St Philip's Marsh Neighbourhood Forum

Evolving from the Marsh Maker Neighbourhood Planning Group, St Philip’s Forum is the part of the Baggator Nexus dedicated to developing a Neighbourhood Plan for St Philip’s Marsh in Bristol. St Philip’s Forum is supported by several elements of the Nexus, including: - ElhPlan - focusing on policy and processing on behalf of the Forum - Information - via Easton Energiser - Communications - via Baggator Nexus. Easton Forum is a parallel Neighbourhood Forum. Both forums intend to create a Neighbourhood Plan under the Localism Act 2011, detailing how the area would develop regarding the Planning Policy covering new buildings and the policies/services needed to support the Neighbourhood. A fundamental principle of St Philip’s Forum is decisions will be taken by the Citizens who live and work there on a one-person-one-vote basis. This reflects the ballot required by the Localism Act on the final Neighbourhood Plan. Community Membership, with a non-binding vote on policies/services, is available to the citizens who live and work in the surrounding area to ensure the Neighbourhood Plan integrates into the wider area's needs. ElhPlan’s support role emerged from work during Covid-19, which confirmed that the two Neighbourhood Forums could function effectively only if a third organisation were the policy and processing arm. This way, the memberships of the two Neighbourhood Forums can focus on what matters most to them and avoid getting bogged down in administrative and procedural tasks. To ensure the two Forums remained in control, the third organisation [ElhPlan] has a board appointed by the Forums. The Forums intended to become Community Interest Companies [CICs].