Voters set to have their say on vision for village
Villagers are set to get a vote on their community’s future after senior councillors backed putting the plan for their neighbourhood to a referendum.
South Tyneside Council’s Cabinet unanimously agreed toputforwardtheEastBoldon Neighbourhood Plan for a referendum, to be voted on by residents in that area.
A neighbourhood plan is a means of communities having a say in the future of places where they live and work, helpingtoshapedevelopment andgrowthintheirlocalareas.
This includes where they wanthomes,offices,transport and other community infrastructure to be built.
Public consultation was carried out earlier this year on the East Boldon Neighbourhood Plan, which was developed by the village’s Neighbourhood Forum.
The plan then had to be submitted to an independent examination, and the Examiner’s Report was received by the council in July.
Councillor Mark Walsh, council lead member for regeneration and the economy, speaking at the meeting said:
“The plan has been examined by the independent examiner.
“Intheirreportontheplan, the examiner recommends it proceeds to referendum, subject to certain modifications, and that the referendum area should not extend beyond the Neighbourhood Forum area.”
In the referendum, residents will be asked the question:
“Do you want South Tyneside Council to use the neighbourhood plan for East Boldon Neighbourhood Area to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?’
Acouncilreportsnotes,following the ruling at the meeting, the local authority will have 56 working days from publication of that decision to holdareferendumontheplan.
It is envisaged that the referendum will be held on October 21 or shortly thereafter, according to the report.
If more than 50% of those whovoteinthereferendumdo so in favour of the plan then it mustbemadeandbroughtintolegaleffectbythelocalplanning authority.
Ahead of the meeting, George Mansbridge, council corporate director regeneration and environment, said: “We’d like to thank everyone who had their say on the plan in the two rounds of consultation, and if it does proceed to a referendum, we’d encourage
people to vote.”