Apologies were received from Councillor Travis Hesketh.

At this point in the Meeting, Members were invited to declare any relevant interests.  None were received.

To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting held on 27 March 2025 and the Minutes of the Special Meeting held at the rising of the AGM on 21 May 2025.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 27 March 2025 and the Minutes of the Special Meeting held at the rising of the AGM on 21 May 2025 were agreed as a correct record.

Actions from the previous Meeting(s).

Members were referred to the updated Action Sheet  The actions were noted as complete or in hand.

To receive a report.

Greg Macrdechian, Interim Local Plan Lead delivered a presentation to Members outlining the purpose, process and current status of the Belchford and Fulletby Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) and asked them to consider the Examiner’s recommended modifications which were set out in Appendix 1, pages 37 to 46 of the Agenda pack refer.

A copy of the presentation is attached as Appendix A to the Minutes.

The key points of the presentation were highlighted as follows:

-        The NDP was a community-led initiative covering development and land use policies within the parish boundary.

-        The plan had undergone consultation and independent examination.

-        The examiner recommended removal of land to the rear of the Bluebell Public House from the list of designated Local Green Spaces, citing non-compliance with NPPF criteria.

-        Officers disagreed with this recommendation, citing:

o   The land’s proximity and significance to the community.

o   Planning history demonstrating its importance to local character.

o   The site’s inclusion within the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and obligations under the Countryside and Rights of Way (CROW) Act.

-        It was noted that the examiner may not had fully considered the site’s context or accessed it during their visit.

The Chairman commented that a Neighbourhood Development Plan was an important milestone for any community and that very few parishes in East Lindsey had the ambition, vision or capacity to put one together which made this an incredible achievement for a small community.

The Chairman further informed Members that the decision would lie with the Executive Board, however, the Planning Policy Committee would help form its views and would offer Executive Board guidance.  

Members were invited to put their comments and questions forward.

-        A Member commented that the Committee was being asked to consider the land behind the Bluebell Inn and queried why this had not been included in the presentation.  It was further considered that it would have been beneficial for the people who had created the NDP to address the Committee and explain the work that they had undertaken during the process.  A Member also asked for clarification on the relationship between the Local Plan and the Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP). 

The Interim Local Plan Lead explained that both the five-year housing supply and the Local Plan were currently out of date.  However, if a Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) included a restrictive policy or if the land in question was designated within the NDP, that designation would form the basis for decision-making.  In the absence of such a designation, the policy position would be weaker, and the land could potentially be considered for development.  If the land was not identified as a locally designated space within the NDP, it could be subject to appeal and further inspection.

The Chairman pointed out that even without an up-to-date Local Plan and five-year housing supply, designated places would remain protected and must not be built on.

-        Following a query on whether a NDP would be carried through to a new  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

The date of the next Meeting was confirmed as Thursday 18 September 2025 commencing at 6.00pm.