Duty to cooperate

Compliance Statement

Strategic Context
Legal Requirement
Record of Meetings and Statement of Common Ground
Key Strategic Issues
Evidence Produced Through Joint Working
Appendix

Strategic Context

Bassetlaw District Council sits in the centre of five district councils with South Yorkshire to the north/north west, two district councils within Nottinghamshire to the South and the District Council of West Lindsey and the Unitary Council of North Lincolnshire to the east of the district. It is located within Nottinghamshire County Council and Sheffield City Region Combined Authority and forms a part of the D2N2 (Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire Local Enterprise Partnership).

Figure 1 illustrates the relationship between Bassetlaw District Council and the neighbouring authorities.

Figure 1: Neighbouring authorities to Bassetlaw

Legal Requirement

The Duty to Cooperate is a requirement of the Localism Act 2011 and the duty requires the Council to cooperate with other local planning authorities and other public bodies in preparing and developing development plan documents and other local development documents so far as it relates to a strategic matter ¹.

In this regard, the Council and others are required to engage constructively, actively and on an ongoing basis. The national planning policy framework (NPPF) states that “strategic policy-making authorities should collaborate to identify the relevant strategic matters which they need to address in their plans." ²

A strategic matter is defined as “sustainable development or use of land that has or would have a significant impact on at least two planning areas, including (in particular) sustainable development or use of land for or in connection with infrastructure that is strategic and has or would have a significant impact on at least two planning areas’’. ³

The NPPF strengthens the concept of the Duty to Cooperate by requiring that Local Planning Authorities produce and publish one or more Statements of Common Ground (SoCG). These documents should be kept up to date by authorities and prescribed bodies and neighbouring authorities to document cross boundary matters and the progress made on them (paragraph 27). This is detailed further in the government’s Planning Practice Guidance (PPG).

The Localism Act 2011 and The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Amendment Regulations 2012 sets out a list of prescribed bodies; it applies to all Local Planning Authorities, County Councils and a number of public bodies.

Bassetlaw DC has the duty to cooperate with the following neighbouring authorities and public bodies:

Nottinghamshire County Council
West Lindsey Council (Joint Central Lincolnshire Planning Authority)- Combined Authority for Lincoln
North Lincolnshire District Council
Sheffield City Region (SEP)- Combined Authority for South Yorkshire
Newark and Sherwood District Council
Mansfield District Council
Bolsover District Council
Rotherham MBC
Doncaster MBC
Environment Agency
Highways England
Natural England
Historic England
Bassetlaw Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)
Integrated Transport Authorities
Environment Partnerships (incl. Canal and River Trust and Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust)
Utilities – Water Companies (Severn Trent and Anglian Water) and Western Power Distribution

In addition, as described in the Regulations as being bodies that should ‘have regard to’ includes the Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) and Local Nature Partnerships. In relation to Bassetlaw DC this includes:

D2N2 – Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Local Enterprise Partnership
Lowland Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Local Nature Partnership
National Trust (Clumber Park)
Emergency Services (Fire, Police and Ambulance)

Record of Meetings and Statement of Common Ground

Bassetlaw DC attend multi-agency and authority groups which meet regularly to discuss strategic issues and cross border matters. A full list of meetings is included in Table 2 in the Appendix.

Table 2 in the Appendix is a summary of all the key meetings and discussions with key stakeholders during the preparation of the emerging Local plan, carried out between 2016 and 2020. These discussions related to the Local Plan timetable, regular updates and specific meetings relating to strategic policy matters and cross border issues. More recently there have been discussions and meetings relating to the preparation of specific draft Statements of Common Ground agreements with organisations.

Statements of Common Ground (SOCG) set out areas of agreement with key bodies and organisations in relation to the Local Plan, the wording of policies and site allocations. These provide a good indication of the ongoing contact and agreements made with Duty to Cooperate bodies during the Local Plan process and outlines any outstanding disagreements on key strategic issues or matters, where discussions and work may be ongoing.

Some agreements or SOCG are already in place in response to neighbouring authorities’ Local Plans or strategy preparation and include:

North Derbyshire and Bassetlaw Strategic Housing Market Area (SHMA); Bassetlaw DC, Bolsover DC, NE Derbyshire DC, Chesterfield DC, May 2018 on the Housing Market Area
Draft Central Lincolnshire Planning Authority Statement of Common Ground, August 2020
Draft North Lincolnshire Local Statement of Common Ground, October 2020 (Revised Draft for Publication, N. Lincolnshire District Council)
Sheffield City Region, Statement of Common Ground, July 2020 with all authorities within Sheffield City Region
Sheffield City Region, NE Derbyshire DC, Bolsover DC, Chesterfield Borough Council, Derbyshire County Council and Highways England (October 2018) covering M1 J30 and Treble Bob Roundabout
Mansfield DC and Bassetlaw DC Statement of Common Ground, January 2020

Bassetlaw DC’s draft Statements of Common Ground have been prepared with the above statements in mind; either referring to them or updating them to avoid duplication. They are live documents which are to be kept up to date during the Plan preparation period and will be signed prior to the plan’s submission for examination.

