This page has sections of copied text from Community Action Penistone (Facebook Group), some of which has been abridged and lightly edited to scan better.
This is a politically-neutral group challenging Barnsley MB Council's planning policies in allowing a huge proliferation in housing development, without any associated improvements to roads, schools, doctors or other aspects of the infrastructure. The group is open to residents and community groups.
From Mailshot and Poster
Say No!
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(Also, time of next meeting and contact details - see below).
Community Action Penistone - Influencing Change, Making a Difference.
Community Action Penistone
Community Action Penistone, through its debates on Facebook, Public Meetings and by leafleting the whole of Penistone, has established that there is a passionate appetite within the community to develop a Neighbourhood Development Plan. As a result of our actions this is now back on the agenda with Penistone Town Council and as a community group it is now time to drive this forward so that we can influence future housing development and use of land in our neighbourhood.
At our meeting on Monday 9th March, 7.30pm at the Bowling Club, we will be proposing that Community Action Penistone stands candidates for all the 15 available seats up for election on the 7th May 2015. This will ensure that the momentum will continue and our aspirations will become reality.
We will welcome current Town Councillors to stand under the banner of Community Action Penistone, however we would require them to resign from any political affiliation they may have, as Community Action Penistone will always remain a non-political group.
(From Chairman Mick Boaler) I have published the information below so that all group members can understand the process of developing a Neighbourhood Plan and what conditions will have to be met.
Neighbourhood Planning
The Localism Act, which received Royal Assent on November 15 2011, introduced new rights and powers to allow local communities to shape new development by coming together to prepare neighbourhood plans.
Neighbourhood planning can be taken forward by two types of body - town and parish councils or 'Neighbourhood Forums', which are community groups that are designated to take forward neighbourhood planning in areas without parishes. It is the role of the local Planning Authority to agree who should be the Neighbourhood Forum for the neighbourhood area.
The criteria for establishing Neighbourhood Forums are being kept as simple as possible to encourage new and existing residents’ organisations, voluntary and community groups to put themselves forward.
Neighbourhood Forums and Parish Councils can use new neighbourhood planning powers to establish general planning policies for the development and use of land in a neighbourhood. These are described legally as 'Neighbourhood Development Plans.'
In an important change to the planning system communities can use neighbourhood planning to permit the development they want to see - in full or in outline – without the need for planning applications. These are called 'Neighbourhood Development Orders.'
Local councils will continue to produce development plans that will set the strategic context within which neighbourhood development plans will sit. Neighbourhood development plans or orders do not take effect unless there is a majority of support in a referendum of the neighbourhood. They also have to meet a number of conditions before they can be put to a community referendum and legally come into force. These conditions are to ensure plans are legally compliant and take account of wider policy considerations (e.g. national policy).
The Conditions are:
An independent qualified person then checks that a Neighbourhood Development Plan or Order appropriately meets the conditions before it can be voted on in a local referendum. This is to make sure that referendums only take place when proposals are workable and of a decent quality.
Proposed Neighbourhood Development Plans or Orders need to gain the approval of a majority of voters of the neighbourhood to come into force. If proposals pass the referendum, the local planning authority is under a legal duty to bring them into force.
(Note from JB - the cost of a local referendum for the NP would be borne by BMBC)
Links
The Heavy Stuff
Contact
Follow us on Facebook,
Email us: communityactionpenistone@hotmail.co.uk
Letters to: 7 Victoria Street, Penistone, S36 6EL.
Mark Twain: - 'Facts are stubborn things, but statistics are more pliable.'