Part 6: Planning in England Neighbourhood Planning Section 141: Making neighbourhood development orders and plans: intervention powers
Section 141 inserts new paragraphs 13B and 13C into Schedule 4B to the 1990 Act.
	New paragraph 13B enables the Secretary of State, at the request of a parish council or neighbourhood forum responsible for neighbourhood planning in an area, to intervene in a local planning authority’s decision whether to hold a referendum on a neighbourhood development order or plan proposal.
	This power is exercisable in three circumstances: where a local planning authority has failed, by the date prescribed under the new paragraph 13A (inserted by section 139) to decide whether to hold a referendum; where the authority do not follow the recommendations of the independent examiner of the proposal; or where the authority make a modification to the proposal that was not recommended by the examiner (other than to secure compliance with EU obligations or Convention rights, or to correct an error).
	Where the power is exercised, the Secretary of State may direct the authority to make arrangements for a referendum or to refuse the proposal. The Secretary of State may also direct the authority to extend the area in which the referendum is (or referendums are) to take place and to publish a map of that area. New paragraph 13B also makes provision for notification and consultation of prescribed persons, and possible further examination, where the Secretary of State proposes to direct the authority not to act in accordance with the examiner’s recommendations. Where the Secretary of State directs an authority to arrange a referendum, the authority may only modify the proposal to secure compliance with EU obligations or Convention rights, or to correct errors.
	New paragraph 13C enables the Secretary of State to make regulations for the procedure to be followed by those requesting intervention, and by the Secretary of State in considering and responding to any such request, and when intervening in response to a request.