This report of the Head of City Development seeks Board approval to designate the Summertown and St Margaret’s and the Wolvercote areas as neighbourhood areas (but not as business areas) under the Localism Act 2011 and associated Regulations.  Designation of neighbourhood areas will be the first step for local groups wishing to produce neighbourhood plans. Adopted Neighbourhood Plans will contain statutory planning policies to guide development in the neighbourhood plan areas.

The Head of City Development submitted a report (previously circulated, now appended).

Councillor Fooks spoke on the item.  In particular she expressed some surprise that the Council used Ward boundaries to define neighbourhood areas because those boundaries did not necessarily coincide.

Resolved:-

(1)                           to designate the Summertown and St Margaret’s and the Wolvercote areas as shown on the maps that form Appendix 1 to the report as neighbourhood area (but not as business areas) under the provisions of the Localism Act 2011 and associated Regulations;

(2)                           To ask the Executive Director, Regeneration and Housing to cause to be checked the availability of grant assistance from the Department for Communities and Local Government, and when in the process any such grants might be available.