The Deputy Leader of the Council, Planning introduced the report regarding the Old Windsor neighbourhood plan, which has been scrutinised by an independent examine, and was ready to go to referendum.

The Lead Member thanked Cllr Bateson,  who had been the lead on neighbourhood plans over the past few years, for all her work that had resulted in the Royal Borough having two planned areas, three more seeking area designation and a further two under examination.  Old Windsor was the fourth plan to reach this stage in the process of adoption. 

The cost of the referendum was covered by the Government and it required 50% of those voting in the referendum for it to proceed.  The Lead Member thanked the parish council and local residents for all their work on the plan.

Cllr Jones, who was a ward member for Old Windsor, reported that this was great news for Old Windsor lead by the parish council chairman.  She however did question why recommendation three gave permission to the Head of Planning to make amendments.  The Lead Member informed that the amendments were non material and usually just typing errors.   It was agreed that any amendments would also be in consultation with the Old Windsor Planning Group. 

Cllr Bateson reported that she was pleased to see the Old Windsor plan get to this stage and thanked all the local residents that lead on this.

Resolved unanimously: that Cabinet notes the report and:

i)     Confirms that the plan meets the Basic Conditions tests and an SEA has been carried out.

ii)    Accepts the proposed changes to the Neighbourhood Plan set out in Appendix B.

a.    Gives delegated authority to the Head of Planning to issue a decision statement; and

b.    agrees to put the modified Neighbourhood Plan to referendum.  The date of the referendum to be set in accordance with the legal requirements; and

iii)   Delegates authority to the Head of Planning, in consultation with the Lead Member for Planning and the Old Windsor Neighbourhood Planning Group, to make minor, non material, amendments to the Neighbourhood Plan prior to the referendum being announced.

iv)   Provides advance funding up to £20,000, if required, for the referendum; this will then be claimed back from Government.