Issue - meetings

1.       That the recommended changes to the Statement of Community Involvement 2024 as set out in Appendix 1 to report CAB3442 (arising from the public consultation) be accepted; and

2.       That the Statement of Community Involvement (dated January 2024) attached at Appendix 1 to the report be adopted.

Councillor Porter introduced the report which set out the updated Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) and included the consultation responses and consequential changes.  She highlighted that a number of consultation responses related to the operation of the Planning Committee which was outside the remit of the SCI.

At the invitation of the Leader, Councillors Read and Horrill addressed the meeting as summarised briefly below.

Councillor Read welcomed the report but drew attention to a number of minor corrections, including improvements required to the page layout and breaks and the correct reference to parish and town councils. He noted the greater reliance on online consultation methods and emphasised that other methods should also be available for anyone without internet access.

Councillor Horrill requested that the recommendations be amended to give delegated authority to make the required minor changes to the SCI prior to publication.  Access for those without the internet should be ensured and she queried why it was proposed some documents should be paid for.  Finally, she requested an additional note be added to clarify the current status of supplementary planning documents (SPDs).

Councillor Porter and the Strategic Planning Manager responded to the comments made advising that secondary legislation was awaited to clarify the future status of SPDs and confirmed that existing SPDs remained in force whilst the current Local Plan was in place.

Cabinet agreed to the following for the reasons set out in the report and outlined above.

RESOLVED:

1.           That the recommended changes to the Statement of Community Involvement 2024 as set out in Appendix 1 to the report (arising from the public consultation) be accepted; and

2.           That the Statement of Community Involvement (dated January 2024) attached at Appendix 1 to the report be adopted.