendations of this Committee were considered by Council on 25 January 2016 at which time approval was given to undertake a local referendum on the Plan as amended to include the minor modifications suggested by the Examiner.

2.5     The referendum took place on 3 March 2016 as required by the Regulations[2] with the process being overseen by the Registration Services team. Three polling stations were used: Polling district XA – YMCA, Melrose Close, Cripple Street, Maidstone; Polling district XD – Maidstone Hockey Club, Armstrong Road, Maidstone; Polling district XX – The Vine, Boughton Lane, Loose, Maidstone; with the official count taking place after the close of the poll at The Vine, Boughton Lane, Loose.

2.6     The turnout for the referendum was 34.8%, with 95% voting ‘Yes’ to the question: “Do you want Maidstone Borough Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for North Loose to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?”. The total number of votes cast was 1,410; ‘Yes’ votes were 1,332, ‘No’ votes were 77 and there was one void ballot paper.

2.7     When the outcome of a referendum is a ‘Yes’ the Regulations[3]  require that the Council must make (adopt) the Plan as soon as reasonably practicable after the referendum.

3.        AVAILABLE OPTIONS

3.1     There is only one option available to this Committee which is to note the positive result of the referendum as set out in this report, and make a recommendation to Council at its meeting of 13 April 2016 to make the North Loose Neighbourhood Development Plan in accordance with the Regulations.

4.        PREFERRED OPTION AND REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

4.1     The Committee is recommended to follow the option as set out in paragraph 3.1 above.

4.2     The Neighbourhood Development Plan has been independently examined, adjudged to meet the required basic conditions and be suitable to move to a local referendum. The decision to agree to the referendum has been taken by Council.

4.3     The result of the referendum illustrates strong local support for the Neighbourhood Development Plan.

4.4     The Regulations state that the Council must make (adopt) the Plan as soon as reasonably practicable after the referendum.

5.       CONSULTATION RESULTS AND PREVIOUS COMMITTEE FEEDBACK

5.1     The Plan has been the subject of consultation during its development as required by the Regulations. It has reflected the views of local residents, stakeholders and the Council through its various iterations.

5.2     The Plan has been considered by this Committee on several occasions, and also at Council on 25 January 2016.

5.3     Views of residents and stakeholders were all taken into account as part of the independent examination of the Plan.

6.       NEXT STEPS: COMMUNICATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECISION

6.1     Subject to the agreement of this Committee, a recommendation to Council to make the Plan is the final stage in the plan-making process for this Neighbourhood Development Plan.

6.2     If agreed by Council, the Plan is made and will used in the determination of planning applications for the plan area.

7.       CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES AND IMPLICATIONS

8.        REPORT APPENDICES

The following documents are to be published with this report and form part of the report:

·         Appendix A: North Loose Neighbourhood Plan

9.        BACKGROUND PAPERS

There are none