LAMBOURN NEIGHBOURHOOD DEVELOPMENT PLAN

STEERING GROUP TERMS OF REFERENCE

1. Background

Lambourn Parish Council resolved on 7 November 2018 to prepare a Neighbourhood Development Plan for the parish of Lambourn, hereafter known as the Lambourn Neighbourhood Development Plan (LNDP), in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 and other relevant Regulations. 

Whilst the Parish Council (PC) will oversee and be responsible for the preparation of the LNDP, the management has been delegated to a Steering Group (SG). The area for the plan is defined as the Lambourn Parish boundary

The formal application for designation was approved by West Berkshire Council (WBC) on 7 December 2018.

Lambourn Neighbourhood Development Plan Steering Group is formally constituted as a committee of the Parish Council. 

2. Purpose and Mission Statement

The purpose of the SG is to design and manage a process that will result in the preparation of a draft NDP for the parish of Lambourn in order to:

‘To protect, preserve and improve the Parish of Lambourn by identifying what is important in defining and maintaining its unique character and environment.’

The process will be:

  • inclusive – offering the opportunity to participate for everyone who lives or works within the parish
  • comprehensive – identifying all the important aspects of life in the parish for which we need to plan for the future
  • positive – bringing forward proposals which will improve the quality of life in the parish.

3. Tasks the Steering Group will undertake:

3.1 Prepare an outline process for producing the LNDP.

3.2 Promote the process of preparing the LNDP to encourage participation and the submission of views and ideas.

3.3 Organise meetings and establish working groups as it considers necessary to carry out the functions specified by the SG.

3.4 Assess existing evidence about the needs and aspirations of the parish.

3.5 Liaise with other relevant organisations (including neighbouring parishes, WBC, Police, etc.) to secure their involvement in the process.

3.6 Analyse the views, ideas and proposals received during the planning process and use them to prepare a draft Plan.

3.7 Keep the PC fully informed of progress via monthly reports to the PC through a standing agenda item.

3.8 Recommend to the PC the appointment of appropriate consultants following a selection process including presentations, interview and quotations. 

3.9 Formulate the draft LNDP within the national context of the Localism Act and the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), and work with the WBC to ensure that Lambourn NDP is consistent with the developing WBC Local Plan and 5- year housing supply targets.

3.10 Submit the draft plan to the Parish Council for its endorsement. The LNDP, once accepted by the PC, will be subject to a Parish Referendum requiring a minimum 50% vote in favour to be adopted by the parish.

4. Membership and Quorum

4.1 Membership of the SG shall comprise of no less than eight members who should all either reside or work in the Parish. 

4.2 The membership of the SG should aim to be representative of the parish as a whole, and best efforts shall be made to ensure that there is a balance of gender, ethnicity, age and place of residence in the parish, so that a wide breadth of opinion, skills and experience is available to the SG.

4.3 The SG shall review its membership from time to time.

4.4 The SG membership shall also include at least three Councillor nominated by the PC, who shall be responsible for making the report of the SG to the PC’s regular meeting.

4.5 The SG shall be quorate with one half of its voting members, subject to a minimum quorate of four.

4.6 If less than four voting members are present, the meeting shall stand adjourned.

5. Chair, Officers and Clerking Arrangements

5.1 The SG shall elect either a Chair or a Vice-chair from the PC members.

5.2 If the Chair is not present, the Vice Chair shall take the meeting. If neither is present, members shall elect a Chair for the meeting from amongst their number.

5.3 The SG Chair shall act as spokesperson for the Lambourn Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group.

5.4 The Chair shall ensure that appropriate clerking arrangements are in hand for SG meetings and that Agendas, Papers and Minutes are properly prepared, distributed and publicised (including to members of the PC). The latter will publicise the minutes via their usual methods.

5.5 The Agenda shall normally be despatched to members three clear days before the date of the meeting by e-mail.

5.6 The SG shall keep Minutes of its meetings to be recorded and open to public scrutiny.

5.7 The SG and all its proceedings and communications (including LNDP emails in whatever system) shall be subject to the provisions of the Data Protection Act and the Freedom of Information Act.

5.8 Parish Council insurance will cover the previously agreed activities of the Steering Group and volunteers, but SG officers, in liaison with the Clerk to the PC, shall ensure that terms of the insurance are not breached

6. Finance

6.1 The SG’s work will be financed through grants and funding, applied for and held by the PC, who will ring-fence the funds for LNDP purposes only.

6.2 The SG shall, in consultation with the Council’s RFO, produce a budget for the preparation of the Plan and estimates of when payments are likely to be made. Notification of all planned expenditure will be given to the PC for approval before actual costs are incurred.

6.3 Invoices will be made out in the name of the Parish Council who will pay them when approved at their next scheduled parish council meeting.

6.4 The LNDP Project account will be audited as part of PC’s internal and external audit procedures.

6.5 The Chair, in conjunction with the PC’s Responsible Finance Officer, shall keep the PC informed of on-going budgetary requirements for the LNDP.

6.6 Non-voting, advisory officers such as Planning or other Consultants or experts that charge for their services, may be co-opted or engaged by the SG (but only with the approval of the PC).

6.7 Orders for goods and services, and contracts issued for work on the LNDP must comply with Lambourn PC’s Financial Regulations as then in force. The RFO shall be responsible for placing such orders and issuing calls for tender for any contracts.

7. Frequency, Timing and Procedure of Meetings

7.1 The SG shall meet normally on a monthly basis and not less than ten times a year or as may be required.

7.4 Any changes to SG Terms of Reference shall require PC approval.

7.5 The meetings shall be conducted in accordance with the Parish Council Standing Orders.

7.6 It is expected that all SG members abide by the principles and practice of the Parish Council Code of Conduct including declarations of interest.

8. Dissolving the Steering Group

At the conclusion of the Neighbourhood Plan project the Parish Council and Steering Group should discuss the future working of the Steering Group. If the Steering Group wishes to dissolve it must notify the Parish Council.

The Parish Council reserve the right to dissolve the SG at any time.

Amended 9th January 2019

Document Control Information
Document owner: Lambourn Parish Council – LNDP Group
Version number: V1
Approval Date: 9th January 2019
Approved By: Full Council
Review cycle: Annual
Document filename:
Most Recent Updates:
8/1/2022 – Amended to use of “Chair” throughout document

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