statement of community involvement adopted march...10.0 consultation on the statement of community...

Daventry District Council

STATEMENT OF COMMUNITYINVOLVEMENT

(Local Development Document)

Adopted - March 2006

Daventry District CouncilPlanning Policy,Lodge Road,Daventry,Northamptonshire,NN11 4FPPhone: (01327) 302582Fax: (01327) 301605DX: 21965Email: [email protected]: (01327) 312844Web: www.daventrydc.gov.uk

THIS DOCUMENT IS AVAILABLE IN LARGE PRINT, BRAILLE, OR ONTAPE BY REQUEST.

Daventry District CouncilAdopted Document- March 2006

Page 1

Contents Page

1.0 Introduction 2

2.0 Statement of Community Involvement:- Purpose and Benefits 2

3.0 The Local Development Framework 3-5

4.0 Consultation on Local Development Documents 5-9

5.0 Methods of consultation 9-20

6.0 How we will consult 22-23

7.0 How we will meet the needs of hard to reach groups 23-25

8.0 How will consultation link with other Community Involvement 25-26Initiatives of the Council

9.0 Community Involvement in Planning Application decisions 26-32

10.0 Consultation on the Statement of Community Involvement 32-35

11.0 Resourcing and Managing the process 35

12.0 Reviewing the Statement of Community Involvement 35

Appendix 1 Glossary of Terms 36-38Appendix 2 Organisations the Council will consult on appropriate 39-42

Local Development Documents in accordance withTown and Country Planning(Local Development)(England)Regulations 2004 and PPS12, Annex E1

Appendix 3 Government Departments that the Council are advised 43to consult in accordance with PPS12 Annex E2.

Appendix 4 Organisations Detailed in PPS12, Annex E3 44-45Appendix 5 Developers and Agents 46-47Appendix 6 Other organisations/groups/agencies 48Appendix 7 Community Involvement Exercise 49-53


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Statement of Community Involvement

1.0 Introduction

1.1 This Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) sets out how and whenDaventry District Council will involve the community and other keystakeholders in preparing its Local Development Framework (LDF). Itestablishes who will be consulted and when this will be undertaken. The SCIalso explains how Daventry District Council intends to involve the communityin dealing with major planning applications including the role of developers inthat process.

1.2 The SCI was adopted by the Council on 2nd March 2006, following anexamination in November/December 2005.

1.3 The Inspectors Report is available for viewing on the Council’s website.

2.0 Statement of Community Involvement

Purpose and benefits2.1 A key aim of the new planning system as detailed in The Town and Country

Planning (Local Development) (England) Regulations 2004 and PlanningPolicy Statement 12 is for increased and improved involvement of thecommunity and other stakeholders in the development of planning policy andthe determination of planning applications.

2.2 In the paper “Community Involvement in Planning: The Government’sObjectives” the government has set down their general objectives forcommunity involvement in planning. This document suggests a communityinvolvement process should ensure people:

Have access to information.Can put forward their own ideas and feel confident that there is a

process for considering ideas.Can take an active part in developing proposals and options.Can comment on formal proposals.Get feedback and be informed about progress and outcomes.

2.3 This Statement of Community Involvement sets down the process by which wewill ensure our documents are accessible, how we will consult and involvepeople to achieve continuous community involvement in the preparation of thelocal development documents, and how we will ensure people will be keptinformed of progress and outcomes. It will form one of a number of LocalDevelopment Documents within the emerging Local Development Framework(LDF).


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3.0 The Local Development Framework (LDF)3.1 The Local Development Framework (LDF) is a ‘folder of documents’ prepared

by Daventry District Council which will form the development plan for theDistrict replacing the current Daventry District Local Plan, June 1997. The LDFwill comprise a number of important documents including the LocalDevelopment Scheme, The Statement of Community Involvement, variousDevelopment Plan Documents and a number of Supplementary PlanningDocuments. Documents the Council intend to produce as part of the LDF aredetailed in a document entitled the Local Development Scheme(LDS)

Local Development Scheme (LDS)3.2 The Local Development Scheme is a project plan fo

a schedule of documents which will be prepareDevelopment Framework as well as a timetablereview. The Council’s Local Development Schemfrom the Council and can be downloaded from theaddress www.daventrydc.gov.uk. The Local Devethe Development Plan Documents(DPD’s) and

The Local Development Framework For Daventry District

Local DevelopmentFramework

SupplementaryPlanning Documentsaccompanied bysustainability appraisaland consultationstatements

LocalDevelopmentScheme Involvement

AnnualmonitoringReport

RegionalSpatial

Strategy

Milton Keynesand South

Midlands SubRegionalStrategy

Affordable Housing Masterplans for allocated

sites Weedon Bec

Conservation Plan Middlemore Sites DIRFT Phase 2 Landscape Character Developer Contributions Design Codes

Evidencebase

Local Development Plan Documents

Development PlanDocumentsaccompanied bysustainabilityappraisal andconsultation

Statement ofCommunity

statements

Core Strategy (Joint core strategyfor Northampton ImplementationArea) and PoliciesSite Specific Allocations and PoliciesDevelopment Control policiesDaventry Central Area Area ActionPlanProposal Map and InsetsWeedon Bec Area Action Plan

r the LDF, and comprisesd as part of the Localfor their production ande Document is available

internet from the followinglopment Scheme detailsSupplementary Planning

Town and village confines

http://www.daventrydc.gov.uk/


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Documents(SPD’s) which the Council intends to produce as part of the LocalDevelopment Framework.

