Examination & Referendum Timeline

May 2021: Weston on the Green Neighbourhood Plan Adopted May 2021

The Neighbourhood Plan for Weston on the Green parish was adopted (“made”) in May 2021, following agreement by residents at the referendum held on 6 May 2021, when it became a contributory part of the Cherwell Local Plan policies. The decison to accept the plan was a village decision and was a majority vote of those who cast a vote.

Weston-on-the-Green Neighbourhood Plan Made Version 19 May 2021

Weston on the Green Regulation 19 Decision Statement May 2021

Developing this Neighbourhood Plan for Weston on the Green was a huge effort and a special thanks were given to Susan Davis and Mike Finbow, the Steering Group and the initial group that began this work, led by Roger Evans. It has been a village effort and we hope it fits the aspirations of the people who live here.

6 May 2021: Village Referendum held

A referendum was held on Thursday 6 May 2021 to decide the question below:
‘Do you want Cherwell District Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Weston on the Green to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?’

10 July 2020: Weston on the Green Neighbourhood Plan Second Examiner’s Report Regulation 18 Decision Statement

Overview Background:

Cherwell District Council designated the Parish of Weston on the Green as a Neighbourhood Area on 2 November 2015.

The Weston on the Green draft Submission Neighbourhood Plan was submitted by Weston on the Green Parish Council to Cherwell District Council on 11 October 2018. The Neighbourhood Plan and supporting documents were publicised as required and public consultation took place between 19 November 2018 and 11 January 2019.

Following the consultation, the Council, in agreement with the Parish Council, appointed an Independent Examiner to undertake the independent examination. The Examiner’s report was dated 11 September 2019.

The Examiner found that:

• The Weston on the Green Neighbourhood Development Plan has been prepared in accordance with Sections 38A and 38B of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and the Neighbourhood Planning Regulations 2012 (as amended) and that;

• Having regard to national policies and advice contained in guidance issued by the Secretary of State it would be appropriate to make the Plan;

• The making of the Plan would contribute to the achievement of sustainable development;

• The making of the Plan would be in general conformity with the strategic policies of the development plan for the area;

• The Plan would not breach and will be otherwise compatible with European Union obligations, the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 and the European Convention on Human Rights;

• The Plan should proceed to a referendum subject to the modifications that he recommends;

• The Plan should proceed to a referendum based on the area of the draft Neighbourhood Plan.

On 4 November 2019 Cherwell District Council, having considered each of the recommendations made by the Examiner:

1) approved all the Examiner’s recommendations and modifications with the exception of Modifications 15, 21, 24, 26 and 27.

2) Agreed not to proceed to referendum on the Weston on the Green Neighbourhood Plan at this time;

3) Approved the area for the future referendum as being the designated Neighbourhood Plan area in accordance with the Examiner’s recommendations, noting that there will be no extension to the area.

The Council subsequently published its Regulation 18 Decision Statement in response to the Examiner’s Report on 14 November 2019 and invited representations. The consultation period extended to 10 January 2020.

The Schedule of the Examiner’s recommendations not accepted by the Council and its proposed changes, with reasons, were set out in Annex 1 to that Statement.

A total of 7 responses were received to that Decision Statement.

As a result of the representations received an independent examiner was appointed on 17 March 2020 to undertake a further partial examination. The scope of the partial examination was restricted to the Council’s responses to the recommended modifications 15 and 21 and consequentially 24, 26 and 27.

Second Examiner’s Report

Cherwell District Council received the Independent Examiner’s Report on the outstanding issues of the Weston on the Green Neighbourhood Plan on 8 June 2020.

In summary, the Examiner concludes that the Weston on the Green Neighbourhood Plan should proceed to referendum, subject to the Plan being amended in line with his recommendations, which are required to ensure that the Plan meets the Basic Conditions. These include:

• that the changes proposed by the Council to Policy E1 be accepted;

• that the proposed change to Policy C1 not be accepted and that Policy C1 be deleted from the plan with reference to the community’s aspirations for The Schoolfield site, under the consequential changes, retained.

The Council’s Executive has considered the second Examiner’s Report, associated and background documents, and a report presented by officers. On 6 July 2020 the Executive resolved (in summary):

1) To approve all the Examiner’s recommendations and modifications to enable the Plan, incorporating the recommended modifications, to proceed to a referendum.

2) To authorise the issue of a ‘decision statement’ confirming the Executive’s decision including that the Plan will now proceed to a referendum.

3) To authorise the Assistant Director – Planning and Development to make any minor presentational changes and corrections necessary to ready the Plan for referendum.

Further details of the Council’s decision, the Examiner’s Report, the Neighbourhood Plan proposal documents and all other relevant documents can be viewed on the Council website: https://www.cherwell.gov.uk/NeighbourhoodPlans

Below is the Neighbourhood Plan with track changes: Post Examination Plan with modifications in track changes

May 2020: Re-examination

The Neighbourhood Plan underwent a focused re-examination. The examiner asked for responses to specific questions from the Parish Council, Lagan Homes and Cherwell District Council.

Responses were as follows:

WOTG Response

WOTG Section 52 Agreement

Cherwell District Council

Pegasus for Lagan Homes

A conference call was held on 19 May 2020 to enable the Examiner to explore further the responses received to his Initial Comments.

March 2020: Update to Examination on Modifications of Neighbourhood Plan

The Examiner contacted us and requested further information with the instruction to post his comments and questions on the website Weston Initial Comments March 2020.

November 2019: Cherwell District Council and the Parish Council haved not accepted some of the modifications made by the Examiner.

Cherwell District Council made recommendations for the contested policies and these needed to have a period of consultation before going to a new examiner.

Weston on the Green Neighbourhood Plan - Reg 18 Decision

September 2019

The Examiner for the Neighbourhood Plan recommended that the modified Neighbourhood Plan proceed to referendum. This report was published on the Cherwell website and within the village.

This means that we passed the Examination with some modification and were on our way to having a Neighbourhood Plan in place for a number of years.

Next steps: The written Plan needed to have the modifications completed and this work would be done between ourselves and Cherwell.

Examiner's Report- this copy of the report is modifications only plus comments and recommendations: WestonOnTheGreenReportFinal

April 2019: Cherwell District Council Public Notice - Consultation on the schedule of changes to the Weston on the Green Neighbourhood Plan

Mr Timothy Jones, the Independent examiner appointed to examine the submission draft Weston on the Green Neighbourhood Plan 2018 – 2031 is inviting comments on Weston on the Green Parish Council’s ‘Schedule of Changes to the Weston on the Green Neighbourhood Plan March 2019' in accordance with his ‘Guidance and Directions’ dated 25 April 2019.

The consultation period commenced on 26 April 2019 and the deadline for receiving representations was 12 noon Friday 10 May 2019.

The documents are available to view online at

https://www.cherwell.gov.uk/info/221/neighbourhood-plans/402/weston-on-the-green-neighbourhood-plan

Further information: