Information Statement

About this statement

A referendum on the Capel Neighbourhood Development Plan will be held on Thursday 5 September 2024. This statement provides information on the referendum that is taking place, and the neighbourhood plan it relates to.

About this referendum

Referendum on the Capel 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:

Neighbourhood area

What is a neighbourhood area?

The neighbourhood area for Capel 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 Capel Neighbourhood Area.

The Neighbourhood Area is the area of Capel parish.

Entitlement to vote

Am I entitled to vote in the referendum?

A person is entitled to vote in the referendum if on Monday 19 August 2024:

• 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.

How to vote

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 Capel Neighbourhood Development Plan. If the Neighbourhood Plan is ‘made’ it will help determine planning applications in the Capel 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.

Referendum documents

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. Click on a document title below to view it. All documents will open in a new window.

• The referendum version of the Capel Neighbourhood Development Plan (opens in a new window).
• The independent examiner’s report on the Capel Neighbourhood Development Plan (opens in a new window).
• A summary of representations submitted to the Borough Council following the Regulation 16 consultation on the Plan (opens in a new window).
• A Decision Statement from the Local Planning Authority (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window).

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

• Capel Parish Council, Capel Village Hall, Falmouth Place, Five Oak Green, Kent, TN12 6RD

For opening times, please contact Capel Parish Council on 01892 837524.

Referendum expenses

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

A maximum of £2,362 plus £0.059 for each entry in the relevant register of electors may be spent by campaign organisers in connection with a referendum campaign.

The referendum expenses limit that will apply (as at Friday 26 July 2024) in relation to this referendum is £2,473.63. The number of persons entitled to vote in the referendum is 1,892.

How to find out more

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

For queries regarding planning issues and neighbourhood planning in general, please contact the Planning Policy Team on 01892 554056 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) or by email to planning.policy@tunbridgewells.gov.uk.

Neighbourhood Plan area map