My Lords, in speaking to this group, I will focus on important government Amendments 6 and 131, as well as discussing government Amendments 2, 3 and 4. There are some other amendments in the group which I will obviously respond to after those who tabled them make their contributions.
Amendments 6 and 131 put beyond doubt that neighbourhood planning groups which are well on their way to completing a neighbourhood plan will be aware of future planning applications in their area. These amendments also reaffirm the Government’s commitment to ensure that neighbourhood plans are given proper consideration when planning applications are decided.
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The amendments stem from concerns expressed on this issue by noble Lords and by Members of the other place. Amendment 6 inserts new sub-paragraphs into paragraph 8 of Schedule 1 to the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to require local planning authorities to notify neighbourhood planning groups automatically of any future planning applications or alterations to those applications in the relevant neighbourhood area after the neighbourhood plan has successfully passed independent examination. Amendment 131 will bring this measure into effect by amending the Bill’s commencement clause, Clause 41.
Government Amendments 2, 3 and 4 are minor and technical amendments to Clause 1, which requires decision-makers to have regard to post-examination neighbourhood plans. The amendments clarify the definition of a “post-examination” neighbourhood plan to ensure that it applies to those plans which
progress through the new modification procedure set out in Clause 3 and that it continues to apply during the period between a decision being taken that a referendum is to be held on a plan and the plan becoming part of the development plan. I beg to move.