CHAPTER 13 - IMPLEMENTATION AND MONITORING

13.1    Introduction

13.1.1 The Plan's objectives will only be achieved by the successful implementation of its policies and proposals. This does not just involve the District Council but also a variety of other public and statutory authorities, developers, housebuilders, industrialists and private individuals. The District Council will seek to work in partnership with the entire community in bringing the Plan to fruition. It is envisaged that most of the policies and proposals set out in the Local Plan will be implemented by 2006.

13.1.2 The District Council will not only act as a regulator of development and provider of resources but will also act as a co-ordinator, adviser and promoter of policies and proposals contained in the Plan. Its policies will be used as a basis for guiding development in the District and will assist the programming of capital spending schemes to bring about the provisions contained in the Plan.

13.1.3 Due to the current uncertainty of the economic climate and the continuing constraints imposed by Central Government on local authority spending, it is difficult to commit the District Council to any firm timescale as far as Council investment is involved. The District Council will continue to seek all sources of grant aid available to it, including Central Government and EU grants and will continue to press the case for the Mansfield area to receive additional funding to address its problems.

13.1.4 To aid the public and developers, many of the policies in the Plan give detailed guidance on environmental issues which the Council considers it desirable to achieve. Where necessary, the District Council will produce development and/or design briefs for particular development areas, but in all cases, will always be willing to offer advice.

13.2    Housing

13.2.1 Most of the dwellings provided for in the Plan will be built by the private sector. New and/or improved infrastructure may well be required to serve many of the housing developments proposed in the Plan. Developers will need to liaise closely with the District Council, County Council, and statutory undertakers to determine the extent of works required. The District Council will, finances permitting, continue to attempt to meet some of the housing needs of the area, particularly those requiring specialist needs, and will assist and work with housing associations who pursue the same objectives.

13.3    Economy

13.3.1 The District Council will seek to ensure that there is sufficient genuinely available serviced land to meet the needs of the area.

13.3.2 This will be done both through the acquisition and development of sites by the District Council and through its assistance in helping the private sector to meet the same aim. Assistance in these areas from the County Council may also be available. The District Council will continue to offer advice and information on the availability of sites and buildings.

13.3.3 The utilisation of grants from the European Union, such as the ERDF (European Regional Development Fund), will help promote economic development in the District. All other forms of financial aid to assist in the economic development of the Plan area will be pursued.

13.4    Tourism

13.4.1 The District Council in association with the County Council, East Midlands Tourist Board and private organisations will continue to promote tourism in the area, particularly where this results in significant job gains.

13.5    Movement

13.5.1 Major road schemes outlined in the Plan will be financed by the highway authority, Nottinghamshire County Council. Exceptions to this can be found in that some proposals in the Local Plan will be financed through the release of land for development and will be paid for by the developers of this land.

13.5.2 Other road improvements, traffic management schemes, residents parking schemes, traffic regulation orders, the provision of cycle ways, footpaths and bridleways will be carried out by Nottinghamshire County Council, in close co-operation with the District Council. Highway improvements required as a result of development proposals will be funded by the developers.

13.5.3 The County and District Councils will continue to work together with Railtrack, Regional Railways and adjoining local authorities to upgrade and enhance the Nottingham - Worksop passenger rail service. Consultation with private bus and taxi operators will be undertaken to ensure the continued and effective operation of bus and taxi services in the Plan area.

13.5.4 The provision of off-street car parking in the town centre is the responsibility of the District Council which will continue to ensure that adequate operational and short stay parking is available within the town centre to enable it to function as a sub-regional centre. Long-stay car parking will be discouraged in the town centre and this will be reflected in the level of car parking charges levied.

13.6    Recreation

13.6.1 The District Council will seek to implement the proposals for additional recreational facilities and the provision of additional open spaces proposed in the Plan. It will also ensure that existing and future areas of open space are protected from development. Schemes for the enhancement of these areas will also be drawn up.

13.6.2 Developers will be expected to provide open space areas on new residential developments in accordance with the Council's adopted standards, or to contribute financially towards such provision. There is scope for the private sector to be involved in the provision of leisure facilities such as golf courses and this will be actively encouraged.

13.7    Shopping

13.7.1 New retail development over the Plan period will be provided by private developers. Most retail investment in the Plan area will take place in the town centre, district centres and the Field Mill/Portland Sidings Retail Park. The District Council will continue to safeguard and enhance the role of the town centre by measures designed to increase its attractiveness. In addition the District Council will, through the action area proposals for Mansfield Woodhouse and Warsop, seek to promote retail investments in these centres. The District Council will seek to safeguard the role of existing local shopping parades and where resources permit will introduce measures designed to improve their attractiveness such as paving schemes, landscaping and environmental improvement schemes.

13.8    Built and Natural Environment

13.8.1 The District Council will be responsible for the declaration of new conservation areas and the implementation of measures to enhance their appearance. The possible declaration of additional tree preservation orders and local nature reserves will also be investigated by the District Council as well as schemes to enhance the environment across the Plan area. The involvement of Nottinghamshire County Council, English Heritage, the Countryside Commission, English Nature and other relevant bodies and organisations will be sought in carrying out these measures.

13.9    Minerals

13.9.1 The various quarries within the Local Plan area will continue to be operated by private concerns. Responsibility for monitoring these operations in terms of the Town and Country Planning Acts rests principally with Nottinghamshire County Council.

13.10  Derelict Land

13.10.1 The District Council completed a survey of all derelict land in the District in 1993. This register will be continually updated and schemes for derelict land grant funding will be brought forward as resources permit.

13.11  Drainage/Water Reclamation

13.11.1  Developers will be expected to pay the costs of additional infrastructure required to serve new developments. Under the provisions of the 1989 Water Act, Severn Trent Plc will normally ask developers to agree to requisition procedures to pay for new sewers/improvements, both on and off-site, which are necessary to enable their development to go ahead. Severn Trent Plc has a capital programme for drainage improvements in the Mansfield area including major schemes at the Bath Lane reclamation works and works on the Mansfield outfall sewer.

13.12  Community Facilities

13.12.1 The provision of education and social welfare facilities is predominantly the responsibility of Nottinghamshire County Council. Health facilities will be provided by the Central Nottinghamshire Health Authority. Community Centre provision is the responsibility of the District Council.

13.13  Monitoring

13.13.1 The Plan has been prepared on the basis of the best information available at the present time. It is inevitable that some circumstances will change during the Plan period. To ensure the relevance and effectiveness of the Plan's policies, regular monitoring of the Plan will be carried out.

13.13.2 The District Council will monitor continually the effectiveness of the policies and proposals contained in the Plan. This will involve the collection and collation of information on a range of matters including population, employment, new development, etc.

13.13.3 Provision does exist to partially review or replace the Plan should circumstances dictate it. For example, planning policies may not be working as anticipated, or new problems may emerge which were not in existence at the time of production of the Plan. Any necessary modification would follow from such a review.

13.14  Environmental Appraisal

13.14.1 As well as the continual review of the Plan's policies and proposals these will also be continually assessed as part of the ongoing environmental appraisal of the document. This will ensure that environmental concerns are given due consideration as the Plan is modified and changed.