Decision details

To approve, subject to the agreement of a memorandum of understanding with Bath and North East Somerset Council:

(i)         Bath and North East Somerset Council as the lead authority for the purpose of determining the Freshford and Limpley Stoke Neighbourhood Area designation applications and, subject to its formal designation, any subsequent stages in the preparation of the proposed Neighbourhood Plan.

(ii)        The transfer of the Council’s function to Bath and North East Somerset Council to ensure that (i) above occurs on a sound and legal basis.

To ensure that the application for the designation of the Freshford and Limpley Stoke Neighbourhood Area can be determined and, subject to approval, progress made on the preparation of the Neighbourhood Plan.

The options considered are whether each Council individually makes decisions related to the neighbourhood planning process or whether the function is transferred to a lead authority.  Having regard to the two Parishes wish to work together to develop a neighbourhood plan that covers both parishes and in the interests of efficiency and consistency the only reasonable option available to the Council is to nominate a lead authority.

The Local Member has been consulted and has raised no objection to the proposal.