The NDP must go through a series of stages required by the regulations which are aimed at ensuring that a robust process is followed and that anyone who lives, works or has an interest in the Parish can have a say in the drafting of the Plan. Community consultation is heavily emphasised in the process, and we are ensuring that local residents, businesses and organisations are continuously involved.
The full process is shown in the diagram below.
When it is ready, the draft Plan will be sent to Cornwall Council for it to advise us whether a Strategic Environmental Assessment [SEA] of the Plan is required.
The draft Plan, along with the SEA if its required, will then be published for at least 6 weeks of formal consultations with the communit and with various statutory bodies. This will be supported by a summary leaflet delivered to every household, business and organisation. There will be special ‘drop-in’ sessions when you can see an exhibition about the Plan and meet members of the Steering Group for individual face-to-face discussion.
Any feedback received on this consultation draft Neighbourhood Development Plan will be very carefully considered. Changes will be incorporated if required before it is formally submitted to Cornwall Council, which is the local planning authority.
At that stage the Neighbourhood Plan will begin to influence how future planning applications in the Plan area are considered.
Further consultations will then be arranged by Cornwall Council and if Cornwall Council assess the Plan as being in compliance with the laws and regulations governing Neighbourhood Plan making, it will arrange for the Plan to be assessed by an Independent Examiner, who will check that it is positively prepared and meets the prescribed ‘Basic Conditions’ which the law sets out for a Plan to be adopted.
If the NDP passes its Examination and Cornwall Council agree with the Examiner, it will be put to a local referendum to say whether the Plan should be used to decide planning applications.
When the referendum occurs, all registered electors in Ponsanooth Parish will be entitled to vote for or against the Plan. The referendum outcome is decided on a simple majority basis.
If the Neighbourhood Development Plan is supported in the referendum, Cornwall Council will formally adopt it after which it must, by law be taken into consideration when Planning Officers and Councillors determine future Planning Applications.