Development Plan Documents (DPDs)3.3 The Development Plan Documents are statutory documents, which are subject

to Public Examination. Daventry’s Development Plan Documents, as currentlydetailed in the Local Development Scheme are:-

Joint Core Strategy for Northampton Implementation AreaCore Strategy and PoliciesSite Specific Allocations and PoliciesDevelopment Control policiesDaventry Central Area Area Action PlanProposal Map and InsetsWeedon Bec Area Action PlanTown and village confines

Supplementary Planning Documents (SPD’s)3.4 Supplementary Planning Documents are non-statutory documents which are

approved by the Council following public consultation but are not subject toexternal examination. Daventry’s Supplementary Planning Documents, ascurrently detailed in the Local Development Scheme are:-

Affordable HousingMasterplans for allocated sitesWeedon Bec Conservation PlanMiddlemore SitesDIRFT Phase 2Landscape CharacterDeveloper ContributionsDesign Codes

Sustainability Appraisal3.5 A key aim of the Local Development Framework is to contribute to the aim of

delivering sustainable development. The government defines SustainableDevelopment as:-

Social progress, which meets the needs of everyoneEffective protection of the environmentPrudent use of natural resourcesMaintenance of high and stable levels of economic growth and

employment

3.6 To ensure the LDF contributes to sustainable development it will be subject toa Sustainability Appraisal(SA). A SA is produced with each Development PlanDocument(DPD’s) and Supplementary Planning Document(SPD’s) and will besubject to consultation alongside consultation on the DPD’s and SPA’s.The SAwill not however be subject to a public examination.


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Evidence Base3.7 This is essentially the data and research that provide the grounding for the

preparation of the Local Development Documents. It is important that thisinformation is robust and has the input of the community. Therefore, theStatement of Community Involvement provides for community involvement atthis stage.

3.8 The Statement of Community Involvement and Local Development Schemewill not be subject to a Sustainability Appraisal.

3.9 All the above Local Development Documents will be subject to theconsultative approach detailed in this Statement of Community Involvement.All SPD’s and DPD’s at all stages of the adoption process will beaccompanied by statements detailing how consultation has been carried out.The statements will state the number of representations received, provide asummary of the main issues raised and show how these issues have beenaddressed.

4.0 Consultation on Local Development Documents

4.1 The main opportunities for public participation will be at each key stage of theLocal Development Framework process. The Local Development SchemeDocument, available from the Council offices and available on the Council website at www.daventrydc.gov.uk details the proposed dates of each stage of theprocess for each local development document.

4.2 The Town and Country Planning (Local Development) (England) Regulations2004 detail the consultation process for Local Development Documents.

Development Plan Documents4.3 There will be two stages at which community involvement can take place for

Development Plan Documents:-

1) Pre Submission: this is an advisory stage where officers consider theimplications of planning issues on wider Council objectives, accumulateevidence and start initial engagement with the community on preliminaryissues and options, followed by consultation on preferred options andProposals; and

2) Post Submission: representations are invited on Submission DraftDevelopment Plan Documents.

4.4 Pre Submission consultation- Issues and Alternative OptionsA pre-submission (e.g draft) development plan document consists ofconsultation on preferred options and is for a period of six weeks. This givesthe opportunity for comment before the formulation of the submission (e.gfinal) development plan document. It also involves initial stakeholder andcommunity engagement with appropriate groups to firm up the detail of thepre-submission document prior to its production. Representations received atthe pre-submission stage will not be carried forward as formal representationsat the submitted stage.



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4.5 Post Submission InvolvementFollowing the pre-submission stage a ‘submitted’ development plan documentwill be produced and submitted to the Secretary of State. The submissiondocument will include:-

The Development Plan Document;A statement of matters ;A sustainability appraisal;The Statement of Community Involvement if adopted;A pre submission consultation statement. This document details

how the Council have complied with the statement of communityinvolvement or the minimum requirements of the regulations at presubmission stage. It will state who was consulted at pre-submissionstage, how they were consulted, a summary of the issues raisedand how the issues have been addressed.

