APPENDIX TO AGENDA ITEM 8.1 (20 July 2021)
Pickmere Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group Terms of Reference
The Steering Group
The Neighbourhood Plan is the responsibility of Pickmere Parish Council. Accordingly, decisions as to
the form and content of the Plan, and the process of its preparation are also the responsibility of the
Council as a whole. The Steering Group is to assist in leading the plan process, working within the
agreed budget toward achieving the Council’s aim of producing a Neighbourhood Plan that is adopted
by Cheshire East Council as a statutory planning document.
Purpose and Powers of the Steering Group
The purpose of the Steering Group is to assist the Parish Council to prepare its Neighbourhood Plan.
The Steering Group will be empowered by the Council to take such actions as are considered necessary
to progress the Plan, including carrying out the activities listed below, while ensuring that regular
reports are made to Council as to progress, issues arising, and outcomes. Any matters of Council policy
as to the Plan or otherwise must be referred to the Council for decision.
Investigating and identify support for the Neighbourhood Plan
Identifying sources of funding
Drafting Plan policies
In conjunction with the Clerk to the Council taking responsibility for planning, budgeting and
monitoring expenditure on the Neighbourhood Plan and reporting back to the Parish Council
on these matters
Liaising with relevant authorities and organisations to make the Neighbourhood Plan as
effective as possible
Identifying ways of involving the whole community and gather the views and opinions of as
many groups and organisations in the community as possible
Determining the types of evidence gathering to be used
Being responsible for the analysis of information gathered, as well as the production and the
distribution of the final report
Identifying priorities and timescales for local action in the Project Plan, including the lead
organisations and potential sources of project funding
Holding meetings with the public to maintain information flow and maximise engagement
Membership of the Steering Group
The Council has already identified a Working Group of parish councillors which has commenced
preparatory work on the plan process. The Working Group will select volunteers from the Pickmere
community on the basis of individuals’ expression of interest in joining the Steering Group. Selection
will be based on a number of factors including the skills mix identified, length of residency in the village
and past history of involvement with community issues and volunteering.
The Steering Group will be made up of 4 Parish Councillors nominated by the Parish Council and 4
representatives from the community and the Group will be advised by planning consultant Lucy
Hughes, Cheshire Community Action.
The quorum for any Steering Group meeting will be three parish councillors.
Defining Roles
The Parish Council will select the Chair of the SG from among the Group’s parish councillors. The Chair
of the Group will have a casting vote where required in respect of any decision made by that Group.
Other members of the Steering Group may be elected to other key roles as required during the project.
The Group may consider the early identification of an Administration Officer or similar to assist the
Chair.
Roles & Relationships
In carrying out its work, any decision of the Steering Group that does not receive the support of a
majority of the parish councillor members of the Group will be referred to the Parish Council for
consideration.
Parish Council insurance will cover the previously agreed activities of the Steering Group and
volunteers, but Steering Group members, in liaison with the Clerk to the Council, need to ensure that
terms of the insurance are not breached.
The Chair and Administration Officer (if appointed) are responsible for reporting back to the Parish
Council.
The Parish Council will provide the opportunity for the endorsement of regular Steering Group reports
via its meeting agenda, and for making key decisions.
It is expected that all Steering Group members will abide by the principles and practice of the Parish
Council Code of Conduct including making declarations of interest where appropriate.
Timing
The target date for a referendum is June 2022.
Meetings
The Steering Group shall normally meet monthly, or as required.
At least three clear days’ notice of meetings shall be sent to members via the communication method
agreed with, and appropriate to, each individual member, and will also be displayed on the Council’s
Neighbourhood Plan webpage.
Notices of meetings should detail the matters to be discussed.
The Administration Officer (if appointed) shall keep a record of meetings and circulate notes to
Steering Group members and the Parish Council (via the Council Clerk) in a timely fashion.
Formal meetings of the Steering Group will generally be open to the public and may be held online.
Such meetings are not confined by the current statute which requires all formal meetings of the Parish
Council to be held in person.
Consultation and Task Groups
The Steering Group may form Consultation or Task Groups consisting of members of the community
and representatives from the Parish Council. Such groups will have their own terms of reference and
will report back to the Steering Group. In general they will carry out duties which may include, but are
not limited to: (1) Data gathering (2) Consultations (3) Making recommendations
The make-up and purpose of Consultation or Task Groups will be regularly reviewed by the full
Steering Group. The Steering Group will identify a lead person for each such group.
Finance
All grants and funding will be applied for and held by the Parish Council, who will ringfence the funds
for Neighbourhood Plan purposes only.
Council has already delegated power to the Council Clerk/Responsible Financial Officer, in conjunction
with the Chair of the Council, to authorise payments on Neighbourhood Plan matters up to a certain
limit. Further consideration is being given to financial aspects to explore whether greater flexibility
can be given to the Steering Group. However the Council’s Financial Regulations are strict, in the
interests of ensuring probity, and these Regulations are an extremely important factor in this
consideration.
All planned expenditure will have to be authorised by the Clerk to the Council if within delegated limits
or the Parish Council if higher. All expenditure must be so authorised before actual costs are incurred,
and the Parish Council’s normal procurement and ordering procedures adhered to. Parish Council
preferred suppliers will be used where possible.
Invoices will be made out in the name of Pickmere Parish Council.
The Chair of the Steering Group will ensure the maintenance of a clear record of expenditure
supported by receipted invoices and will regularly review and update the budget in liaison with the
Clerk to the Council.
The Clerk to the Council will draw up and agree with the Steering Group procedures for volunteers
who need to claim expenses: members of the community who are involved as volunteers with any of
the Task Groups may claim back any previously agreed expenditure that was necessarily incurred
during the process of producing the Neighbourhood Plan. This includes, but is not limited to, postage,
stationery, telephone calls and travel costs.
The Clerk to the Council will report back to the Steering Group and the Parish Council on planned and
actual expenditure for the project.
Dissolving the Steering Group
At the conclusion of the Neighbourhood Plan project the Parish Council and Steering Group should
discuss the future working of the Steering Group. If the Steering Group wishes to dissolve it must
notify the Parish Council. The Parish Council may at any time dissolve the Steering Group, or any other
Consultation or Task Group, for any reason.
J Steel
Clerk to the Parish Council