In addition to the list of meetings in the Appendix, there has been communication of an informal nature during the plan period between the Council and neighbouring District Councils, County Councils and bodies in relation to the overall Local Plan, site-specific issues or specific policies. These communications have taken place through telephone calls, emails and more recently online meetings, due to COVID-19 and the restrictions that placed on physical meetings between the dates of March 2020 to November/ December 2020.

Key Strategic Issues

This document sets out the Strategic Issues likely to apply to the Local Plan and sets out how these matters have been discussed over the plan period through Partnership meetings and form the subject of the Statements of Common Ground for key bodies. The paragraph below sets out what the Strategic Issues are and the next section sets out the key studies undertaken with Cooperate Partners affected by these Strategic Issues (set out in a table 1).

Key ‘Strategic Priorities’ that remain the focus of the plan Spatial Strategy include:

Homes Needed
Employment Requirements
Provision of Infrastructure – Health and Education, transport and highways
Needs of Gypsy, Travellers and Showpeople
Flood Risk
Climate Change
Town Centre Regeneration
Strategic Sites and Garden Villages

The relevant strategic matters of the Local Plan include:

The appropriate Housing Market Area and distribution of housing
Strategic Economic Growth Site Selection
Identify the social infrastructure required to support proposed levels of growth – including health and education provision
Identify the transport infrastructure required to support the levels of growth; encourage modal shift
Protect heritage assets
Natural Environment
Green Infrastructure

Evidence Produced Through Joint Working

Bassetlaw Council has worked collaboratively across organisations and neighbouring authorities to produce a number of pieces of evidence to support the Local Plan on a range of strategic matters; these are ongoing and some are still to be updated as set out in Table 1.

*Evidence Produced Through Joint Working*
Strategic Matter/Cross Border Issue	Joint Study	Organisations	Status
Strategic Housing Needs	North Derbyshire and Bassetlaw Strategic Housing Market Assessment, 2017 Nottinghamshire Supported Housing Strategy, Nottinghamshire County Council, 2019	North Derbyshire and Bassetlaw Strategic Housing Market Area: North East Derbyshire DC, Bolsover DC, Chesterfield BC, Notts CC and Derbyshire CC Nottinghamshire County Council	Existing SOCG 2018 to be updated. Next meeting of HMA Jan/ Feb 2021.
Strategic Economic Growth Needs	Vision 2030: D2N2 Strategic Economic Plan, D2N2 LEP 2018 Sheffield City Region Trade and Investment Plan, Sheffield City Region 2019 Nottinghamshire Visitor Economy Strategy, Nottinghamshire CC, 2019	Bassetlaw DC, D2N2 and all authorities of Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire All authorities in Sheffield City region Authorities within Nottinghamshire County	Draft SOCG with D2N2
Transport and Infrastructure Strategic road network Local road network Sustainable transport	Joint Transport Study: local highway network 2019 Nottinghamshire Local Transport Plan 2011-2026 Morton Garden Village Station Feasibility Study Technical Note 2, 2020 BDC Rail Feasibility Technical Note, 2019 Bassetlaw Transport Study, 2019 and 2020	Doncaster MBC and Bassetlaw DC Nottinghamshire County Council Network Rail	Transport work ongoing on allocated sites. Draft SOCG with Network Rail discussed November 2020
Education Facilities	Meeting with Education during 2020 on school provision.	Nottinghamshire County Council
Flood Risk	Bassetlaw Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) Humber River Basin Management Plan, DEFRA 2015	The Environment Agency The Canal and River Trust Lead Flood Authority	Discussions regarding policies, site allocations/ FRAs Draft SOCG with Canal and River Trust underway
Climate Change		The Environment Agency Natural England
Town Centre Regeneration	Worksop Town Centre Masterplan and workshops	Environment Agency Severn Trent Anglian Water Nottinghamshire County Council	Ongoing
Bassetlaw Garden Village	Bassetlaw Garden Village Masterplan and workshops	Bassetlaw Garden Village Consultative Group (range of organisations)	Ongoing
Site Allocations	Various discussions with neighbouring authorities/ organisations	All authorities, The Environment Agency, Nottinghamshire CC, Natural England, Historic England	Ongoing
Natural Environment Green and blue infrastructure Biodiversity	Draft Nottinghamshire Biodiversity Opportunity Mapping- Bassetlaw, Idle Valley Joint Study Recreational Impact Assessment on Clumber Park SSSI, Bilhaugh and Birklands SAC and Sherwood Forest NNR	Bassetlaw DC, Newark and Sherwood DC, Natural England, Notts CC, Local Nature Partnership Bassetlaw DC, National Trust, RSPB, Newark and Sherwood DC, Nottinghamshire CC and other authorities.	Ongoing Underway. 2020-2021 project.
Gypsy, Travellers and Show people	Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Needs Assessment, 2019	Bassetlaw DC and neighbouring authorities	Work being updated to create Bassetlaw DC protocol.

