Consultancy Services to Supply Examiners to Undertake Examination Work on Neighbourhood Plans

Tender description

Guildford Borough Council has several designated neighbourhood areas within its administrative boundary where neighbourhood plans have either been adopted or are in the stage of preparation. It also has a number of additional parishes for which it anticipates receiving draft neighbourhood plan proposals in the near future. Neighbourhood plans are produced for neighbourhood areas by parish or town councils or, in areas without a parish, by forums of residents and businesses, in consultation with their local communities. After a neighbourhood plan has passed an examination and referendum of local residents it must be adopted (or "made") by the Borough Council as part of its statutory development plan and its policies must be used by planning officers and the Council's to help determine planning applications in that neighbourhood area. Neighbourhood plans therefore allow communities considerable influence over development in their own areas. The Council is seeking tenders from suitably qualified and experienced external organisations for a framework contract with the Council for a maximum term of four years to provide examiners to undertake examination work on neighbourhood plans.