A casual vacancy has arisen in the Goudhurst Ward.

If you are interested in becoming a councillor, please email Mrs Claire Reed, Clerk to Goudhurst Parish Council, at: clerk@goudhurst-pc.gov.uk for more information.

Tickets for the Proper Platinum Party (15 – 18 year olds) on Friday 03 June and the 1950’s Dance on Saturday 04 June can now be purchased through our dedicated website at: https://goudhurstjubilee.merlintickets.co.uk/

1.   About this statement

A referendum on the Goudhurst Neighbourhood Development Plan will be held on 3^rd February 2022. This statement provides information on the referendum that is taking place, and the neighbourhood plan it relates to.

2.   Referendum on the Goudhurst Neighbourhood Development Plan

A referendum asks you to vote ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to a question. For this referendum you will receive a ballot paper which asks the following question:

Do you want Tunbridge Wells Borough Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Goudhurst to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?

3.   What is a neighbourhood area?

The neighbourhood area for Goudhurst is identified on the map which is included at the end of this information statement.

The referendum area is identical to the area which has been designated as the Goudhurst Neighbourhood Area.

The Neighbourhood Area is the area of Goudhurst parish.

 4. Am I entitled to vote in the Referendum?

A person is entitled to vote in the referendum if on the 18^th January 2022:

• he or she is entitled to vote in a local government election in the referendum area; and
• his or her qualifying address for the election is in the referendum area. A person’s qualifying address is, in relation to a person registered in the register of electors, the address in respect of which he or she is entitled to be registered.

The referendum will be conducted based in accordance with procedures similar to those used at local government elections.

 5. How do I vote in the Referendum?

You vote by putting a cross (x) in the ‘yes’ or ‘no’ box on your ballot paper. Put a cross in only one box or your vote will not be counted.

If more than 50% of individuals vote ‘yes’ in the referendum, then Tunbridge Wells Borough Council will ‘make’ the Goudhurst Neighbourhood Development Plan. If the Neighbourhood Plan is ‘made’ it will help determine planning applications in the Goudhurst Neighbourhood Area. It will also form part of the statutory development plan for Tunbridge Wells borough.

If more people vote ‘no’ than ‘yes’ then the Neighbourhood Plan will not be made part of the statutory development plan for the local area.

6. What are the referendum documents and where can you view them?

There are a number of documents that are available to view as part of the referendum. These are listed below and available to view online on the council’s website at:

https://tunbridgewells.gov.uk/planning/planning-policy/neighbourhood-plans

• The referendum version of the Goudhurst Neighbourhood Development Plan.
• The independent examiner’s report on the Goudhurst Neighbourhood Development Plan.
• A summary of representations submitted to the Borough Council following the Regulation 17A consultation on the Plan.
• A Decision Statement from the Local Planning Authority which confirms the draft Neighbourhood Plan meets the basic conditions and other legislative requirements. It also confirms that the neighbourhood plan can proceed to referendum.
• A statement that sets out general information in respect of town and country planning, which includes neighbourhood planning.

A hard copy of all of the above documents and this Information Statement can be inspected at:

Goudhurst Parish Council

The Hop Bine

Ranters Lane

Goudhurst

TN17 1HN

7. Referendum Expenses

Expenses can be incurred by an individual or body during the period of the referendum for referendum purposes.

The referendum expenses limit that will apply (as at 22^nd December 2021) in relation to this referendum is £2,496.75. The number of persons entitled to vote in the referendum is 2,284.

8. How to find out more

Further general information on neighbourhood planning is available on the council’s website at:

https://tunbridgewells.gov.uk/planning/planning-policy/neighbourhood-plans

For queries regarding planning issues and neighbourhood planning in general, please contact the Planning Policy Team on 01892 554056.

Email: planning.policy@tunbridgewells.gov.uk

9. Neighbourhood Plan Area

<>MARY DAYS GARAGES Council are pleased to report that the contracts for the purchase of the garages have now been signed and returned to the solicitors. It is hopped that the purchase will complete before Christmas. Clerk will be contacting those who have expressed an interest.