4.6 A notice will be published in the local papers and formal comments will beinvited for a period of six weeks. The Council will consider only commentsreceived in writing, or e-mail and should ideally be made on a standard form.The form will be made available on the Council website, by post and by e-mail.

4.7 All statutory organisations detailed in Appendix 2 and otherorganisations/individuals/ developers/stakeholders detailed in Appendices 3-6will be notified, as appropriate, and in accordance the Town and CountryPlanning (Local Development) (England) Regulations 2004, of the places andtimes that that the documents detailed in paragraph 4.5 can be inspected. Alldocuments will also be available to inspect on the Council’s website.

4.8 If representations are received for alternative site allocations or change to aboundary of a site these will be advertised and will be subject to a further six-week consultation period. The Secretary of State will be sent a statement of thenumber of representations made, copies of the representations, a summary ofthe main issues in those representations or a statement no suchrepresentations have been made.

4.9 Copies of representations will be made available at the Council’s main officeand where appropriate at other places where pre-submission and submissiondocuments are available for inspection. Where possible a list of representationsreceived will also be available to view on the council web site. A summary ofgeneral and site allocation representations will be produced detailing number ofrepresentations made, a summary of the main issues and statements where norepresentation have been made, and this will be sent to the Secretary of State.

4.10 Once the DPD has been submitted to the Secretary of State an Inspector at thispoint will consider the conformity of the DPD preparation process with theCouncil’s SCI or (in the absence of an adopted SCI) the Local DevelopmentRegulations. The Planning Inspector will also determine the timescale forparticipation on an independent examination.


4.11 Following the Independent Examination, the Planning Inspector will prepare areport advising on any changes to the DPD, which are considered appropriate.The Inspectors report will be binding on the Council who will amend the DPD onthe basis of the report. A six week period for legal challenge exists at this stage,after which the DPD can be adopted and formally incorporated into the LDF.

4.12 The diagram below sets out the Development Plan Document productionprocesses with their consultation stages .

4.13Development Plan Document

Progression DiagramDocument stage Consultation period Community Engagement

Issues and AlternativeOptions

Accompanying documentsSustainability Appraisal

Scoping report

Dependent on availabilityof the groups to beconsulted

Consultation withrelevant groups asrequired to gatherevidence.

Public Consultation

Pre-Submission DPDAccompanied by:-Statement of proposal mattersConsultation statementSustainability AppraisalAny accompanying

documents

where possible

Public Consultation

where possible

Submission DPDAccompanied by:-Statement of proposal mattersPre-submission Consultation

statementSustainability AppraisalAny accompanying

documents

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4.13 Supplementary Planni

SCI if adopted

Pre-Examination Meeting T

Independent Examination N

Inspector’s Binding Reportre

2 weeks for the Local Planning Authorit

prepared within

Site SpecificRepresentations(If relevant)

6 weeks consultationConsultees will benotified of DPD’s up totwo weeks prior tocommencement of formalconsultation period

iming will be at the discretion of the Planning Inspector

o later than 2-3 months from the Pre-Examination meeting

6 weeks consultation Public Consultation

Timing of publication dependent on the complexity of the DPD and its

view.

y to make factual comments on the Inspector’s Binding Report

DPD adoption

6 week period to allow any person to make a High Court Challenge to the SCI if the document has not been

6 weeks consultation.

Consultees will benotified of DPD’s up totwo weeks prior tocommencement of formalconsultation period,

n

th

g Documents

e powers of the Planning Act and its Regulations

DPD formal adoption


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Supplementary planning documents will be subject to a six-week consultationperiod on the draft supplementary planning documents. It also involves initialstakeholder and community engagement with appropriate groups to firm upthe detail of the draft SPD document prior to its production and will beaccompanied by:-

The SPD;A statement of SPD matters;A sustainability appraisal;A consultation statement. This document details sets out the names

of any persons consulted in connection with the preparation of thedocument, how persons were consulted, a summary of issuedraised and how the issued have been addressed. This statement ofconsultation will be publicity available at the Council offices,outreach centres and libraries in the area and on the web site atwww.daventrydc.gov.uk.

Any relevant supporting documentation

4.14 A notice will be published in the local papers and formal comments will beinvited for a period of six weeks. The Council will consider only commentsreceived in writing, or e-mail.

4.15 All statutory organisations detailed in Appendix 2 and otherorganisations/individuals/ developers/stakeholders detailed in Appendices 3-6will be notified, as appropriate, and in accordance the Town and CountryPlanning (Local Development) (England) Regulations 2004, of the places andtimes that that the documents detailed in paragraph 4.13 can be inspected. Alldocuments will also be available to inspect on the Council’s website.

