Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations made.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 9 February 2023 be approved as a correct record.

The purpose of the report was to present the Council’s Annual Report for 2021/22.  This was a core document which compared High Peak’s performance and costs with councils in the East Midlands region and nationally. The report was considered by the Corporate Select Committee on 20 March 2023.

Options considered:

The report was for information with no decision required of the Committee.

RESOLVED:

That the findings of the benchmarking exercises be noted.

The purpose of the report is to review and update the Business Rate Reliefs Policy and the Council Tax Discounts, Exemptions and Levies Policy. The report was considered by the Corporate Select Committee on 20 March 2023.

Options considered:

No options in regard to mandatory reliefs and discounts were available due to being set by Government. However, Government allowed authorities to make discretionary decisions in respect of the amount of Business Rates and Council Tax due.

RESOLVED:

That the updated Business Rates Reliefs Policy and Council Tax Discounts, Exemptions and Levies Policy be approved.

The report considered the submission Draft (Regulation 15) version of the Whaley Bridge Neighbourhood Plan to determine whether it had followed the proper legal process and that the legal requirements for consultation had been followed. The report was considered by the Economy and Growth Select Committee on 16 March 2023.

Options considered:

·       Where the draft Neighbourhood Plan submitted to the local planning authority meets the requirements in the legislation, the authority must publicise the neighbourhood plan for a minimum of six weeks, invite representations, notify any consultation body referred to in the consultation statement and send the draft Neighbourhood Plan for independent examination. The local planning authority has to consider the submission documents and conclude whether the proper process has been followed and the legal requirements for pre-submission consultation have been carried out.

·       If the local planning authority concludes that this has been done, they are required to launch the Regulation 16 consultation on behalf of the Neighbourhood Plan group/forum. There is not an alternative, unless the process is found not to have been correctly followed. If this were the case then the local planning authority would advise those preparing the Neighbourhood Plan that the requirements have not been met and that they would need to remedy this and resubmit.

RESOLVED:

That the submission documents for the Regulation 15 stage be noted and that:

·       The Whaley Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan (Appendix 1) be approved for public consultation for a six week period (Regulation 16) after the May elections.

·       That the commencement of the appointment of an Examiner and organisation of the independent examination be approved.

RESOLVED:

That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business as there may be disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

RESOLVED:

That the exempt minutes of the meeting held on 9 February 2023 be approved as a correct record.