NDPWG meeting 25th July 2016 7.30 pm, Desford Library
NDPWG meeting 25th July 2016
7.30 pm, Desford Library
In attendance: Martyn Randle (chair), Pat Crane, Darren Tilley, Bernard Grimshaw, Paul Angelinetta, David Crocker, Jim Houghton, Scott Wakefield, Kaye Johnson, Ewan Lindsay, Linda Mitchell, Julie Peel, Malcolm Peel, Judy Sharpe, Kay Smith, John Preston. Guests: Colin Crane, John Pope.
- Apologies – Lyn Dearling, Joe Scarratt, Peter Walker, Andy Killip.
A welcome was given to all in attendance, and everyone introduced themselves in turn around the table.
Chairman’s report:
Martyn announced that the stakeholder’s event was well attended and gave thanks to John Preston for his all his help in making it run smoothly. Martyn also thanked Desford Academy for allowing the event to take place in their premises. He went onto say that we are on target with our work and are up to milestone 4 already. But we now need to be setting up the focus groups to continue on course.
- Everyone was asked if they had received the minutes for the last meeting, which all agreed, and were approved as a true records.
- There were no matters arising.
- Treasurer’s report:
Darren said that other than £12.98 which had been spent on items for the stakeholders meeting, (ie tea, coffee etc) the financial situation was still the same as the last meeting.
- Communication officer’s report:
Pat and Bernard attended a LCC event which was very useful and of which Bern has already circulated details to all on the list.
There will need to be a Sustainability Assessment once proposals start to become formulated. We are unlikely to need a Strategic Environmental Assessment. Bern will ascertain the steps involved and circulate them in due course.
A housing and economic assessment for Leicester, Leics and Rutland: Bern attended this seminar on the 27 June, sadly HBBC were not represented, but colleagues from Market Bosworth were and a useful contact or two from LCC. Bern found out that GL Hearn, planning consultants, had been engaged by a range of authorities and bodies to carry out such an assessment over 2 years to 2018.
It is to set the scene for the upcoming reviews of county and district plans well into the 2020s, if this new survey highlights differences, neighbourhood plans will have to take account of them. HBBC will liaise close with P.Cs preparing plans. Data will be passed on where appropriate.
- Guest: John Pope is from the Market Bosworth NDP. He said it is now 10 months since their referendum and the ongoing implementation is perhaps even more work now.
M.B. were on a learning curve doing their NDP and covered just two main areas, Building and Development AND Character and Environment.
Our group must remember there is a lot of data to collect and subsequently collate. The questionnaire needs to be thought through and the main criteria is not to fall into the trap of no evidence = no policy. A lot of items were highlighted after the questionnaire and they wish they could have gone back and done it again. Don’t Rush was the important factor here. One problem is that if we keep asking residents their interest will wane; take time and get it right.
When it comes to the policies, keep them simple and most importantly think of the actual wording –he gave 2 examples of such a problem in M.B. that could have been avoided if the wording was correct. Questions were then asked to John Pope:
Q – Re the questionnaire – Did it cover all their parish and how did residents respond?
A –Yes and 50% response to a 12 page questionnaire, which also included a £25 prize draw to encourage returns via either the internet or hard copies. Also suggested that we write articles in local magazines (ie Graphic), as well as emails etc., to show the outcome of both the consultation events and to keep feedback going to those interested.
Q – What is evidence, do we need practical evidence such as HBBC info?
A – Depends on policies chosen. The local NDP cannot hope to solve all infrastructure issues, suggested to look at other village policies to get ideas but must have evidence to back Desford’s answers.
Q – Consultants- would MB engage them again to do the writing?
A – If independent consultant collects the info, they are just that INDEPENDENT, correct evidence there. A software company in MB collected the info but MBNDP did the analysis.
Remember to formulate your questionnaire based on how you intend to analyse the data.
Q – Have you kept a list of what you wish you had have asked in the questionnaire?