4.16 Representation received will be considered and a summary of the main issuesraised and how these issues will be addressed will be produced.Representations will also be formally reported to the Council’s Strategy Groupand Full Council with any recommendations for future action. This will give allCouncil members the opportunity to comment upon, and influence theSupplementary Planning Document before the document is adopted. Followingconsideration by the Council’s Strategy Group and Full Council theSupplementary Planning Document will be adopted. The adoptedSupplementary Planning Document will be made available for inspection at thelocations stated in the table in paragraph 5.1 together with an adoptionstatement. The adoption statement will also be sent all persons who asked tobe notified of the adoption of the SPD.

4.17 The diagram below sets out the Supplementary Planning Document productionprocesses.



Supplementary Planning Plan DocumentProgression Diagram

Document stage Consultation period Community Engagement

Issues and AlternativeOptions

Accompanying documentsSustainability Appraisal

Scoping report

Dependent on availabilityof the groups to beconsulted

Consultation withrelevant groups asrequired to gatherevidence.

Public Consultation

Draft SPDAccompanied by:-Statement of proposal mattersConsultation statementSustainability AppraisalAny accompanying

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4.18 Consultation Feedbac

4.19 At each stage of consulwho respond to consultacomments and feedbackacknowledgements forexercises.

5.0 Methods of Consultati

5.1 A number of methods winvolvement in the preconsultative methods taaccessibility of documparticipation. Communiputting forward and dethey are settled. Theconsulted will be tailorevary with the local deve10 details the Consultaand different Local Deve

5.2 Contact names, telephaddresses will be detailindividuals who do notavailable.

documents

6 weeks consultation.

Consultees will benotified of SPD up to twoweeks prior tocommencement of formalconsultation period,

k

tation for the DPD and SPD individuals/organisationstion exercises will receive an acknowledgement of theiron the outcomes. All parish councils will also receivetheir comments, and feedback on consultation

on

ill be used to achieve the aim of continuous communityparation of the local development documents. Theseke on board the government objective of widening the

ents in ways communities understand to encourageties will also be encouraged to take an active part inbating options and helping to mould proposals before

actual methods used and the community groupsd to reflect the community being consulted, and will

lopment document being produced. The table on pagetion methods, which may be used for different groupslopment Documents.

one, fax numbers, e-mail addresses and minicomed on all publicity material and the web site. For thosespeak English the use of language line will be made

where possible

SPD adoption


Page 10

Consultation Methods by Local Development Plan Document and ConsulteeStakeholder Type of Development Plan Document

Core Strategy* Site SpecificAllocations*

DevelopmentControlPolicies*

Area ActionPlans*

Town andVillageConfines*

SupplementaryPlanningDocuments**

General Public Methods that will beused

Mailing List by letterand/or e-mail sent up to2 weeks beforecommencement ofstatutory consultationperiod, where possible.

Hard copies on request

Council website atwww.daventrydc.gov.uk

Public inspection atCouncil Offices

Public inspection at theBrixworth OutreachCentre, the WoodfordHalse Outreach Centre,Brixworth Library ,Daventry Library,Kingsthorpe Library,Long Buckby Library,Moulton Library andWoodford Halse Library

Issue of PressReleases and advertsin appropriate localpapers such asDaventry WeeklyExpress Chronicle andEcho, Harborough Mail,

Methods that will beused



































http://www.daventrydc.gov.uk/http://www.daventrydc.gov.uk/http://www.daventrydc.gov.uk/http://www.daventrydc.gov.uk/http://www.daventrydc.gov.uk/http://www.daventrydc.gov.uk/


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Area ActionPlans*



Banbury Citizen,Rugby Advertiser andthe London Gazette

Public meetings to bearranged as required

Individual meetingsmeetings to bearranged as required

Methods that may beused

Use of the Councilnewspaper ‘DaventryCalling’ to publiciseproposals and invitefeedback.

Exhibitions/ roadshows

Leaflet drops withinDaventry District.

































Leaflet drops withinDaventry District

Parish andTown Councils




















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Area ActionPlans*






Issue of PressReleases and advertsin appropriate localpapers such asDaventry WeeklyExpress Chronicle andEcho, Harborough Mail,Banbury Citizen,Rugby Advertiser andthe London Gazette

Attendance at Parishmeetings to bearranged as required

Area parish meetingsfor groups of parishes

































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Area ActionPlans*




















Exhibitions/ roadshowsInternal groupsincluding wardmembers, LSPand officers

Strategy Group and fullCouncil

Management Board

Meetings to bearranged as required

LSP to be notifiedindividually frommailing list details up to2 weeks beforecommencement ofstatutory consultationperiod.

LSP to be notified by e-mail via PersonalAssistant of the ChiefExecutive

Hard/e-mail copies onrequest



Management Board



LSP to be notified by e-mail via PersonalAssistant of the ChiefExecutive.




Management Board







Management Board







Management Board







Management Board








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Area ActionPlans*



Central,regional andlocalgovernment


Hard copies onrequest. GovernmentOffice will be sent acopy at pre-submissionstage and 4 copies atsubmission stage.


