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5 When to get involved
5.1 Plan making can be a long process, but there are several clear and statutory stages, which set out when consultation should take place. Consultations will be undertaken in line with statutory timescales of relevant legislation.
5.2 The tables below summarise the main stages of community involvement for the Council’s local development documents. The main focus of consultation will be the Local Plan. Other planning policy documents that might be prepared include Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). All documents will be prepared in line with the relevant regulations.
Local Development Scheme (LDS)
5.4 The Local Development Scheme sets out which planning policy documents the Council is preparing, including the stages and timetable for preparationRequirements for preparation are set out in the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, as amended. Progress of the LDS is measured through the Council's Annual Monitoring Report, which is publicly available on the Council’s website.
Local Plan
5.5 Statutory requirements for consultation and involvement in the local plan are set out in Part 6 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012, as amended. A Sustainability Appraisal (SA) must be carried out during the preparation of the Local Plan. This is an iterative process alongside the stages of plan-making shown below. The SA, together with other relevant appraisals (outlined at Appraisals and assessments) will be carried out in accordance with the relevant regulations.
| Stage | Community Involvement |
|---|---|
| Survey, evidence gathering and issues (regulation 18) |
This stage involves gathering evidence, reviewing matters which may affect future planning and development in the borough (known as the ‘survey stage’) and identifying any key planning issues that the plan may contain. The Council’s website will be used to publish evidence base documents that inform plan preparation. Parts of the local plan evidence base may be consulted on as part of plan preparation, to better understand specific issues. The Council will seek input from relevant key stakeholders, organisations and individuals during the early stages of plan preparation. Methods of consultation during this stage are flexible and a range of methods may be used as set out in section 6, dependant on the issues considered. There are specific requirements under regulation 18 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012, (‘the Local Plan Regulations’) which will be met. Stakeholders are encouraged to access the Council’s website for the latest information, or to register on the Council’s consultation database to be notified when new documents are published at key stages (see 4.6). |
| Publication of a local plan (regulation 19) |
This is the plan the Council considers as sound before examination. The plan, proposed submission documents and a statement of the representations procedure will be available in line with the regulations. The Council will notify specific and general consultees when and where the documents are available for inspection. Documents will be published on the Council's website. Responses made to this stage of consultation should therefore only be concerned with matters of ‘soundness’ linked to NPPF. The council will produce a summary of the main issues raised by the responses at regulation 18 and 20, and this will also be examined as part of the submission material. |
| Submission and Examination | The publication plan, representations made and submission documents are submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for examination on behalf of the Secretary of State. As part of the examination process, the Inspector may recommend further consultation on main modifications prior to adoption. |
Supplementary Planning Documents
5.6 Supplementary Planning Documents are prepared to provide further detailed advice on planning policies. They are a material consideration in planning decisions but are not part of the development plan. SPDs are subject to the 2012 Regulations in terms of their preparation and requirements for consultation. They support development plan policies that have already been the subject of extensive consultation. We will meet the statutory requirements for at least 4 weeks consultation on a Draft SPD. Consultation is likely to be focused on those bodies and individuals with an interest in the particular subject, but comments are welcome from other groups/individuals. Documents made available in line with the statutory requirements.
Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)
5.7 If the Council was intending to amend the CIL charging schedule it would have to publish a draft charging schedule indicating the new rate per square metre it intended to charge development in different areas of the borough. This information would be available in line with statutory requirements and on the Council’s website, for communities to assess and comment on. Following this consultation period the draft charging schedule would be put forward for examination where the Planning Inspectorate would review the information and communities can make representations and be heard at the examination. Following the examination the Council would publish the charging schedule if approved by the Inspectorate.