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Neighbourhood Planning Workshop, Taunton. Independent Examiner Experience Angus Kennedy. NPIERS. Background to NPIERS initiative Set up 2013:the services offered: Independent examinations Health checks Developing a support service for LPAs and QBs Who are the examiners?. Progress to date.
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Neighbourhood Planning Workshop, Taunton Independent Examiner Experience Angus Kennedy
NPIERS • Background to NPIERS initiative • Set up 2013:the services offered: • Independent examinations • Health checks • Developing a support service for LPAs and QBs • Who are the examiners?
Progress to date • 48 examiners on the Panel. • Various professional backgrounds • 50 Plans submitted for examination • 45 Plans have sourced their examiner through NPIERS • 94% possible success rate • All but one of the plans that have been examined have passed
Experiences to date: appointment of Examiner • Timing of appointment • Information provided • Identify specialist knowledge • Timescales for reporting • Indemnity insurance levels • LPA and QB should both agree candidate
Examiner appointment • NPIERS will offer 3 who meet criteria • CV and written response/ proposal • LPA should liaise closely with QB about process • Be realistic about need for interview • Phone or email preferred candidate • Only discuss their skills, not the Plan
Preparing for Examination • Key single point of contact essential • Ensure all documentation is available at outset • Background material • Evidence • Delegations • Committee cycles and electoral services
All Plans are different! • Plans differ in scale and complexity • Some have very few issues, policies and proposals • Some are far more complex • Varying degrees of professional input from residents and external consultants
Key considerations for Examiner • Does Plan meet the Basic Conditions? • Quality may vary but demonstrating it meets Basic Conditions is the key • Examiners will ask for further background information • Many will try to help the Plan get over the line
Common problems • Assuming because it is written down in Plan it is demonstrated: • LPA documentation re QB status and NP area • The saved policies and other plans relied upon • The consultation process (events, numbers and critically “you said ,we did” • Keep up to date with national NP issues / precedents
The Examiner report 1 The Plan should go forward to referendum because it meets all the legal requirements, “the Basic Conditions” 2 The Plan should proceed to Referendum if modified 3 The Plan should not proceed to Referendum because it does not meet all the legal requirements
Public Hearing Important to advertise ahead (28 days minimum) Examiner will provide note explaining: • Venue and timings • Who has been invited to speak and why • Social media coverage and house rules
Public hearing • Venue in Plan area ideally • Examiner will visit site in advance (unaccompanied normally) • NOT a Local Plan hearing! • Deadlines for representations • LPA to make representations public • Take note of legal challenge and purdah periods
Future prospects • Major pipeline of Plans in progress • Local people making a real difference • More urban NPs needed • NPIERS keen to support process
Dr. Angus Kennedy Chief Executive Community Regeneration Partnership Ltd angusk@crp-ltd.co.uk www.crp-ltd.co.uk