Formal and informalmeetings as required


















Hard copies onrequest. GovernmentOffice will be sent acopy.



Statutorybodies andgroups



















http://www.daventrydc.gov.uk/http://www.daventrydc.gov.uk/http://www.daventrydc.gov.uk/http://www.daventrydc.gov.uk/http://www.daventrydc.gov.uk/http://www.daventrydc.gov.uk/http://www.daventrydc.gov.uk/http://www.daventrydc.gov.uk/http://www.daventrydc.gov.uk/http://www.daventrydc.gov.uk/http://www.daventrydc.gov.uk/http://www.daventrydc.gov.uk/


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Area ActionPlans*









Businesses Mailing List by letterand/or e-mail sent up to2 weeks beforecommencement ofstatutory consultationperiod, where possible.

Hard /e-mail copies onrequest



Meetings to bearranged as necessary


























Developers/landowners/agents









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Area ActionPlans*




Council website atwww.daventrydc.gov.ukMeetings to bearranged as necessary

















Interest/CommunityGroups





Public inspection at


























http://www.daventrydc.gov.uk/http://www.daventrydc.gov.uk/http://www.daventrydc.gov.uk/http://www.daventrydc.gov.uk/http://www.daventrydc.gov.uk/http://www.daventrydc.gov.uk/http://www.daventrydc.gov.uk/http://www.daventrydc.gov.uk/http://www.daventrydc.gov.uk/http://www.daventrydc.gov.uk/http://www.daventrydc.gov.uk/http://www.daventrydc.gov.uk/


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Area ActionPlans*



Council Offices



Formal/informalmeetings as necessary

LSP notification asdetailed above.


Use of the Councilnewspaper ‘DaventryCalling’ to publicise

Council Offices







Council Offices







Council Offices







Council Offices







Council Offices








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Area ActionPlans*



proposals and invitefeedback.


Leaflet drops withinDaventry District.Focus groups

Mediation meetingswhere necessary toresolve different views










Concept statements

Focus groups








Hard to ReachGroups





Issue of PressReleases and advertsin appropriate local




























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Area ActionPlans*



papers such asDaventry WeeklyExpress Chronicle andEcho, Harborough Mail,Banbury Citizen,Rugby Advertiser andthe London Gazette

Formal/informalmeetings as requiredwith community leaders

Hard copies suppliedas requested in variousformats.

E-mail copies availablein large print


Notify relevantcommunity forumgroups.


















































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Area ActionPlans*




Focus groups





Concept statements

Focus groups




*Development Plan Documents accompanied at pre-submission stage by a Statement of proposal matters, consultationstatement, sustainability appraisal report and any relevant documentation. Development Plan Documents accompanied atSubmission stage by a Statement of proposal matters, pre-submission consultation statement, if adopted the Statement ofCommunity Involvement, sustainability appraisal report and any relevant documentation.

** Supplementary Planning Documents accompanied by a Statement of SPD matters, consultation statement, sustainabilityappraisal report and any relevant supporting documentation.

http://www.daventrydc.gov.uk/http://www.daventrydc.gov.uk/http://www.daventrydc.gov.uk/http://www.daventrydc.gov.uk/http://www.daventrydc.gov.uk/


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6.0 Who we will consult

6.1 Planning Policy Statement 12, Annex E1 and the Town and Country Planning(Local Development) (England) Regulations 2004 state minimum standards forcommunity involvement in the preparation of Local Development Documents.Appendix 2 details those organisations/ groups, which will be consulted inaccordance with the regulations and will be notified of where and when localdevelopment plan documents can be inspected.

6.2 Planning Policy Statement 12, Annex E2 also strongly advices that anyGovernment bodies or agencies where whose departments or agencies havelarge land holdings in the area covered by the local development plandocument should be consulted. Appendix 3 details these organisations (exceptwhere they have already been included in Appendix 2). The Council willconsult these government agencies where appropriate.

6.3 Planning Policy Statement 12, Annex E3 details a list of agencies andorganisations that it advises Local Planning Authorities to consider consulting,where appropriate. This list is contained in Appendix 4. The Council willconsult these agencies where appropriate and where a particular agency haverequested they wish to be consulted.

6.4 A database of community bodies/developers/stakeholders/individuals hasbeen established to include groups identified in paragraphs 6.1 to 6.3, as wellas other interested bodies/individuals not included in these lists (currentorganisations/groups/developers on this list are detailed in Appendix 5 and 6).The list of organisations together with the list of individual residents and thosewith planning and development interests is not intended to be an exhaustivelist but is meant to provide an indication of who the Council is committed toconsulting in the preparation of Local Development Documents. The lists willbe amended as new groups/individuals are identified with an interest in thefuture planning of the district.

