Issue - meetings

Report of Assistant Director – Planning and Development

Purpose of report

To consider a proposed Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) following publication consultation and to decide whether to recommend to Council that the SCI be adopted.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

1.1         To approve the proposed Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) at Appendix 2 for submission to Council.

1.2         To recommend to Council that it adopts the SCI at Appendix 2 as a replacement for the current statement of community involvement (CSCI) adopted on 18 July 2016 and delegates the adoption of future Statements of Community Involvement and the approval of amendments to the Executive.

1.3         To recommend to Council that delegation be provided to the Assistant Director – Planning and Development to modify the SCI in exceptional circumstances with the agreement of the Lead Member for Planning.

1.4         To delegate to the Assistant Director - Planning and Development, the correction of minor spelling, grammatical or typographical errors and any minor presentational improvements prior to the consideration of the SCI by Council.

Resolved

(1)          That the proposed Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) (Annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be approved for submission to Council.

(2)          That Council be recommended to adopt the SCI (Annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) as a replacement for the current statement of community involvement (CSCI) adopted on 18 July 2016 and delegates the adoption of future Statements of Community Involvement and the approval of amendments to the Executive.

(3)          That Council be recommended to agree delegation to the Assistant Director – Planning and Development to modify the SCI in exceptional circumstances with the agreement of the Lead Member for Planning.

(4)          That the Assistant Director - Planning and Development be delegated to correct any minor spelling corrections, grammatical or typographical errors and any minor presentational improvements prior to the consideration of the SCI by Council.

The Assistant Director – Planning and Development submitted a report to consider a proposed Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) following publication consultation and to decide whether to recommend to Council that the SCI be adopted.

On behalf of Executive, the Chairman thanked the Planning Policy Team for their hard work on the SCI.

Resolved

(1)          That the proposed Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) (Annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be approved for submission to Council.

(2)          That Council be recommended to adopt the SCI (Annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) as a replacement for the current statement of community involvement (CSCI) adopted on 18 July 2016 and delegates the adoption of future Statements of Community Involvement and the approval of amendments to the Executive.

(3)          That Council be recommended to agree delegation to the Assistant Director – Planning and Development to modify the SCI in exceptional circumstances with the agreement of the Lead Member for Planning.

(4)          That the Assistant Director - Planning and Development be delegated to correct any minor spelling corrections, grammatical or typographical errors and any minor presentational improvements prior to the consideration of the SCI by Council.

Reasons

The recommendation of this report is to approve the new Statement of Community Involvement, to replace the existing document adopted in 2016 and its 2020 addendum. The proposed SCI updates the Council’s approach to engagement and consultation in providing its planning services. The SCI incorporates more flexibility for the use of information and communication technology and seeks to achieve some efficiencies.  However, it maintains a clear commitment to ensure those without internet access remain participants in the planning process and that engagement and consultation is effective for all. The SCI conforms to national planning guidance and has been through a formal six-week public consultation (13 July – 23 August 2021). Comments received during this period have been considered by officers and appropriate changes are recommended to form the final version of the SCI.

Alternative options

Option 1: To continue to use the existing 2016 SCI.

The existing document does not address all requirements introduced since 2016 and does not provide the necessary flexibility for community engagement in the future.  The 2016 SCI will become increasingly out-of-date.

Option 2: To reconsider the content of the revised SCI

The revised SCI has been produced having regard to statutory and policy requirements for plan making and development management and to associated guidance. It is considered by officers to be appropriate for adoption.