The Planning Policy Officer introduced the report. The Otham Neighbourhood Plan was in general conformity of the strategic policies within the Council’s adopted Local Plan (LP), except for policy AC1.

Policy AC1, criterion 2 sought to enforce restrictions on development beyond those within policies SP1 and SP17. Map 6.1, as shown in Appendix 1 to the report, displayed overlap with the LP housing site, H1(8), West of Church Road, Len Valley Landscape of local importance and proposed local green space designation within the Neighbourhood Plan. It was proposed that criterion 2 and Map 6.1 be deleted, alongside the other amendments shown within Appendix 1 to the report.

Consideration was given to the removal of the land of West Church Road in light of the ongoing public enquiry. The Strategic Planning Manager confirmed that removal of the reference would not negatively impact the Council’s representation to the examiner.

RESOLVED: That

1.  The Otham Parish Neighbourhood Plan be supported, subject to the resolution of matters raised in the Council’s representation, as attached in Appendix 1 to the report; and

2.  The Council’s representation in response to Regulation 16 consultation on the Otham Parish Neighbourhood Plan, attached at Appendix 1 to the report, be approved.