6.5 To ensure soundness of the plan, the database will identify the key interests ofthese individuals/ organisations to ensure policies are informed by groupsinvolved in their delivery and implementation. In addition allindividuals/organisations who respond to local development plan consultationwill be added to the database. All individuals/organisations will whereappropriate and where they have requested they be consulted, be consultedon local development plan documents at pre submission and submissionstage in relation to their stated interests. Consultees will be able to chose theirpreferred method of notification of consultation exercises e.g e-mail or letter.Extra copies of Local Development Documents will be provided as long as therequest is reasonable.

6.6 The organisations detailed in Appendices 2-6 may also be consulted at thepre-production stage of Local Development Documents, where their expertisecan contribute to the preparation of pre submission versions of relevant Local


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Development Documents. A statement of consultation will accompany pre-submission documents detailing the results of any such consultation.

6.7 Within the Daventry District Council area it is recognised there are a widerange of interest groups some of whom are well established and representedand others who are less able to engage in the formal planning process. Toencourage a fully participative approach and to built up a better picture of themake up, needs and interests of different groups and their capacity to engagein the process Community groups and stakeholders will be encouraged tostate their particular interests, and preferred methods of consultation. This willhelp in targeting consultation effectively and identifying issues likely togenerate a high level of community interest.

7.0 How we will meet the needs of hard to reach groups

7.1 Within the groups detailed in Section 6 there are a number of groupsconsidered ‘hard to reach’. The characteristics of the District and informationfrom the 2001 census suggest certain people may be classed as ‘hard toreach’. The table below details these groups and appropriate consultativemethods that can help to meet their need.

Hard to reach group Consultative Methods that may beused (see table in paragraph 5.1)

Groups affected by rural exclusionand rural access deprivation.Nearly 70% of the population live in the ruralarea and of these nearly a third live invillages of fewer than 3000 people.

The District also suffers from accessdeprivation with 14 out of 26 wards featuringin the worst 25% of wards nationally foraccess deprivation. (Deprivation indices2000).

Media Website E-mail Sending out hard copies Council newspapers Information Leaflets Outreach centres and rural libraries Exhibitions/ roadshows Formal/informal meetings

Older PopulationIn common with most areas of England thepopulation who are only 65 is anticipated toincrease 29% between 2003 and 2010.

Reaching people where they live by:- Media Website E-mail Sending out hard copies Outreach centres and rural libraries Council newspapers Information Leaflets Exhibitions/roadshows Consultation with relevant community

groups that represent these sections ofthe community.

Focus groups Making documents available in range of

formats (see paragraphs 7.2)


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Hard to reach group Consultative Methods that may beused (see table in paragraph 5.1)

People with disabilitiesThe 2001 census suggests that 15% of thepopulation have a limiting long term illness.

MediaWebsiteE-mailSending out hard copiesCouncil newspapers Information LeafletsFocus GroupsMaking documents available in range of

formats (see paragraphs 7.2)Providing facilities for visually impaired,

physically disabled and hearingimpaired(see paragraphs 7.2 and 7.3)

Consultation with relevant communitygroups that represent these sections ofthe community.

Black and Ethnic Minority GroupsThere is a low black and ethnic population.The 2001 census shows that 97.99% ofpeople resident in Daventry District classthemselves as white (includes White Irishand White British) compared to 91.31%nationally. However despite the belowaverage black and ethnic population thisgroup can still find themselves excluded.

MediaWebsiteCouncil newspapers Information LeafletsFocus groupsMaking documents available in other

languages (see paragraphs 7.2)Providing translation facilities (see

paragraphs 7.2)Consultation with relevant community


Young People MediaWebsiteCouncil newspapers Information LeafletsYouth ForumsFocus groups with young peopleConsultation with relevant community


Learning difficulties Consultation with relevant communitygroups that represent these sections ofthe community.

7.2 To ensure information is accessible to individuals with special needs, onrequest, the Statement of Community Involvement and other LocalDevelopment Documents and letters will be made available in the followingformats:-

Large print for the partially sighted.In Braille for the blind/partially sightedOn tape for the blind/partially sighted.


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On disc or CD ROM.On the Council’s website.By e-mail.On request translated into the main community languages of the

District.

All documents will refer to the formats information is available in. All staff havedetails of groups/organisations who can assist persons/provide information topersons with special needs.

7.3 For persons with a hearing impairment the Council will make arrangements fora BSL interpreter if requested and conduct meetings in interview rooms withinduction loops. A textphone is also available in the council.

7.4 These measures will assist the Local Planning Authority to comply with TheRace Relations (Amendment) Act and the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.It is a requirement of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 for localauthorities to undertake a race equality impact assessment of each strategyand plan and this will include local development documents.

8.0 How will consultation link with other community involvement initiativesof the Council?

8.1 All consultation at Daventry District Council is subject to a CorporateConsultation Strategy to enable the co-ordination of all communityconsultation. All consultation is approved in advance and coordinated byManagement Board. A corporate Consultation Calendar is in place to facilitatethe effective coordination of all surveys. Consultation into each developmentplan document will be subject to the Consultation Strategy and can be linkedwith other consultation initiatives and the feedback obtained, whereappropriate.

