Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests in any item on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

In accordance with Procedure Rules Nos.11 and 35 a period of 10 minutes is allocated for members of the public to address the meeting on any matter relating to the work of the body in question.  Individual members of the public may speak for up to 5 minutes but the Chairman or person presiding will decide how the period of time allocated for public speaking will be apportioned where there are a number of speakers. Members of the public are not required to give notice to use this facility. However, as a matter of courtesy, a period of 24 hours’ notice is encouraged.

Members of the public wishing to ask a question at the meeting should provide at least three clear working days’ notice in writing and should include the question with that notice. This will enable an informed answer to be given.

No members of the public were present.

That the risk and benefit analysis of the proposed changes be noted, and that approval be given to consult on them before they are incorporated into the new Allocations Policy.

Consideration was given to proposed amendments to the Cheshire Homechoice Allocations Policy which had been launched in April 2010 as a partnership approach to allocating social housing in the Borough alongside the three largest social housing providers: Wulvern Housing, Plus Dane and Cheshire Peaks and Plains Housing Trust.

The Allocations Policy was reviewed during 2012 to take into account the lessons learnt from the first 18 months, and also to incorporate changes that had been introduced in legislation. The Partners and Members of Cheshire East Council have identified that there are further adaptations which now need to be made following economic changes both nationally and locally. The Council wishes to include input from a wide spectrum of organisations, providers and the public which will ensure that the policy is robust and reflects the current and future local and national environment for social housing.

The 5 key areas of the Policy which will impact on the residents of Cheshire East will need to be consulted upon during the 6 week consultation period.

RESOLVED

That the risk and benefit analysis of the proposed changes be noted, and that approval be given to consult on them before they are incorporated into the new Allocations Policy.

That approval be given to designate Congleton Parish as Congleton Neighbourhood Area, for the purposes of preparing the Congleton Neighbourhood Plan, as shown on the map attached as Appendix 1 of the report.

Consideration was given to an application by Congleton Town Council to designate this neighbourhood area.  Discussions on the extent of the neighbourhood area have been held, the extent of which is reflects the extent of the Parish boundary for Congleton.

The Congleton Neighbourhood Area application has been prepared in accordance with existing regulations and guidance and is desirable to designate for these reasons:

·         The application submitted meets the requirements as presented at Part 2 (5) of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012.

·         Congleton Parish Council is the relevant body to undertake Neighbourhood Planning.

·         The Neighbourhood Plan Area follows the existing political and administrative boundary for the Parish of Congleton and does not include land in any adjoining Parish.

·         No other applications have been made for Neighbourhood Areas covering all or part of the area.

·         Issues concerning strategic interests in the Parish have been discussed and relevant strategic issues have been identified in respect of Local Plan Strategy Strategic Locations SL6, SL7, SL8, and Local Plan Strategy Site CS17; these strategic sites and location are located partially within the Congleton Parish Boundary and partially in neighbouring Parishes.

The Localism Act 2011 introduced new legal rights that enable communities to prepare local development plans (neighbourhood plans) with equal weight to the Local Plan for decision making purposes on development proposals. The first stage in establishing a neighbourhood plan is the designation of a neighbourhood area the geographic extent within which future policies and land designations will apply.

RESOLVED

That approval be given to designate Congleton Parish as Congleton Neighbourhood Area, for the purposes of preparing the Congleton Neighbourhood Plan, as shown on the map attached as Appendix 1 of the report.