A – Yes, hopefully can forward them on. And remember you can’t ask leading questions to the answers you would like, use independent company to give credibility.
Q – Were the returned forms biased in the age groups?
A – difficult to say because one form was given to each house, but also allow for a request for more if individuals in that home want to complete themselves rather than jointly. Also offer help from one of the NDPWG to assist with the completion if someone can’t write the answers themselves. MB also involved the schools and guides to get the children to ask parents / grandparents to complete, after all it’s to cover their futures as well.
It was agreed here that the NDPWG need to visit groups in the village to do this.
Q – How many houses in MB Parish
A – 968 with an approx. population of 2700 – Desford Parish is approx. double this.
Q – MB had a website to list all communication, was this set up by a professional at a cost?
A – Yes by a company in Swan House, and ongoing costs to keep this going should be covered by the grants they received.
Q – How many were on the MBNDP group?
A – 12 including 2 PC, 8 of whom are still listed and 6 of these are active.
John was thanked for his very helpful input into the meeting and left at 8.15 along with Colin Crane.
- Focus Groups:
Bern has already emailed out a list of the groups with willing volunteers, 3 additional people also volunteered tonight, Judy, Paul and Ewan. Bern said there were now enough names to each group for meetings to start, however, not too late to add more people if they are interested. It was suggested that an advert be made to ask for volunteers, and to start with the list that Pat has of people who asked to be kept up to date with proceedings.
The groups are to be: History, Heritage & Housing; Traffic & Transport; Environment, Flooding, Open Spaces, Recreation & Renewable Energy; Facilities, Services, Educations, Employment & Economy. Each group to have its own chair and scribe.
- Stakeholder event:
John Preston categorised who was invited, attended and apologised this event, together with information from the evening. A report has been issued giving all these details and this must be included as part of the evidence. The key points were summarised onto an A4 sheet and handed out to all at the meeting. Questions were then asked to John Preston:
Q – How can we include things like transport issues that come under highways?
A – Communication needed with highways.
Q – There is a potential HSE issue for damage to the street furniture, how does a policy get raised?
A – Improvements to the footpath / road junction need to be evidenced to be designed into the policy.
Q- A stakeholder said that based on the way vehicular traffic is increased vastly with one employer by 2036 Desford will be gridlocked, can vehicle movement be part of the plan?
A – (By Pat) this will be part of the evidence when we say building only to be in certain parts of the village.
An employer in the village was discussed, who have advised the PC that they are looking to increase their buildings vastly, which will in turn increase employment, but this could add to additional housing needed and vehicle movement increasing. The PP that will be being submitted will need to be allowed for in the NDP.
Pat Crane thanked John for his invaluable help with the Stakeholders report and said it is now down to the focus groups to discuss further.
John Preston said those in attendance at the stakeholders meeting did want to see the outcome of the meeting, and as the report is a public document this should be emailed out to all concerned. JP to send this out as an email link, once confirmation has been received from Neovia and the doctors that they are happy for their future pp to be made public.
A discussion then took place between the group as to how is the best way to keep the parish residents informed, ie postcards to all, adverts in local mags or emails etc… An advert in the local Graphic, publicise on social media and posters around the village were agreed on plus emails to all on Pat’s list. Scott asked who would be responsible for this and it was agreed that Bern is the communications officer, who will willingly put the info together, but then will need help with the social media side. Linda offered to help with the article for the Graphic. Pat will laminate and put up posters. A costing is to be obtained by Bern for the social media help from the company (Gareth Bromby) at Market Bosworth.
- AOB – None.
- Next meeting – there is already a meeting to be held at Botcheston Village Hall on the 23rd August at 7pm with Richard Mugglestone attending who is an expert on housing need surveys. It was agreed to hold a WG meeting immediately after.
September meeting to be on Tuesday 27th at 7.30pm at Desford Library.
Meeting Closed at 9.15pm
I confirm this is a true record of the meeting…………………………………………………………..
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