Preview: CDC to discuss rival terms of reference
At a meeting this Wednesday, the Community Development Committee will discuss, and potentially agree, terms of reference for the CDC that challenge those agreed by Chilbolton Parish Council only two weeks ago.
As we reported before, the Parish Council voted four to three to approve version 3.2 of the terms of reference. The effect was to:
- Focus on the 25 homes in the pre-application
- Eliminate the consideration of other sites
- Add responsibility for some parts of the 65-home development proposed by TVBC
- Reserve negotiations with landowners to the Parish Council
- Replace a referendum with “meaningful community engagement”
Dubbed “Version 4.0”, the new terms of reference to be discussed on Wednesday focus housing priorities arising from the Neighbourhood Development plan on the “provision of ~20 smaller properties in line with demonstrated housing needs”, rather than the 25 homes in the pre-application.
Removed from the CDC’s main priorities are the so-called “community assets” which might be provided alongside the 65 home included in the latest TVBC consultation.
On the 25 homes, the new TOR says that there is no decision yet to proceed with any one site and that there should be a referendum or vote. It says that the CDC objectives should be:
To prepare options for delivery of an initial development of ~25 properties as outlined in the revised Pre-Application (submitted for TVBC comment in April 2025). The site adjacent to Drove Road identified in the Pre-Application is the current option preferred by the Parish Council but there is no decision to proceed with this or any development (Parish Council Statement 22nd February 2025). Other options need to be fully and objectively evaluated to ensure the site, housing mix, access, financial and infrastructure assumptions have been fully tested. Initiate surveys and focus groups to build out information, refresh existing analysis and ensure any recommendations are fact-based and supported by data. CDC is required to consider wider implications relating to the longer-term vision rather than dictate the outcome in a biased way.
To present these options to the Parish Council and support the council in presenting to the community for approval whether by public vote or referendum.
Once a plan is approved, to prepare submissions for Planning and other permissions and submit these to CPC for approval.
It also offers a new perspective on the relationship with Chilbolton Community Land Trust:
CCLT cannot be bound by any recommendations or decisions of the Parish Council so CDC’s responsibility is to work towards alignment with CCLT on the delivery of affordable housing – preferably within one overall plan
On negotiations with third parties such as landowners and developers, rather simply making recommendations to the Parish Council, it says that
CDC will identify potential providers in line with sourcing policies and, once the framework is agreed by CPC, manage ongoing relationships with suppliers and partners to deliver the project.
If agreed, version 4.0 of the terms of reference will unwind most of the changes made at the Parish Council meeting.
As to who the Chair of CDC will be, there is no agenda item for a vote on that. As Vice-Chair, it will presumably be Neil Connor who presides over Wednesday’s meeting. Given that Councillor Julian Hudson, who proposed version 3.2, is also a CDC member, Mr Connor may have a challenging job on his hands.