Agenda item

Report attached.

The Leader of the Council submitted a report presenting two updated documents: a draft revised Statement of Community Involvement; and a draft revised Local Development Scheme, for consideration and approval.  Both are documents which the Council must produce in relation to its planning functions and relate to the processes rather than the content of Local Plans. 

The draft Statement of Community Involvement updates the version adopted in September 2006 and sets out how and when the Council would engage local communities in producing the Local Plan and in determining planning applications. It has been updated to reflect changes since adoption in relation to legislation, regulations, and guidance.  The revised Local Development Scheme set out an up to date timetable for the production of documents within, and associated to, the Development Plan, otherwise referred to as the Local Plan.

Approval of the report was not deemed a key decision.

Reasons for Decision

Statement of Community Involvement

The Council has a duty to prepare a Statement of Community Involvement (SCI).  Structures and resources available to the Council to undertake engagement have changed significantly since the SCI was first adopted in 2006.  For example, staff resources have reduced and area committees (a local forum which would have facilitated engagement) have ceased. In addition there has been considerable growth in the use of social media, and this should be reflected as an appropriate medium for publicising and enabling engagement.  All of the above have rendered the current SCI out of date.  They are all addressed in the updated SCI which is attached for consideration. When adopted, the SCI will guide engagement in both processes of plan making and determination of planning applications and will ensure that the Council fulfils the new requirement to update it at least every five years. 

Local Development Scheme

The Council also has a duty to prepare a Local Development Scheme (LDS) which must publicise the intended timetable for producing the Local Plan. The Council’s last LDS was published in October 2015, covering the period of plan preparation up to October 2018. This revised LDS presents the intentions of the Council to progress (and complete) the Local Plan over the period 2018-2021.

Summary

Both the SCI and LDS are documents to which an inspector would look at examination in assessing the soundness of plan documents to ensure that the relevant procedural and legal requirements had been met. Inspectors may also consider the SCI at planning appeals to ensure that Council has discharged its engagement and consultation functions appropriately.

Both documents would be monitored and reviewed in the light of any further changes and any requirements to keep them up to date.   

Alternative Options Considered and Reasons for Rejection 

The only alternative option would be not to adopt the updated SCI and LDS and rely on the previous versions.  However this is not a realistic option for various reasons.  The adopted SCI would not be up to date in terms of reflecting current legislation, guidance and regulations.  Furthermore it would not comply with the new requirement that it be reviewed every five years.  There are significant inherent risks in not having an up to date SCI or LDS which could impact on the tests of soundness when a plan is examined.

Resolved                           (1)   That the new approach in relation to public engagement as set out in the Statement of Community Involvement for the purposes of engaging the local communities in producing the Hyndburn Local Plan and determining planning applications be noted.

                                (2)   That the timescales for preparation of the documents which would make up the Hyndburn Local Plan (2018-2021) as set out in the attached Local Development Scheme be noted; and

                             (3) That the content of the Statement of Community Involvement and the Local Development Scheme (subject to inclusion of the timings of the Huncoat masterplan work in the Hyndburn Local Plan timeline 2018-2021) once agreed be approved.