|
Statement of Community Involvement Adoption Statement
To ensure that the public had the opportunity to participate fully in the preparation of the Local Development Framework (LDF), the council prepared a Statement of Community Involvement (SCI). This sets out the methods by which full participation will be achieved and all stages of plan preparation have to be carried out in conformity with it.
On 7 December 2006 Medway Council adopted the Medway Statement of Community Involvement (SCI). The Statement of Community Involvement sets out how the community will be involved in the preparation of planning policy documents in the Local Development Framework and consultation on planning applications.
Copies of the Inspector's report following the Public Examination and the adopted SCI are available to be downloaded:
To use these and other pdf files on this page you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you do not have this on your computer, please use our advice page.
The documents are also available for public inspection at all council libraries and main council offices during normal opening hours.
Anyone aggrieved by the decision of the council to adopt the SCI was able to apply to the High Court under section 113 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (the Act) for permission to apply for a judicial review of the decision to adopt the Statement. Any challenge had to be made on the grounds that either the document had not been prepared within the powers conferred by the Act or alternatively that a requirement of the Act or associated regulations had not been complied with. Any such application should have been made promptly and in any event not later than three months after the day on which the statement was adopted.
Independent examination of Medway Council's Statement of Community Involvement (Regulation 34)
Under Regulation 34 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Development) (England) Regulations 2004, the SCI underwent an independent public examination. The examination was held on Friday, 15 September 2006, commencing at 10am in The Maple Room at the Municipal Buildings in Gillingham.
Representors who responded at Regulation 28 stage had until 4pm on Friday, 18 August to submit any further written evidence they wished to be considered. The council has forwarded any statements and its response to them to the Planning Inspector appointed to conduct the examination.
The Inspector for this examination was David Robins BA PHd FRTPI.
A copy of the notice (pdf 71KB) is available to be downloaded.
The Planning Inspectorate has produced guidance for Development Plan Documents (DPDs) and Statement of Community Involvement examinations. This is available on the Planning Inspectorate's website (www.planning-inspectorate.gov.uk/pins/appeals/local_dev/Soundness_of_DPD.htm#guidance).
(back to top)
Handling of post submission representations under Regulation 31
As a result of the regulation 28 period of consultation for its statement of Community Involvement, Medway Council received 32 representations. The document - Representation statement under Regulation 31 (pdf 195KB) - contains a summary of the comments made by the five main objectors together with the council’s response. The remainder of the responses that required amendments to the database have been taken into account and acted upon. Any other minor comments made by other respondents have been covered in the responses in the document.
Submission document (Regulation 28)
Public involvement in changing the shape of Medway was sealed with the final consultation on one of the key documents of the LDF.
The SCI detailed how local people could respond to the plans and give their views to planners. It was designed to ensure that people were able to express their views on the ideas contained within the LDF. It sets down the methods by which groups and individuals could debate the issues and then make representations to the planning authority as part of the planning process. It also set out proposals for consultation on planning applications.
The SCI had already been subject to two periods of consultation and was the first document within the LDF to be submitted by the council to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for adoption. The last six-week consultation was for people to either object to or support the soundness of the document.
The government’s nine tests of soundness are contained within the document on page 11 and the response form asked people to weigh up the document against each test and demonstrate their support or objection.
The consultation period for the SCI ran from 12 April 2006 until 24 May 2006. The feedback was sent to a planning inspector, who carried out an independent examination of whether the document is soundly based, through holding an enquiry. The planning inspector’s report is binding on the council.
Copies of the SCI and the response forms can be downloaded from the list below.
Alternatively, you can use the contact information at the foot of this page to request copies of these documents.
More information on local development frameworks is available from the Planning Portal: (www.planningportal.gov.uk/england/genpub/en/1115311947782.html).
Pre-submission public participation stage (Regulation 26)
Consultation period: 17 August to 27 September 2005.
The council sought views during this period on the proposed community involvement policy. The Statement of Community Involvement Pre-Submission Public Participation Document (pdf 1,110KB) was available for inspection at the main council offices during normal office hours and at council libraries.
Pre-submission consultation stage (Regulation 25)
Consultation was undertaken with selected bodies and organisations on the first draft of the SCI between March and May 2005. Fewer than 50 comments were received and these related mainly to amendments to the list of consultees. Details can be found in Responses to the Pre-Submission Consultation Stage (pdf 220KB).
|
Text version | Accessibility help | Change contrast | Printer friendly
