The Parish Council, at its recent Special Meeting of Full Council held on 14th October, formally approved its submission to the Examination in Public of the Horsham District Council’s Planning Framework.

The Examination in public, which will be held in the Council Chamber in Horsham District Council’s Offices and begins on Tuesday 4th November 2014 at 10am, will be attended by various Parish Councillors where possible.

The meeting papers at which this issue was discussed can be found here, and the full Hearing Statement on Behalf of North Horsham Parish Council can be found here.

Horsham District Council’s Planning Framework (HDPF) has been submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for an independent examination.

The Secretary of State has appointed Mr Geoff Salter BA MRTPI, an inspector from the Planning Inspectorate, to conduct the independent public examination into the soundness of the Horsham Local Plan. The Examination will start towards the end of this year and is likely to take around three weeks.   If the document is agreed by the Planning Inspector, it is anticipated that the Horsham District Planning Framework will be adopted by the Council in April 2015.

A number of documents have been passed to the Planning Inspector. These include the Horsham District Planning Framework together with all 3073 representations in full and a summary of the main issues raised during a period of public consultation. Other accompanying documents include a sustainability appraisal, a policies map and a statement of consultation. The council isn’t able to make changes to the plan in response to the comments received, but it is recommending some minor amendments for the inspector’s consideration.

Copies of all representations made in relation to the Horsham District Planning Framework are available to view at http://horsham.limehouse.co.uk/portal/planning/hdpf_1/hdpf_prop_sub.

Further information about and details relating to the examination process will be made available online at www.horsham.gov.uk and sent to those who responded to the consultation processes of the Horsham District Planning Framework.

Hard copies of the submission documents for the Horsham District Planning Framework are also available to view at Horsham District Council, Park North, North Street, Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 1RL at the following times: Monday to Thursday: 8.45am to 5.20pm; Friday: 8.45am to 4.20pm.

An independent programme officer has been appointed to represent the planning inspector. The programme officer is responsible for managing the day to day arrangements of the examination process before and during the period of the examination, recording all documents submitted, arranging for inspection of sites by the inspector and dealing with correspondence on his behalf to those who have made representations, including requests for and exchange of all statements. This will include any communication or correspondence between the inspector and the council. The Programme Officer can be contacted at bankssolutionsuk@gmail.com

Cabinet Member for Living and Working Communities, Claire Vickers said: “This is the most important planning document that the council has produced in recent years. It has obliged us to look at how we are to provide homes and jobs both now and into the future and maintain economic prosperity for our District. It will also put us in a much stronger position to control the location and extent of development and resist planning appeals by developers.

“Given the extent of such a plan it is understandable that there have been some very passionate responses to parts of it. The plan along with consultation comments now goes to a Government inspector who will go through every aspect of it and ensure we have met all the requirements of Government policy and guidance.”

Over the summer of 2014, all Horsham residents will receive a letter through the post telling them about the biggest change to the electoral registration system in nearly 100 years.

Horsham District Council’s Electoral Services Team will write to over 101,000 residents in the Horsham district explaining that a new, more secure, system of Individual Electoral Registration is being introduced to replace the old Victorian system where the “head of household” registered everyone living in a property. Now, each individual will be responsible for registering themselves.

Many residents will automatically move onto the new electoral register. However, some will need to take action to join or remain on it, which they will now also be able to do for the first time by registering quickly and easily online.

Tom Crowley, Horsham District Council Chief Executive and Electoral Registration Officer, said:

“Horsham residents will receive a letter around 26-30 July that will explain the change to the electoral registration system. Look out for the letter as it will tell you if you have been automatically transferred to the new register or not. If you have not been transferred, you will need to provide some additional information and the letter will tell you exactly what you need to do.”

Samantha Mills, Head of Campaigns at the Electoral Commission, said:

“This summer the Electoral Commission will launch a major advertising campaign that will raise awareness of the change to Individual Electoral Registration. We welcome this change, which will lead to a more secure register and replace the outdated Victorian concept that a single ‘head of household’ is responsible for registering everyone.”

For more information visit www.gov.uk/yourvotematters . If you do not receive a letter contact Horsham District Council’s Electoral Services team on 01403 212126 or email: elections@horsham.gov.uk.