November 2014 update Cllrs Hodge and Fane said that the recent Public Meeting had gone well. About a dozen enthusiastic villagers attended. Alison Talkington and David Roberts (both SCDC) gave helpful presentations and advice. The main advantage of a Neighbourhood Plan was that the Village would receive 25% of any Community Infrastructure Funds (CIL) instead of 15%. The Parish Council would lead the process, but there must be community involvement and wide consultation. Issues needed to be identified. Before a Plan could be finalised, a public referendum, with a more than 50% “yes” vote, was required. Funding up to £7,000 was available. A further tranche would be released in April. There was considerable enthusiasm for updating and expanding the existing Village Design Statement. Little Shelford and Stapleford, along with Great Shelford, could be regarded as one neighbourhood. The Council agreed that there should be a further meeting in mid-January. A Village Plan is being created so that villagers can set out their views and aspirations for Great Shelford. A decision to go ahead with creating a plan was made at the Parish Council meeting on October 15. The Plan is likely to consider progressing a formal neighbourhood development plan, giving the plan (to include an updated Village Design Statement) some teeth in planning terms. The views of the wider village community will be be sought at the earliest stage, starting with a public meeting in the Memorial Hall, probably in November; Other people in the village, possibly also in neighbouring villages, should be involved in any working group. Cllr Hodge has agreed in principle to chair the working group, at least in its initial stages. The Memorial Hall has been booked for an Open Meeting on 14 November at 7.30 pm and 2 experts from SCDC have been invited to speak. |
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