NPSG Minutes – July 2024

Rupert Lyon, Cllr Caroline MacDuff

·         Minutes were a true reflection of the meeting

o   Proposed: Peter Thomas

o   Seconded: Cllr Eddie Cole

·         The Habitat report has been received.  Since it refers to an earlier version of the draft, the policy numbers do not tally.

·         The SEA report has been delivered informally but, not the final document.

·         Recommendations in both reports have been incorporated into NP polices.

·         The SEA recommended that the most suitable site to allocate for potential housing development of the three AMBER sites was Site G. This was consistent with the views of the village from the December 2023 event.  The Steering Group will go public with the recommendation when the NP is published for Regulation 14 including informing the agents of the three AMBER sites.

·         Actions: RD to create a conversion document for the Habitat report; the latest version of the SEA will be included in the Plan documents.

·         The Consultation Statement (listing evidence to date on consultation with the Parish)  has been re-worked – and continue to be revised up to the Independent Examination.

·         Steering Group members are asked to review the final draft of the NP – which is to be found on the NAS and clearly labelled ‘final draft’

·         They should pay particular attention to the sections they contributed to check for errors.

·         The deadline for major corrections is 8^th July (this Monday) and, for minor corrections, is 23^rd July.  All corrections should be sent to RD.

·         The eight-week consultation period will begin on 29^th July and close at midnight on 23^rd of September, which will be the deadline for comments from statutory consultees and parish residents.

·         RD to meet with the Parish Council on 9^th July for a workshop on the NP.

·         Following the workshop, Bratton Parish Council will be asked to adopt the Plan for Regulation 14 at their next meeting on 23^rd July.

·         Actions: documents to be reviewed by the steering group and comments sent to RD; RD to meet with the PC on 9^th and RD to attend BPC meeting on 23^rd July.

·         RD and PT met with Wiltshire Council.  They were advised of the consultation period and raised no objections.

·         The referendum is still expected to take place in May 2025.

·         Wiltshire Council provided a list of statutory consultees and email contact details.

·         Publicity for the Regulation 14 Consultation was discussed.

·         The public meetings will be held on 6^th and 17^th August and the format was discussed.

·         Actions: The comms sub-group to draft an introductory page for the NP on the PC website.  KR to generate a QR code and web address from this; comms sub-group to draft article for the ‘White Horse’. Articles to include a timeline. PT to ask Cllr Jo Jolly to update her slideshow for publication on FB.  RD to draft a statutory notice in KR’s name for the ‘Wiltshire Times’ RD to email those on the mailing list re publication of NP and public meeting.

·         Actions: SG to review comments from consultation and update Plan and associated documents. (The updated Plan would be sent to WC before Christmas 2024.)

·         Place Studios had suggested that BPC should amend the Settlement Boundary to incorporate Site 321 where development has started. The Steering Group felt that this suggestion had been made too late to include in the current version of the Plan and that if it was done in the next 6 months, it could be done in time for the Referendum but not, Reg 14.  KR pointed out that potential changes would not just include Site 321. This is not in scope for the SG. Action: KR to discuss this with the PC

·         1^st August, 2024. It is unlikely that there will be a meeting in September. This will be discussed at the August meeting if there is felt to be a need.