Agenda item

Interim Head of JPU to report.

The Interim Head of the Joint Planning Unit gave an update on the consultation for the Emergent Joint Core Strategy. She informed the Committee that there were extra copies of the Emergent Joint Core Strategy document and questionnaires available for members to take away at the meeting.

The Interim Head explained that over 2000 letters and e-mails had been sent to everyone on the JPU consultation database including to all County, Borough and District Councillors in West Northamptonshire, MPs and MEPs, libraries (including mobile libraries), adjoining libraries, community centres, Council receptions, Local Strategic Partnerships, all Town and Parishes Councils in West Northamptonshire and adjoining, residents associations, community groups, business interests, landowners, developers, government agencies, statutory bodies, service providers, local government and private individuals.  Over 800 Emergent Joint Core Strategy documents and questionnaires had been posted out.  The Interim Head commented that the information provided had triggered a steady flow of telephone queries. A specific call line had been established to record calls enabling these to be analysed as part of the consultation.

It was also explained that all the information was also available via the Councils’ websites with links provided to the JPU website.

A series of public exhibitions had been arranged over 36 days at 18 different venues. A leaflet had been prepared to provide information about the exhibitions and the local media would be continuously advertising the events. Seminars would be held to discuss the technical aspects of the Emergent Joint Core Strategy with the housing industry, the commercial sector and service providers.

Councillor Dennis Meredith commented that it was good that the consultation information had been sent to so many stakeholders. He was concerned that he had tried to leave a response on the website and had found it confusing. He suggested that it was made easier to leave a response on the website.

The Committee debated holding more exhibitions.  The Interim Head of the JPU explained that it was more efficient to concentrate exhibitions on the main towns, in accessible and highly populated areas with one or two locations in each area highlighted for possible development as there were not enough resources for every area to be covered. It was agreed that the JPU would consider requests for the exhibition display boards to be made available to local communities on an unstaffed basis.

Councillor Brian Markham enquired about colleges and universities being consulted. The Interim Head of the JPU explained that education establishments were already included in the consultation.

Councillor Andre Gonzales de Savage suggested that consultation events be offered in supermarkets to allow the process to be more widely accessible. He offered his services in supporting any additional exhibitions and the Interim Head of the JPU welcomed this and potential offers of future help from other members.

High profile exhibitions were currently planned for Northampton Market Square (in conjunction with the Central Area Action Plan team) as well as in Daventry, Brackley and Towcester and in Weston Favell Shopping Centre.

Councillor Stephen Clarke requested that a clearer version of the emerging strategy be produced and suggested that a further briefing note be produced. He was concerned about the slippage caused by the delay in starting the consultation period and the impact on the LDS. He was concerned that the timetable and scheduled meetings were not going to meet the needs of the proposed deadlines. The Interim Head of the JPU informed Members that she was going to consider the timetable/programme and that there was no longer a penalty for missing deadlines. Councillor Clarke felt that there was a need for Members of the Committee to be fully engaged with the strategy as well as being fully briefed on the outcome and impact of the consultation. He also felt that it was essential to understand all of the options that may arise from the consultation. The document had to be fit for purpose with any checklist making clear that the Joint Core Strategy was emergent.  He called for Members of the Committee to be fully briefed on the JCS and requested a timescale for this. He also felt that the infrastructure for growth needed to be understood and that evidence was needed to support proposals.

The Interim Head of the JPU assured the Committee that the matters raised by Councillor Clarke had or were being dealt with as part of the process. It was suggested that Councillor Clarke and the Interim Head of JPU meet to discuss the matters raised.

RESOLVED

That the report be noted.