Decision details

An update to the Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) is required every 5 years. This report considers the adoption of the revised SCI as Council policy.

The Assistant Chief Executive had submitted a report presenting the Statement of Community Involvement. The report had been considered by Executive on 9 February 2022. Executive had recommended that Council be requested to approve the recommendations within the report.

The Council had a legal requirement to produce a Statement of Community Involvement under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and to review it every five years, in line with The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2017.

The current SCI had been adopted in 2010 and required updating, not only to be legally compliant, but to accurately reflect the Council’s approach to consultation in relation to planning applications, planning policy documents and neighbourhood planning.

The report outlined the purpose of the SCI and how and when the Council would consult the local community, businesses and statutory consultees when carrying out its planning function. It also outlined how the Council would support Town and Parish Councils in their neighbourhood planning role. The draft SCI had  been published for a four week public consultation ending on 23 December 2021.

Councillor M Fitzgerald moved the recommendations. The motion was seconded by Councillor A Pitcher.

Councillor P Kendall spoke in favour of the recommendation and stated the importance of engagement with towns and parish councils.  

A vote was taken: 37 in favour, 0 against, 0 abstentions.

The motion was carried unanimously.

Resolved –

That the Statement of Community Involvement, as set out in Appendix 1 of the report, be adopted.