8.2 The Council has a number of Community Forum Groups, which representdifferent interests, and in some cases particular sections of the Community. Aspart of the consultation of each Local Development Document, use will bemade of these groups ie Youth Forum, Disability Northants Forum, TownCentre Partnership etc to obtain feedback on issues of relevance to thesegroups.

8.3 In 2002 the Council formed a Local Strategic Partnership, which representskey groups and organisations operative within the Daventry Area. In 2003,following extensive consultation a Community Strategy was produced, whichtook account of all existing strategies and initiatives. Local DevelopmentDocuments will feed off this document to give a spatial dimension to its aims,objectives and initiatives. A report was presented to the 16th NovemberStrategy Group 2004 to formalise the procedures for consulting the LSP. Aconsultation mechanism was agreed as follows:-


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Step 1: - All the LSP representatives will be contacted using the Local Plansdatabase (for the most part this will be addressed to the organisation thatthey represent)

Step 2: - The Chief Executive personal assistant at Daventry Council willemail all LSP members advising them of the date by which they shouldrespond to their theme champion (step 3) and the date by which the themechampions should respond to their chair (step 4)

Step 3: - The theme champions make a collective response under theirtheme to the chair.

Step 4: - The chair will provide a collective response for the LSP back toDaventry DC

9.0 Community involvement in planning application decisions

9.1 The Statement of Community Involvement is required to set out the Council’spolicy for consulting the community on planning applications. It alsoencourages developers to undertake pre-application discussions and earlycommunity consultation on significant applications. The Council will not beable to refuse to accept a valid application because it disagrees with the wayin which a developer has consulted the community, but failure by thedeveloper to consult could lead to objections being made which could bematerial to the determination. The aim of the process should be to encouragediscussion before a formal application is made and therefore to avoidunnecessary objections being made at a later stage.

9.2 Publicity required by law9.3 The Council is required by law to give publicity to all planning applications.

The following table sets out the required publicity for various categories ofapplications:

Type of Development Publicity requiredDevelopment where theapplication is accompanied byan Environmental Statement

Departure from theDevelopment Plan

Development affecting apublic right of way

Notice in local newspaper and sitenotice

Major development* Notice in local newspaper and eithersite notice or neighbour notification

Other development Neighbour notification or Site notice


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Type of Development Publicity requiredDevelopment affecting thesetting of a listed building


Development affecting thecharacter or appearance of aconservation area


* Major development is defined as:

a) For residential development, 10 or more dwellings, or if the number ofdwellings is not known where the site area is 0.5 hectares or more.

b) For other uses, where the floorspace is 1000 square metres or more, or thesite area is 1 hectare or more.

9.4 Applications for listed building consent and conservation area consent are alsosubject to mandatory publicity by notice in a local newspaper and a site notice.

9.5 Developers are required to publicise applications in the following situations:

a) Where an environmental statement is submitted after the application.

b) Where a developer may apply in advance for a determination as towhether the Council’s prior approval is required for certain details of thedevelopment. At the present time this includes certain types ofdevelopment for agriculture, forestry and for the demolition of dwellings.

In case (b) the Council requires that a site notice is posted. In both casesdevelopers have to complete a certificate to confirm that appropriate publicityhas been carried out. The Council will also notify consultees by letter givingthem 21 days, or 28 days in the case of a planning application potentiallyaffecting a SSSI or in a SSSI consultation, in which to comment1.

9.6 To notify neighbours for all applications the Council must either put up a sitenotice or notify adjoining owners/occupiers. The Council has decided thatneighbour notification is the best means of publicising applications. It is themost effective method where small numbers of residents are likely to beaffected by a development and it enables those who are unable to see anotice, such as the housebound, to express their views. As all applicationsmust be given publicity, the adjoining owners/occupiers will not always be localresidents – adjoining factory owners, schools and so on may need to benotified at some time.

9.7 In addition Parish Councils and local community groups are notified onindividual applications in their areas.

1 In accordance with Section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 as amended by Section 75 andSchedule 9 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.


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9.8 Procedures

Period of Notice

9.9 In accordance with current legislation the following periods of notice will begiven:

Method of Publicity Period of NoticeNotice in a local newspaper 21 days from date of publication

Site notice 21 days beginning with the date thatthe notice was first displayed

Neighbour notification 21 days beginning with the date of theletter.

9.10 The Council currently exceeds the publicity requirements detailed above byalso providing an additional 14-day consultation period for amendments toplanning applications. This is discretionary and provides a balance betweengiving communities an extra opportunity to comment on amendments toapplications and ensuring applicants do not suffer from their applications notbeing determined within the statutory eight-week period.

