The Executive Director (Development) has submitted a report to consider redesignation of the Neighbourhood Forums for Wolvercote and Summertown and St. Margaret’s.

Cabinet is recommended to:

1.       Approve the redesignation of Wolvercote Neighbourhood Forum in respect of the originally designated neighbourhood area to which it related; and

2.       Approve the redesignation of Summertown and St. Margaret’s Forum in respect of the originally designated neighbourhood area to which it related.

The Executive Director (Development) had submitted a report to consider redesignation of the Neighbourhood Forums for Wolvercote and Summertown & St. Margaret’s.

Councillor Louise Upton, Cabinet Member for Planning, reported that the Localism Act 2011 had provided for the establishment of Neighbourhood Forums, allowing interested local communities to become directly involved in planning for their areas.  Neighbourhood Forums were able to produce Neighbourhood Plans which, if adopted, became part of the statutory development plan, and therefore an important consideration when making decisions on planning applications.

However, legislation set out that designation of a neighbourhood forum ceased to have effect five years after the date of designation.  Cabinet was therefore asked to consider approving the redesignation of Wolvercote and Summertown & St Margaret’s Neighbourhood Forums.  Neighbourhood forum applications were required to link to a designated area: the proposed areas for both Forums were identical to those as originally designated.

Officers confirmed that consultation feedback for both neighbourhood forum redesignations had been very positive.

Cabinet resolved to:

1.       Approve the redesignation of Wolvercote Neighbourhood Forum in respect of the originally designated neighbourhood area to which it related; and

2.       Approve the redesignation of Summertown & St. Margaret’s Forum in respect of the originally designated neighbourhood area to which it related.