Comment

Representation ID: 37467

Received: 27/08/2019

Respondent: Hullbridge Residents Association

Item 1 (page 1) This NP was introduced by the "Localism Act" in 2011 and gives local communities new powers to take decisions to help shape and drive the development that takes place in their area. Would you agree this can be done by proven professionally qualified groups, by example, such as the Hulbridge Residents Association (HRA) in the same way the District Council have accepted the Neighbourhood Forum of "Canewdon and Wallasea" as designated in the District (clause 9), and why Hullbridge have not been given the same opportunity, despite several requests to administer the Neighbourhood Planning Group (NPG) in accordance with the Neighbourhood Planning Regulations 2012, with the added advantage of seeking a Charitable status, with your approval, for funding purposes.

Neighbourhood Plan -

HRA were advised by Westminster Planning Department to apply to you, but we did not receive a reply.
Hullbridge Parish Council (HPC) conceded at a council meeting in 2016 (also attended by the Rural Community Council of Essex (RCCE)) that they were unable to administer projects due to lack of knowledge of large scale development planning matters. HRA 22-member committee were at this HPC meeting and we consider that HPC missed the opportunity to introduce HRA as a 'Professional Group' able to undertake the proposed Neighbourhood Planning Group. The HPC have had ample opportunity to discuss this and come to an agreement, but they have never tried. HRA have provided adequate proof of our 'professionalism' to administer a Neighbourhood Planning Group, under a charitable status to find funds to do this work, RDC and HPC were also copied into this correspondence, but our proposals have continually been rejected, despite us having a robust 'constitution' in accordance with the CPALC 10 point Guiding Principles, which is close to the Constitution observed by the RDC, along with professionally qualified and experienced committee members. HRA will abide by the 7 stages of the NP as set out in item 6, page 2.

Item 1 (cont). Neighbourhood Development Order
We have been in discussions with a Councillor about the possibilities of involvement with a Development Board, which we are happy to participate with, and we were hoping this would lead to some result, but to date we have had no progress.

Item 1 (cont). Community Right to build Order
This section is for the Parish Council, but the accent seems to be on the word "Community", which is in conflict with what we have been speaking about ie that HRA are well 'equipped' to prepare and administer this NP, as stated above, that HPC are unable to deal with large scale developments, but the community representative (HRA) are not provided the opportunity to participate in co-operation with the RDC and HPC in accordance with the rules and regulations set out in the Addendum C.