Appendix

Authority/ organisation	Reason(s) for DTC	Date of meeting(s)
Bolsover District Council	Local Plan Timetable and update Local Plan evidence base update North Derbyshire and Bassetlaw Housing Market Area Joint Statement of Common Ground (2018) North Derbyshire and Bassetlaw Housing Market Area Meeting	12/05/2016 09/12/2016 30/01/2017 1/08/2018 28/08/2019
Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council	Local Plan Timetable and update Local Plan evidence base update The wider impacts of future development at Harworth and Bircotes and Bawtry. Joint Transport work on local highway impacts	14/12/2015 23/08/2016 31/03/2017 20/09/2019
Mansfield District Council	Local Plan Timetable and update. Local Plan evidence base update The relationship between development in the Norton and Cuckney parish, including Welbeck Colliery, and service provision in Market Warsop	29/04/2016 07/04/2017 28/11/2019
North Lincolnshire District Council	Local Plan Timetable and update Local Plan evidence base update Significant new housing and employment developments in North Lincolnshire but little near the boundary with Bassetlaw.	16/12/2016 20/08/2019
West Lindsey District Council (Central Lincolnshire Joint Planning Authority)	Local Plan Timetable and update Local Plan evidence base update Neighbouring Authority – cross boundary issues on Transport	21/11/2016 10/01/2020
Newark and Sherwood District Council	Local Plan Timetable and update Local Plan evidence base update Neighbouring Authority – cross boundary issues on Transport, in particular the A1. Joint working on Recreational Impact Assessment -Sherwood Forest NNR and Clumber Park SSSI	11/05/2016 04/08/2017 03/02/2018 07/10/2020
Nottinghamshire County Council	Local Plan Timetable and update Local Plan evidence base update Minerals Local Plan update Transport Assessment and advice Education information Health Information Flood data Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Joint Working/Project on Recreational Impacts of Clumber Park and Sherwood Forest North Derbyshire and Bassetlaw Housing Market Area Joint Statement of Common Ground (2018) North Derbyshire and Bassetlaw Housing Market Area Meeting Supported Accommodation	11/12/2017 05/06/2018 22/05/2019/29/06/2018 08/01/2020 25/06/2019/25/10/2019 19/12/2019 21/05/2019 01/08/2018 28/08/2019 17/10/2019
North East Derbyshire Council	Local Plan Timetable and update Local Plan evidence base update North Derbyshire and Bassetlaw Housing Market Area Joint Statement of Common Ground (2018) North Derbyshire and Bassetlaw Housing Market Area Meeting	03/05/2018 01/08/2018 28/08/2019
Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council	Local Plan Timetable and update Local Plan evidence base update	10/12/2015 10/11/2017
Environment Agency	Local Plan Timetable and update Flooding Risks Water Quality Water Management Bassetlaw LP Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA)	18/12/2015 11/01/2016 24/10/2017 Liaison ongoing 2020/21
Network Rail	Local Plan Timetable and update Draft Statement of Common Ground Local Plan evidence base update Rail Services and Franchises Existing rail service provision Robin Hood Line Retford Train Station Shireoaks Train Station Future services investment	23/06/2016 21/08/2017 01/11/2020
Natural England	Local Plan Timetable and update Local Plan evidence base update Consultation on RIA Joint Study for Clumber Park and Sherwood Forest	15/06/2016
D2N2 (Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire)	Draft Statement of Common Ground with D2N2 Economy Housing Need Low Carbon	11/10/2020
Sheffield City Region (SEP)	Local Plan Timetable and update Local Plan evidence base update Community Infrastructure Levy Retail and Town Centre Regeneration Infrastructure and Investment	01/07/2016 02/09/2016 04/03/2016 06/05/2016 08/01/2016 21/10/2016
Western Power Distribution	Overview of Bassetlaw Local Plan Strategy (Change of approach from current Plan) Overview of Neighbourhood Planning in Bassetlaw BDC Local Plan - Implications for the rural settlements BDC Local Plan - New settlement BDC Local Plan - Implications for the main towns (Worksop, Retford, Harworth & Bircotes) Capacity of existing network Vehicle electric charging points	14/04/2017 27/06/2018
