Decision details

To provide feedback on the recent consultation exercise undertaken on the review of the current, adopted Statement of Community.

Also, to outline proposed amendments to the Statement of Community Involvement as set out in Appendix 3 of this report and seek approval for subsequent publication of this document as the Statement of Community Involvement with effect from 1 December 2021.

That the Cabinet Member:

a. Approves revisions to the adopted Planning Services: Statement of Community Involvement, 2021 that is set out in Appendix 3 to this report, and its subsequent publication with effect from 1 December 2021.

b. Agrees that the Executive Director – Place, in liaison with the Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Environment, be delegated to update points of information appearing in the Statement of Community Involvement, 2021 as may be necessary from time to time following its official publication.

To enable the Council to meet the requirements of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act, 2004 and The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) (Amendment) Regulations, 2017.

To enable the Council to update the Statement of Community Involvement in a timely fashion.

6.1 Two alternative options have been considered. These are the ‘do nothing’ option and retaining the format of the adopted SCI.

6.2 The ‘do nothing’ option was dismissed immediately as it would leave the Council in a position where it would not be legally compliant with The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2017 which require a SCI to be reviewed every five years following adoption.

6.3 The second alternative option considered was the continuation of the existing SCI content without revision. As set out in the revised and updated SCI, since the adoption of the first SCI in 2006, the Council now has responsibilities as a statutory consultee in terms of strategic planning matters. This option was dismissed because, whilst there is no legal requirement to do so, it would not have set out the Council’s full range of responsibilities in respect of planning. In seeking to set out how and when the Council’s Planning Service would involve local communities, the approach to revise and update the SCI was considered to represent the most transparent.