The recommendations were amended and then agreed.

DECISION

To approve the application for the designation of the Limehouse Neighbourhood Planning Forum and Neighbourhood Planning Area (as amended and as set out in Appendix 2).

To approve in principle the designation of Neighbourhood Planning Forum and Area for the Isle of Dogs application subject to clarification of the boundaries of the Neighbourhood Planning Area. Decisions will be taken at the earliest opportunity.

To defer the designation of the Spitalfields Neighbourhood Planning Forum and Area subject to further consideration of the consultation submissions received and clarification on the need for further consultation. Decisions will be taken at the earliest opportunity.

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR, DEVELOPMENT AND RENEWAL (A. DALVI)

(Strategic Planning Manager (A. Maher)

Councillor Rachel Blake, Cabinet Member for Strategic Development, introduced the report. She explained the role of Neighbourhood Plans and Neighbourhood Forums and the particular benefit of being able to draw local people into discussions about their area.

In particular she highlighted the maps and appraisals presented in the report for the three specific Neighbourhood Forum applications.

The first application examined was that for the Isle of Dogs.

Councillor Andrew Wood spoke on behalf of the Conservative Group and as the Secretary of the Isle of Dogs Planning Forum. He highlighted that the application process had taken much longer than promised and that it was important the application was agreed. The Forum were happy to work to fine tune the boundaries later.

Public submissions were also noted on this item. These raised concerns about the exact area proposed for the Forum.

The Mayor welcomed the proposals and stated that he was keen to move quickly but noted that there were a number of concerns that had been raised about the exact boundaries. He therefore felt unable to agree the boundaries at this stage but he agreed to recognise the application in principle.

The second application examined was for the Limehouse area.

No submissions had been received on this application. The Mayor therefore agreed the recommendation to recognise the Planning Forum and Planning Area as set out in the report.

The third application was for the Spitalfields area.

Public submissions were received on this application that questioned the effectiveness of the consultation exercise that had taken place and whether the objections received had been sufficiently considered. It was also suggested that the current boundary proposals were not coherent to either the residential or business areas of Spitalfields. The Mayor stated that although he would in principle like to accept an application he deferred consideration of this application until the concerns raised could be considered.

RESOLVED

1.    To approve the application for the designation of the Limehouse Neighbourhood Planning Forum and Neighbourhood Planning Area (as amended and as set out in Appendix 2).

2.    To approve in principle the designation of a Neighbourhood Planning Forum for the Isle of Dogs application subject to clarification of the boundaries of the Neighbourhood Planning Area. Decisions to be taken on the Forum and Area Boundary at the earliest opportunity.

3.    To defer the designation of the Spitalfields Neighbourhood Planning Forum and Area subject to further consideration of the consultation submissions received and clarification on the need for further consultation. Decisions will be taken at the earliest opportunity.