Issue - meetings

Report will be published as a supplement following the Referendum on 20 June 2024.

Before introducing the report, the Chairman again welcomed Mr Neville Reyner, Chairman of Scothern Parish Council to the meeting.

Members gave consideration to a report which sought Members approval to adopt the review of the neighbourhood plan for the parish of Scothern.

Members were advised this marked the first review of an adopted Plan in West Lindsey. The Plan had been prepared by the Neighbourhood Plan sub-group on behalf of the Parish Council and the Group had spent much time and energy on the Plan undertaking extensive consultation throughout its development.

The Examiner’s remarks were drawn to the attention of the Chamber.

The review had involved two rounds of public consultation and had been successful at both examination and referendum, the latter been held on 20 June when 82.5% of residents who had voted, had voted in favour of the Plan.

The Chairman moved the recommendations before inviting Councillor Reyner to make a short address to the Chamber and in doing so he outlined the work the Group had undertaken, the support they had received along the way.  Councillor Renyer welcomed the referendum result but had hoped for a greater turnout, increasing resident engagement and participation generally was an objective of his Parish Council.

Councillor Reyner paid tribute to the working group, which had been made up of parish councillors and residents. He also thanked those residents who had engaged in the consultation events and spoke of his hopes of establishing similar consultation events with residents regarding the Parishes fundamental vision by 2040, to continue to be a thriving, sustainable rural community in which people enjoy living and working.

The Chairman of Council then formally received the Plan from Councillor Reyner to a round of applause from all Members.

The Chairman opened the matter for debate, and Members sought to understand if the newly adopted Neighbourhood Plan, took precedent over the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan.   The former Chairman of the Planning Committee provided Members with an initial response and Officers undertook to get a definitive position from the Neighbourhood Planning Officer and circulate this to Members.

Members from across the political spectrum congratulated Councillor Reyner and his team on their achievements, recognising the considerable work involved in getting a Plan to this stage.

The Leader of the Council spoke of challenges within the national planning system and his aspiration to ensure planning and development delivered for local people, taking into account their views, and Neighbour Plans sought to do this.

Having been proposed and seconded on being put to the vote it was

RESOLVED that: -

(a)    the reviewed Scothern Neighbourhood Plan be adopted (made) in accordance with the Neighbourhood Planning Regulations 2012; and

(b)    the newly adopted (made) Scothern Neighbourhood Plan Review June 2024, to replace the Scothern Neighbourhood Plan adopted in January 2017, to form part of the West Lindsey Development Plan for Scothern parish area.