Neighbourhood Planning Independent Examiner Referral Service (NPIERS) was set up in 2013 to provide independent examinations, health checks, and support services to Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) and Qualifying Bodies (QBs) for neighbourhood plans. NPIERS has 48 examiners and has facilitated the examination of 50 neighbourhood plans so far, with 45 sourcing their examiner through NPIERS and 94% passing examination. The document discusses best practices for appointing an examiner, preparing for the examination, common issues that arise, the examiner's report, public hearings, and the future of neighbourhood planning.

1. Neighbourhood Planning
Workshop, Taunton
Independent Examiner
Experience
Angus Kennedy

2. NPIERS
• Background to NPIERS initiative
• Set up 2013:the services offered:
– Independent examinations
– Health checks
– Developing a support service for LPAs and
QBs
• Who are the examiners?

3. Progress to date
• 48 examiners on the Panel.
• Various professional backgrounds
• 50 Plans submitted for examination
• 45 Plans have sourced their examiner
through NPIERS
• 94% possible success rate
• All but one of the plans that have been
examined have passed

4. Experiences to date: appointment
of Examiner
• Timing of appointment
• Information provided
• Identify specialist knowledge
• Timescales for reporting
• Indemnity insurance levels
• LPA and QB should both agree candidate

5. Examiner appointment
• NPIERS will offer 3 who meet criteria
• CV and written response/ proposal
• LPA should liaise closely with QB about
process
• Be realistic about need for interview
• Phone or email preferred candidate
• Only discuss their skills, not the Plan

6. Preparing for Examination
• Key single point of contact essential
• Ensure all documentation is available at
outset
• Background material
• Evidence
• Delegations
• Committee cycles and electoral services

7. All Plans are different!
• Plans differ in scale and complexity
• Some have very few issues, policies and
proposals
• Some are far more complex
• Varying degrees of professional input from
residents and external consultants

8. Key considerations for Examiner
• Does Plan meet the Basic Conditions?
• Quality may vary but demonstrating it
meets Basic Conditions is the key
• Examiners will ask for further background
information
• Many will try to help the Plan get over the
line

9. Common problems
• Assuming because it is written down in
Plan it is demonstrated:
– LPA documentation re QB status and NP area
– The saved policies and other plans relied
upon
– The consultation process (events, numbers
and critically “you said ,we did”
– Keep up to date with national NP issues /
precedents

10. The Examiner report
1 The Plan should go forward to referendum
because it meets all the legal
requirements, “the Basic Conditions”
2 The Plan should proceed to Referendum if
modified
3 The Plan should not proceed to
Referendum because it does not meet all
the legal requirements

11. Public Hearing
Important to advertise ahead (28 days
minimum)
Examiner will provide note explaining:
• Venue and timings
• Who has been invited to speak and why
• Social media coverage and house rules

12. Public hearing
• Venue in Plan area ideally
• Examiner will visit site in advance
(unaccompanied normally)
• NOT a Local Plan hearing!
• Deadlines for representations
• LPA to make representations public
• Take note of legal challenge and purdah
periods

13. Future prospects
• Major pipeline of Plans in progress
• Local people making a real difference
• More urban NPs needed
• NPIERS keen to support process

14. Dr. Angus Kennedy
Chief Executive
Community Regeneration
Partnership Ltd
angusk@crp-ltd.co.uk
www.crp-ltd.co.uk