DECISION STATEMENT (proceeding to referendum), published pursuant to the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 Schedule 4B paragraph 12 (as amended), and Regulation 18(2) of The Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended)
Decision
On 13 April 2021 the Strategic Planning and Infrastructure Committee resolved that, subject to modifications, the Otham Neighbourhood Development Plan should be supported and proceed to referendum.
Reasons for decision
The Otham Neighbourhood Area lies within Maidstone Borough and comprises the whole of the parish of Otham. The parish was designated a Neighbourhood Area on 1 August 2017. The Otham Neighbourhood Development Plan (the Plan) has been prepared by Otham Parish Council, which is the ‘qualifying body’, and public consultation on the pre-submission draft Plan was undertaken between 22 July 2019 and 6 September 2019. Following the submission of the draft Plan and supporting documents on 8 September 2020, the Borough Council publicised the Plan and invited representations during the consultation period 16 October 2020 to 27 November 2020. Mr Derek Stebbing B.A. (Hons), Dip E.P., MRTPI, an independent examiner, was appointed to examine the Plan, and his report was published on 4 March 2021. The examiner concluded that, subject to the modifications set out in his report, the Plan meets the basic conditions and other legal requirements, and the Plan should proceed to referendum. Also, that the referendum area should reflect the extent of Otham parish.
Each of the examiner’s recommended modifications and the reasons for them has been considered. The Council is satisfied that the Otham Neighbourhood Development Plan, as modified, complies with the basic conditions and legislative requirements, and should move to referendum.
Access to material
Dated: 27th April 2021