Goudhurst Parish Council
Parish Council Meeting Dates – 2022 (subject to change)
Tue 04 Jan Planning Committee 6.30 pm TBC
Mon 10 Jan Parish Council 7.30 pm TBC

Tue 11 Jan Business & Communications Cttee 7.30 pm TBC
Tue 25 Jan Planning Committee 6.30 pm TBC
Tue 25 Jan Amenities Committee 7.30 pm TBC
Mon 14 Feb Parish Council 7.30 pm TBC

Tue 15 Feb Planning Committee 6.30 pm TBC
Tue 15 Feb Youth & Housing Committee 7.30 pm TBC
Tue 22 Feb Burial Authority 5.00 pm St Mary’s
Tue 01 Mar Planning Committee 6.30 pm TBC
Tue 01 Mar Highways Committee 7.30 pm TBC
Mon 14 Mar Parish Council 7.30 pm TBC

Tue 15 Mar Planning Committee 6.30 pm TBC
Tue 15 Mar Business & Communications Cttee 7.30 pm TBC
Tue 29 Mar Planning Committee 6.30 pm TBC
Tue 29 Mar Amenities Committee 7.30 pm TBC
Thu 07 Apr Annual Parish Meeting – Goudhurst 7.30 pm Goudhurst Village Hall
Mon 11 Apr Parish Council 7.30 pm TBC

Tue 12 Apr Planning Committee 6.30 pm TBC
Tue 12 Apr Youth & Housing Committee 7.30 pm TBC
Sun 17 Apr Easter Day
Thu 21 Apr Annual Parish Meeting – Kilndown 7.30 pm Kilndown Village Hall
Tue 26 Apr Planning Committee 6.30 pm TBC
Tue 26 Apr Highways Committee 7.30 pm TBC
Thu 05 May TWBC Elections
Mon 09 May Parish Council Annual Meeting 7.30 pm TBC

Tue 10 May Planning Committee 6.30 pm TBC
Tue 10 May Business & Communications Cttee 7.30 pm TBC
Tue 24 May Planning Committee 6.30 pm TBC
Tue 24 May Amenities Committee 7.30 pm TBC
Mon 13 Jun Parish Council 7.30 pm TBC

Tue 14 Jun Planning Committee 6.30 pm TBC
Tue 14 Jun Youth & Housing Committee 7.30 pm TBC
Tue 21 Jun Burial Authority 6.30 pm Christ Church
Tue 28 Jun Planning Committee 6.30 pm TBC
Tue 28 Jun Highways Committee 7.30 pm TBC
Mon 11 Jul Parish Council 7.30 pm TBC

Tue 12 Jul Planning Committee 6.30 pm TBC
Tue 12 Jul Business & Communications Cttee 7.30 pm TBC
Tue 26 Jul Planning Committee 6.30 pm TBC
Tue 26 Jul Amenities Committee 7.30 pm TBC
Mon 08 Aug Parish Council 7.30 pm TBC

Tue 09 Aug Planning Committee 6.30 pm TBC
Tue 09 Aug Youth & Housing Committee 7.30 pm TBC
Tue 23 Aug Planning Committee 6.30 pm TBC
Tue 23 Aug Highways Committee 7.30 pm TBC
Mon 12 Sep Parish Council 7.30 pm TBC

Tue 13 Sep Planning Committee 6.30 pm TBC
Tue 13 Sep Business & Communications Cttee 7.30 pm TBC
Tue 27 Sep Planning Committee 6.30 pm TBC
Tue 27 Sep Amenities Committee 7.30 pm TBC
Mon 10 Oct Parish Council 7.30 pm TBC

Tue 11 Oct Planning Committee 6.30 pm TBC
Tue 11 Oct Youth & Housing Committee 7.30 pm TBC
Tue 18 Oct Burial Authority 5.00 pm St Mary’s
Tue 25 Oct Planning Committee 6.30 pm TBC
Tue 25 Oct Highways Committee 7.30 pm TBC
Mon 14 Nov Parish Council Open Meeting 7.45 pm TBC

Tue 15 Nov Planning Committee 6.30 pm TBC
Tue 15 Nov Business & Communications Cttee 7.30 pm TBC
Mon 28 Nov Policy Committee 7.30 pm TBC
Tue 29 Nov Planning Committee 6.30 pm TBC
Tue 29 Nov Amenities Committee 7.30 pm TBC
Mon 12 Dec Parish Council 7.30 pm TBC

Tue 13 Dec Planning Committee 6.30 pm TBC
Tue 13 Dec Highways Committee 7.30 pm TBC
Tue 03 Jan 2023 Planning Committee 6.30 pm TBC
Mon 09 Jan 2023 Parish Council 7.30 pm TBC

Note:
All face-to-face meetings are being held in line with Government guidelines which are subject to change. Please familiarise yourself with the Meeting Risk Assessment before each meeting. Any actions you need to take prior to or during the meeting will be detailed in the Risk Assessment which will be regularly updated to reflect changes in COVID restrictions.

Claire Reed
Clerk

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