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Decision details

Fitzrovia West Neighbourhood Forum Re-designation

Decision Maker: Cabinet Member for Business and Planning

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: No

Purpose:

A report to recommend the re-designation of the Fitzrovia West Neighbourhood Forum.

Decision:

2.0      RECOMMENDATIONS

2.1      That the Cabinet Member for Business and Planning agreed to re-designate the Fitzrovia West Neighbourhood Forum for a further period of 5 years and a formal designation notice will be published under delegated authority of the Director of Policy and Projects.

 

3.0      REASONS FOR DECISION 

3.1        Section 61F (7) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as inserted into the Act by the Localism Act, Schedule 9) sets out the conditions that a neighbourhood forum must meet, as well as the considerations that a local planning authority must take into account when determining an application for the designation of a neighbourhood forum.

 

3.2        The legislation states that a local planning authority may designate an organisation or body as a neighbourhood forum if the authority is satisfied that a number of conditions (in the table below) have been met. The existing Fitzrovia West Neighbourhood Forum meets all of these conditions, and there has been no change in this since the original designation.

 

Condition

Met?

Established for the express purpose of promoting or improving the social, economic or environmental well-being of an area?

Yes

Membership open to individuals who live or work in the area (or are elected members of the City Council);

Yes

Membership includes a minimum of 21 individuals each of whom lives or works (or is an elected member) in the area?

Yes

The neighbourhood forum has a written constitution?

Yes

 

3.3        The City Council is also required to have regard to whether membership is drawn from different places in the neighbourhood area concerned and from different sections of the community in that area. The application submitted by the Forum indicates that membership of the Fitzrovia West Neighbourhood Forum stands at over 200 members, and that the Forum represents the interests of local residents and businesses, including the New West End Company (NWEC). The list of members has also been provided by the Forum.

 

3.4        The City Council is also required to assess whether the purpose of the neighbourhood forum reflects (in general terms) the character of the area. The application submitted by the Forum for re-designation states that the Forum was established to promote, enhance and improve the social, economic and environmental wellbeing of the area. It also makes clear that the continued preparation of a neighbourhood plan that addresses planning and development matters, public realm improvement projects, and environmental policies, is a priority for the Forum. The Forum has already carried out significant work on the neighbourhood plan and have carried out consultation on a draft plan in the Summer 2019. The main purpose for the existence of the Fitzrovia West Neighbourhood Forum is therefore stronger now than when it was initially designated.

 

 

3.5      Consultation on the re-designation of the Fitzrovia West Neighbourhood Forum highlighted support for the application, no objections, or competing applications. Further details are provided in section 9 of this report.

 

Publication date: 20/02/2020

Date of decision: 17/02/2020

Accompanying Documents: