YOUR TOWN: YOUR VISION: YOUR PLAN.
Back in the Winter 2021 Newsletter I briefly explained that the role of the Independent Examiner was to provide independent scrutiny of the plan to ensure it met the appropriate legislative requirements including local consultation and engagement.
The Examiner reviewed the Plan during the early months of 2021 and much to our delight made the the following recommendation to Horsham District Council (HDC):
“I recommend that the Plan, once modified, proceeds to the referendums on the basis that it has met all the relevant legal requirements.”
The minor modifications recommended by the examiner were made and the revised plan submitted to HDC on the 15th April 2021.
We were disappointed that it was not possible hold the Plan referendum at the same time as the local government elections on May 6th but unfortunately there was insufficient time between submitting the report and the election, for council officers to prepare their report and for the Decision Notice to be published.
However, we are concerned that some two months later HDC has still not published a Decision Notice regarding the referendum.
The plan was over 7 years in the making and is the product of much local consultation and engagement as we sought to develop a plan representative of the views and aspirations of both residents and businesses within Horsham.
It would be a poor reflection on local democracy if residents and businesses where denied the opportunity to vote on their Plan.
Hopefully, this delay is a result of heavy work loads within the council and will shortly be resolved rather than any political decision to frustrate the implementation of the Plan.
Best wishes
Andrew Cooke
on behalf of the Horsham Blueprint Neighbourhood Forum Steering Committee
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