WORK on Liphook’s Neighbourhood Plan has begun with starter funds of £15,000 allocated by the parish council.

The plan’s chairman, Susan Garnett, has prepared a draft budget which will be discussed by the steering group when it meets on Monday and further plans for funding will be agreed.

The meeting will also be attended by an expert from the South Downs National Park Authority.

Mrs Garnett told Bramshott and Liphook parish councillors at the monthly meeting earlier this week some funds could be made available from East Hampshire District Council as well as the SDNPA.

She said the SDNPA would only make a small contribution to specific project work, while EHDC could contribute £9,000.

The chairman also confirmed an application would be made shortly.

Over the last few months Mrs Garnett had meetings with chairmen of other local neighbourhood plans to compare the costs it would incur.

She discovered the neighbourhood plan for Petersfield had cost £100,000 and revealed the anticipated costs for Bramshott and Liphook would be around £50,000.

Since at present nobody has offered their services with professional qualifications on planning to sit on the neighbourhood plan, external consultants will have to be drafted in at certain stages requiring the group to budget for fees for them.

Mrs Garnett has decided to use the Parish Plan as her primary source and will be supplying all members of the steering group with a hard copy, which again will incur costs of around £350.

She warned costs will mount up rapidly and funding has to be in place in advance to move forward with the plan.

In addition, the average age of the 10 volunteers on the steering group is currently 65 and an appeal is due to go out to schools and sixth-form colleges to attract a younger element, needed to ensure the whole community is represented.

Unless a cross-section of society is involved with the committee it will not get passed by the Government Inspector as no minority can dominate any Neighbourhood Plan.

District councillor Rebecca Standish is also a member of the steering group. Parish chairman Michael Croucher has stated accommodations can be made to suit anyone who is interested in joining, but who cannot commit to certain timetables.

He said: “We can be flexible on time and schedule in a weekend meeting, rather than an evening one, which may be difficult for some people to attend.

“We need a decent balance of age groups as well as a balance of males and females to represent the parish.”

It is imperative – in order to be found sound – the procedure for forming a steering group should be all inclusive, with no imposition of any restriction with regard to age, or any other consideration, and that the process is open to everyone.

Without this, the plan will fall at the first hurdle.

Bramshott and Liphook Parish Council agreed to allocate the current office of the Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner, located at the back of the Millennium Centre, to the neighbourhood plan steering committee.

A request has been received by the parish council from the commissioner’s office to terminate the lease early, and after agreeing on the capital repayment costs in principle, councillors voted in favour.

The office will be used for steering group meetings and to keep and file all documentation required and acquired.

Mrs Garnett has also spoken of finding support staff but feels this has to wait until a reasonable budget is in place.

The Neighbourhood Plan is a parish activity and funds received – as well as costs incurred – have to go through the parish council office and its administration process.

Executive officer Peter Stanley is currently searching for third parties to get further funding.

A neighbourhood plan for Bramshott and Liphook was designated by EHDC last October, with the aim to deliver a concise and accurate assessment of what development may be needed, among other matters.

EHDC officer Simon Jenkins has already given guidance at a public meeting held in September and will continue to help the steering group.

With an approved, sound neighbourhood plan in place, the parish will acquire 25 per cent of contributions made by developers under the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), rather than 15 per cent without a plan. For more information contact the parish council on 01428 722988 or email council@bramshottand liphook-pc.gov.uk