Issue - meetings

The Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) is a document setting out when and how the Council will engage with stakeholders and residents on planning issues, including the determination of planning applications and the preparation of planning policy documents.

RESOLVED that the revised Statement of Community Involvement (SCI), set out in Annex 1 of the report presented, be adopted and take effect immediately.

Councillor K. Foreman, Executive Member for Planning Policy, submitted a report seeking approval for a revised Statement of Community Involvement (SCI).

The Executive was informed that the SCI set out how and when the Council would engage with stakeholders and residents on issues relating to planning, including the determination of planning applications and the preparation of planning policy documents.

It was noted that although the structure of the document had been updated to improve readability, the revised SCI, set out in Annex 1 of the report presented, did not propose any substantive change to the Council’s overall approach to, and principles for, consultation and engagement, both of which were considered to remain sound.     

It was noted that:

-       The previous SCI had been adopted in October 2013.

-       The Council was required to review and, where necessary update, the document every five years.

-       Certain aspects of the SCI had been updated to reflect legislative changes. For example, the introduction of new types of planning approvals and new requirements around Neighbourhood Planning.

-       The revised SCI reflected the general shift in relation to the Council’s approach to customer contact, including an increased use of online services, digital information and social media in order to maximise engagement with residents.

-       Planning Enforcement was dealt with briefly in the SCI because this was covered more fully in the Council’s Local Enforcement Plan.

During the discussion both the Leader of the Council and the Executive Member for Planning Policy responded to various issues, including questions concerning who and how the Council would consult once a planning application had been submitted.

Councillor Foreman concluded by confirming that the revised SCI provided a clear, but flexible, framework for the Council to meet (and in many cases exceed) the minimum requirements for consultation on planning policies and applications. It was also highlighted that its adoption would ensure the Council met its statutory obligations.   

RESOLVED that the revised Statement of Community Involvement (SCI), set out in Annex 1 of the report presented, be adopted and take effect immediately.

Reason for decision: The Council is required to prepare and maintain a Statement of Community Involvement setting out how it will engage the community on planning issues.

Alternative options: To not adopt the revised Statement of Community Involvement or to adopt the documents with specified amendments.