RADFORD SEMELE NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN REFERENDUM STATEMENT OF INFORMATION

Information Statement for Voters 

On 6 May 2021, there will be a referendum on a neighbourhood plan in Radford Semele. This statement explains more about the referendum and how you can take part in it.      

Referendum on the Neighbourhood Plan   

A referendum asks you to vote ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to a question. For this referendum you will receive a ballot paper with this question:    

“Do you want Warwick District Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Radford Semele to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?”     

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 people vote ‘yes’ than ‘no’ in this referendum, then Warwick District Council will use the Neighbourhood Development Plan to help it decide planning applications in this local area.   

If more people vote ‘no’ than ‘yes’, then planning applications will be decided without using the Neighbourhood Development Plan as part of the Development Plan for the local area.      

What is Neighbourhood Planning?   Neighbourhood planning aims to help local communities play a direct role in planning the areas in which they live and work.    A community can prepare a Neighbourhood Plan. This plan can show how the community wants land to be used and developed in its area.      

What is a Neighbourhood area?   

A neighbourhood area can cover single streets or large urban or rural areas. The boundaries of a neighbourhood area are put forward by:    

• Town or parish councils    
• A neighbourhood forum (a group of at least 21 people in areas without town or parish councils)    

The boundary of the Radford Semele neighbourhood area was determined by Warwick District Council.

  Who can prepare a Neighbourhood Plan?   

Neighbourhood plans are prepared by town or parish councils, or neighbourhood forums. In this case, the Radford Semele Neighbourhood Plan was prepared by the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group on behalf of the Radford Semele Parish Council.      

What is a Development Plan?   In England, planning applications are determined by local planning authorities in accordance with the Development Plan. A Development Plan is a set of documents that set out the policies for the development and use of land across the entire local authority area. Within the Warwick District, the local planning authority is Warwick District Council.      

Neighbourhood Planning in Radford Semele   

The Referendum area is identified on the map (appendix 1).       

Referendum expenses 

Expenses can be incurred by an individual or body during the period of the referendum for referendum purposes.  The Referendum expenses limit that will apply in relation to this Referendum is £2470.97.  The number of persons entitled to vote in the Referendum by reference to which the limit has been calculated is 1847.    

Expenses mean the expenses incurred by or on behalf of any individual or body during the referendum period in relation to:   

• Advertising of any nature 
• Unsolicited material addressed to voters 
• Information about the referendum, information about the question, arguments for and against 
• Market research or canvassing Provision of any property, services or facilities in connection with press conferences or dealings with the media 
• Transport (by any means) of persons to anywhere with a view to obtaining publicity in connection with a referendum campaign 
• Rallies and other events, including public meetings. 
• Expenses also include any notional expenses, where property, services or facilities are provided free of charge or at a discount.   

Campaigning groups are encouraged to submit a statement of expenses to the 

Counting Officer, Warwick District Council  

Riverside House, Milverton Hill 

Royal Leamington Spa 

Warwickshire 

CV32 5HZ

It is an offence for a campaign organiser to exceed the referendum expenses limits and if found guilty would be liable to a fine of up to £5,000 and/or imprisonment of up to 12 months.   

Specified documents   

A copy of the Radford Semele Neighbourhood Development Plan and Examiner’s Report may be inspected on Warwick District Council’s website at: www.warwickdc.gov.uk/info/20444/neighbourhood_plans/1126/radford_semele or on the Parish Council website: www.radfordsemelepc.org.uk/ 

Can I vote?   

You can vote in the referendum if you live in the Radford Semele area as identified in the map and:

• you are registered to vote in local council elections, and  
• you are 18 years of age or over on 6 May 2021    

You have to be registered to vote by Monday 19 April 2021 to vote in the referendum. You can check if you are registered to vote by calling our helpline on (01926) 456105.   The referendum will be conducted based on procedures which are similar to those used at local government elections.     

Ways of voting?   

There are three ways of voting:    

In person:  In person at the polling station on Thursday 6 May 2021, it is easy and a member of staff will always help if you are not sure what to do. 

You will receive a poll card confirming your polling station for this referendum.  If you do not receive your poll card you can contact our helpline on (01926) 456105 or email us on elections@warwickdc.gov.uk.    

Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm.    

By post:   

• If you have a postal vote already, you will receive a poll card confirming this,   
• To vote by post, you will need to complete an application form and send it to the Electoral Registration Officer to arrive by 5pm on Tuesday 20 April 2021 at this address:    

Warwick District Council  

Riverside House, Milverton Hill 

Royal Leamington Spa 

Warwickshire 

CV32 5HZ

Postal votes can be sent overseas but you need to think about whether you will have time to receive and return your completed postal vote by close of poll on 6 May 2021.    

You should receive your postal vote around 13 April 2021.  If it does not arrive, you can ask for a replacement from Thursday 29 April up to 5pm on 6 May 2021 by contacting our helpline on (01926) 456105.  

By proxy:   

If you have a proxy vote already, your proxy will receive a poll card confirming this,   

If you cannot get to the polling station and do not wish to vote by post, you may be able to vote by proxy.  This means appointing someone to vote on your behalf.   

To vote by proxy, you will need to complete an application form and send it to the Electoral Registration Officer to arrive by 5pm on Tuesday 27 April 2021 at this address:    

Warwick District Council  

Riverside House, Milverton Hill 

Royal Leamington Spa 

Warwickshire 

CV32 5HZ  

When you apply for a proxy vote, you must say why you cannot vote in person.  Anyone can be your proxy as long as they are eligible to vote and are willing to vote on your behalf.  You will have to tell them how you want to vote.    

Postal and proxy vote application forms are available from our helpline on (01926) 456105 or by emailing: elections@warwickdc.gov.uk or visit: 

www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voter   

Am I registered to vote?     

If you’re not registered, you won’t be able to vote. You can check if you are registered by calling our helpline on (01926) 456105.   

If you are not registered to vote, you can register on line at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote or you will need to complete a voter registration form and send it to the Electoral Registration Officer to arrive by midnight on Monday 19 April 2021 at this address:   

Warwick District Council  

Riverside House, Milverton Hill 

Royal Leamington Spa 

Warwickshire 

CV32 5HZ  

Registration forms are available from our helpline on (01926) 456105 or by emailing elections@warwickdc.gov.uk or register on line at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.    

How to find out more:   

Further general information on neighbourhood planning is available at www.warwickdc.gov.uk/neighbourhoodplans    

For queries relating to Radford Semele neighbourhood plan and neighbourhood planning in general, please contact the council’s development team on (01926) 456331.   

For more information about voting and the arrangements for this referendum, please contact our helpline on (01926) 456105 or email: elections@warwickdc.gov.uk     

Dated 16 March 2021  

Radford Semele Designated Neighbourhood Plan Area