Agenda item

(Report attached)

The Head of the JPU submitted a report which provided a summary of the consultation that had been undertaken for the West Northamptonshire Emergent Joint Core Strategy; explained the approach that was being taken to the analysis of the consultation responses and reporting those responses to the Joint Committee; and provided details of the total number of responses, their geographical distribution, form and proportion of responses in support, not in support, unspecified and did not know.  The Head of the JPU commented that it was intended to report a summary of the actual responses to the consultation to the Joint Committee at its meeting on 26 July and then at its meeting on 29 September the Joint Committee would be asked to consider its formal response to those representations as an integral part of consideration of the pre-submission plan.  This approach had been confirmed by Counsel as appropriate.

The Joint Committee expressed its congratulations to the JPU for the success of the consultation exercise in terms of its variety, effectiveness and the response from the public.

A discussion ensued concerning Appendix 4 of the report which provided an analysis of the responses.  It was noted that the vision did not appear to be supported however from this analysis there was nothing to say what people did not like about it.  This needed to be understood before any consideration might be given to changing the vision.  The analysis also showed other inconsistencies where respondents had given support to the provision of new schools, higher education opportunities and other facilities but had not supported the need for new infrastructure of which these would form part.  Comment was made that people often responded to consultations when they perceived a threat to themselves.  Therefore it was no surprise to find that the vast majority of responses came from those areas that were most likely to be affected by the proposals and that their responses may, on further analysis, show negative indications consistently through the questionnaire.  It would be no surprise to find that villages outlying Northampton would not wish to see development near their village but the Committee would still need to evaluate the development options so as to allocate sufficient new land for development. Everyone whether they lived in a rural or urban environment should expect a good quality of life.  It was noted that following the General Election, should there be a change in national policy there may be a need need to review the LDF but the vision in many respects would remain similar as it referred to the quality of place and not numbers.

In response to a question the Head of the JPU described the programme of Member workshops and Committee meetings and further consultation leading up to the submission of the Joint Core Strategy to the Secretary of State in 2011.  He also noted that as the analysis of the responses to the consultation progressed any issues that arose from this would be incorporated into the already planned Member workshops.

RESOLVED:(1) That the summary of the consultation undertaken for the West Northamptonshire Emergent Joint Core Strategy be noted.

(2) That the approach to the analysis of the consultation responses to the Emergent Joint Core Strategy and reporting those responses to the Joint Strategic Planning Committee be agreed.

(3) That the details of the total number of responses to the Emergent Joint Core Strategy, the geographical distribution, form and proportion of responses in support, not in support, unspecified and do not know be noted.