Bassetlaw CCG	Overview of Bassetlaw Local Plan Strategy (Change of spatial approach from current Plan) Overview of Neighbourhood Planning in Bassetlaw – implications for health services? New settlement: New health service requirement Opportunity to improve health services in rural area CCG Strategic Estates Group Implications for the main towns (Worksop, Retford, Harworth & Bircotes) Partnership working moving forward	17/03/2017 08/10/2018 23/05/2018 07/09/2018 09/2020 Bimonthly meetings
Northern Powergrid	Impact of the proposed growth on the electricity network and any future capacity issues. Bassetlaw New Settlements Expansion of Worksop Employment Sites Electric Car Charging Points on new developments The potential for renewable energy in new developments	11/07/2018 13/09/2018 16/03/2020
East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS)	Overview of Bassetlaw Local Plan Strategy (Change of approach from current Plan) Overview of Neighbourhood Planning in Bassetlaw BDC Local Plan - Implications for the rural settlements BDC Local Plan - New settlement BDC Local Plan - Implications for the main towns (Worksop, Retford, Harworth & Bircotes)	04/07/2018
Police Service	Overview of Bassetlaw Local Plan Strategy (Change of approach from current Plan) Overview of Neighbourhood Planning in Bassetlaw BDC Local Plan - Implications for the rural settlements BDC Local Plan - New settlement BDC Local Plan - Implications for the main towns (Worksop, Retford, Harworth & Bircotes) Capacity of existing services/ability to respond to incidents	26/06/2018
Fire Service	Overview of Bassetlaw Local Plan Strategy (Change of approach from current Plan) Overview of Neighbourhood Planning in Bassetlaw BDC Local Plan - Implications for the rural settlements BDC Local Plan - New settlement BDC Local Plan - Implications for the main towns (Worksop, Retford, Harworth & Bircotes) Capacity of existing services/ability to respond to incidents	26/06/2018
Anglian Water	National zonal charging scheme BDC New Settlement Local Plan proposed Strategy Water Cycle Study SUDS Water Quality Sewage Capacity	23/05/2018 05/07/2018 07/09/2018 22/08/2019
Severn Trent Water	National zonal charging scheme BDC New Settlement Local Plan proposed Strategy Water Cycle Study SUDS Water Quality Sewage Capacity	05/07/2018 03/09/2018 22/08/2019
River Idle Management Partnership	Worksop Town Centre Regeneration Local Plan – potential redevelopment of sites close to waterways Environmental information Flood data and information	06/09/2016 26/01/2017 09/10/2017 09/04/2018 08/01/2018
Nottinghamshire Ecological and Geological Data Partnership	Local Plan Timetable and update Local Plan evidence base update	28/03/2017 11/09/2018
Nottinghamshire Planning Officers Group	Local Plan Timetable and update Local Plan evidence base update Government guidance Community Infrastructure Levy Conversation	15/06/2016 08/03/2016 30/09/2016 07/04/2017 17/10/2019 20/11/2020
Bassetlaw Rural Conference (Parish and Town Council discussions)	Local Plan Timetable and update Local Plan evidence base update	23/09/2016 17/01/2019 16/01/2020
Historic England	Local Plan Timetable and update Local Plan evidence base update Most recent heritage guidance an legislation Draft Statement of Common Ground	11/07/2017 12/10/2018 21/09/2020
Bassetlaw (internal) Bassetlaw ICP Estates Bassetlaw Strategic Estates Group A1 Housing	Local Plan Timetable and update	30/04/2019 16/05/2019 10/09/2019 16/01/2020 10/02/2020
N Derbyshire and Bassetlaw Housing Market Area	Local Plan Timetable and update	20/08/2019 22/01/2020
Homes England	Local Plan Timetable and update	23/10/2019
Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust	Local Plan update Biodiversity off-setting	16/09/2019 28/01/2020 31/03/2020
Bassetlaw Garden Village Consultative Group	Garden Village planning and visioning	07/02/2020 12/03/2020
Lincolnshire County Council	Archaeology and Heritage	17/11/2020

1 Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, section 33A (3) and NPPF 2019 paragraph 24.
2 DCLG (February 2019) National Planning Policy Framework, paragraph 25
3 Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2001, section 33A(4)(a)

October 2020

Last Updated on Wednesday, March 22, 2023