This decision was delegated to officers under Part 4.4 of the Council’s Constitution:  All executive functions except the ones in Part 4.5 and 4.6 are delegated to the officers in the senior management structure.

The policies in the proposed Littlemore Neighbourhood Plan were subject to assessment to determine if a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) would be required.  An SEA was not deemed to be necessary.

The decision was made to ensure that legal requirements with respect to the development of certain Plans (regulation 9 of the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004.) have been satisfied.

An SEA has been carried out for the emerging Local Plan 2040 policies, including site allocation policies, and the scope of that assessment encompasses areas that are covered by the policies contained in the proposed NP.  The Littlemore NP also does not propose any allocated sites.  We have consulted with statutory bodies - Natural England and Historic England - who concur with our position.  The Environment Agency were also consulted but have yet to provide a response.

No other alternatives are applicable in this instance.

Decision taken by David Butler, Head of Planning and Regulatory Services.