Present: David Wakefield, Linda Walker, Martin Philips, Peter Pilsbury, Billie-Jean Poole,
Stefan Priest, Graham Keeton, Mike Edwards, Christine Edwards, Anne Edgar, Joe Dugdale
(Rural Action Derbyshire), Jane Bush
Christine agreed to be the note-taker for this meeting.
1. Name: It was agreed that the group should be called “Brackenfield 2033 (Neighbourhood Planning Group)
2. JD gave a resume of the initial tasks:
Formalisation of the group (adoption of a constitution): This will be on the agenda for the next meeting. Research and building the evidence base: This requires research into existing documentation, local knowledge and opinion and reference to what constitutes good planning. The evidence gathered needs to relate to what will matter to NE Derbyshire Planning Committee and the Examiner. The National Planning Policy Framework is a key document;
also the Local Plan. The Plan we create needs to be fit for purpose in planning terms, focusing on Land Use in the Parish from now to 2033. It will set out planning policies and frameworks that planners and developers must abide by. Key elements will be how to manage, maintain and improve the character of the land and settlement of the Parish and maintain its integrity, consistent with services. The scope embraces, for example, design, layout, sensitivity to the environment and wildlife, water supply and road capacity. The plan must be enabling and describe the “right kind” of development for the area. JD estimated that the evidence gathering may take about three months. Tasks can be broken down and carried out by sub-groups. Members of the sub-groups can be recruited and do not need to be in the overall planning group.
• Look at the NE-Derbyshire Local Plan in detail in order to understand how it relates to Brackenfield.
• Conduct a Landscape Survey: This needs to be detailed with photographs and descriptions in order to evidence what development would be in keeping with the area.
We need to describe the environment and what makes it distinctive. We need to break the survey down into Housing, Services, Traffic and Transport (including cycling and walking), open spaces and heritage.(It is possible to point to previous development as “bad development” that should not have been permitted, if this seems appropriate.) We can include heritage, hedgerows, water, drainage, old trees, views, landscape value and overall landscape character. A catalogue of heritage features would be useful. Photos of key views can illustrate the impact on the whole environment. Martin will try to get copies of the Parish Map used in the Designation application to help us plan this task.
• Consult: What do people in the parish feel about the next 15 years? What do they want or not want? Views and preferences are important but are not enough in themselves as good planning reasons are required to back this up. Consultation can include surveys and questionnaires (important to establish the most useful questions to ask) and public events. Creating a vision: As a steering group we will need to establish a proposed vision to put to
the residents of the parish, setting out what we would like to achieve (objectives and a set of proposals – the minimum number to be effective.)
3. Appointment of Chair and Secretary:
Chair: Stefan Priest was proposed by Martin and his appointment was unanimously agreed. Secretary/Communication: Mike and Christine Edwards offered to share the role and were appointed by unanimous agreement.
Stefan took the chair at 6.20pm
4. Timescale:
We are unsure where the process of Designation has got to at NE-Derbyshire Council. Mike will check. Evidence gathering to July; Start consultation in June/July; Complete consultation arounf September; Aim for draft proposals in December/January to be tested within the community. It would be helpful to ask Richard Cooper from NEDDC Planning to check on what we are doing on a regular basis.
5. Tasks for the next meeting:
• Formalise the constitution: A draft has been circulated and Christine will make sure it goes to everyone present at this meeting for consideration before we next meet.
• Establish working groups: It would be helpful if everyone could think about their interests and expertise and which elements they might assist with, ahead of the meeting.
• Funding and budget: We will need to prepare for our grant application, which can cover costs for the first six months. No money can be spent in advance of the grant allocation. The grant can cover consultants' fees (e.g. RAD and Wildlife Trust); promotional material; conducting the survey; publication of documents, public events (room hire and refreshments). Equipment hire costs can be included but not purchases.
• Progress report:
6. Discussion: Evidence and Information
Oxford Report: This contains everything that is published about Brackenfield Parish but is based on data gathered in 2011 census and we may need to update some elements. Christine will send email attachment. We need a few people to read it in detail. NE-Derbyshire: They have a broad brush Landscape Character Assessment available, but we need to go into a lot more detail. It is important to know which fields are designated as
Special Landscape Area. We need to work closely with NEDDC. Stefan will contact them to introduce what we are doing. CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural England): There may be a “Quiet Lanes” Survey; Dark Skies/Light pollution can count as an environmental feature; assessment of the Green?
Derbyshire Wildlife Trust – would be useful to contact them regarding recent reports. NEDDC Footpaths Officer: Peter will get in touch with a former colleague for information. It was suggested that if there is no longer an officer in place, one of us might become a voluntary footpath officer which would enable us to get hold of data. This had been suggested some years ago by the Council Officer at the time. Ogston Bird Club: Wildlife data The meeting closed at 7.20pm
Next meeting: Tuesday 6 June at 6pm at The Plough