9.11 How to reply to notifications

9.12 Planning applications are available for inspection at the Planning Department ,Daventry District Council, Lodge Road, Daventry, Northamptonshire , NN114FP. The offices are open between 8.30 am and 5.00 p.m from Mondays toThursdays and 8.30 am to 4.30 p.m. on Fridays. Weekly lists are alsoavailable detailing planning applications that have been submitted. These areavailable free on the web and by subscription for hard copies.

9.13 In addition planning applications can be inspected at the Brixworth andWoodford Outreach Centres. Alternatively, as the town or parish council clerkis sent a copy of every application in their parish, local viewing may bepossible by arrangement. The Council has published additional guidance onthis issue in the form of two leaflets, “How Do I Object?” and “How toconsider a planning application: Some questions answered”. These leafletsprovide advice on how to object or comment on an application. Both areavailable from the Council’s offices.

9.14 An officer from the development control section will be available to offer adviceor answer questions. The officer dealing with the case may not always beavailable without prior appointment.

9.15 Planning applications will be determined in accordance with the DevelopmentPlan unless material considerations indicate otherwise.


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9.16 Any comments that are made in response to a planning application will beplaced on the application file. The file is available for public inspection and theapplicant will be able to see what comments have been made.

9.17 Comments on a planning application should be made in writing or by e-mailwithin the timescale indicated. Respondents will be encouraged to submitcomments by e-mail where they have this facility. All representations (whetherfor or against the development) will be taken into account when the decision istaken. Anonymous letters will not however be considered. All letters thatcomment on applications will be acknowledged.

9.18 Some development is “permitted” by the government under the “GeneralPermitted Development Order”. A Council cannot control this type ofdevelopment, no matter how strong or valid a neighbour’s objection may be toit. Examples of “permitted development” include some extensions to dwellingsand the erection of boundary walls and fences below certain heights.

9.19 How the decision is taken

9.20 A decision whether or not to grant planning permission can be taken either bythe Planning Committee, or by officers under delegated powers given by theCommittee.

9.21 Some applications will be subject to a site visit, prior to the Committee.People are allowed to attend and may be able to speak.

The Planning Committee usually meets every three weeks on Wednesdayevenings , starting at 6.15 p.m. The Councillors have a written report on eachapplication that is being considered, which includes details of how many lettershave been received, and a précis of the main points they raise. Should a letterbe received after the written report has been prepared, the main points will bereported in writing in the late representation list to the Committee. A leaflethas been produced entitled “How Planning Committee decides planningapplications”. The leaflet details the procedure followed at PlanningCommittee. It is available from the Council’s offices.

9.22 To increase opportunities for public involvement in the planning process theCouncil allows the applicant, parish or town council and an objector to speak.The leaflet “How to have your say” details the procedure that should befollowed . This leaflet is available from the Council’s offices.

9.23 Decisions delegated to officers follow the Councils adopted scheme ofdelegation. Delegation is used on applications for minor types of developmentand for applications that conform with policy. e.g applications for extensions todwellings are decided under delegated powers, whether or not there havebeen objections. Other examples of decisions under delegated powers includeapplications where there has been a previous planning permission or refusaland there are no changes in circumstances.


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9.24 After the decision

9.25 Everyone who has written to the Council about a planning application will beinformed of the decision as soon as possible – normally within a week. Theapplicant/agent will receive a decision notice dealing conditions and reasonsfor approval or reasons for refusal. Parish Councils will also receive a copy ofthe decision notice dealing conditions for refusal/approval. A copy of thedecision notice is kept on file and is available to view at the Council’s offices.

9.26 An applicant does have a right of appeal to the Secretary of State againsteither a refusal of planning permission or against conditions. An appeal by theapplicant must be lodged within 6 months of the decision. If there is an appealwe will write to you to inform you, and you will then have the chance to makefurther representations to the Inspector who is hearing the appeal. We will alsoinform all individuals/organisations that wrote in on the original application thatan appeal has been submitted.

9.27 Community involvement exercises

9.28 The Council considers that developers have a key role to play in engagingwith local communities and helping them to understand what is proposed,listening to concerns and engaging in dialogue to seek to resolve these.Where the thresholds in paragraph 9.32 are met the Council will request aCommunity Involvement Exercise is carried out. However a CommunityInvolvement Exercise (CIE) is not a mandatory requirement when submitting aplanning application but the Council sincerely believes that genuineengagement with the surrounding community before the submission of aformal application can be beneficial for all those involved.

9.29 Developers should contact the Council before commencing a CommunityInvolvement Exercise to agreed the scope of the exercise and the methodsthat will be employed (see Appendix 7 for potential consultation methods).Developers are encouraged where consultation is also carried out in respect ofan environmental statement that to avoid duplication and confusionconsultation for a CIE and the environmental statement are discussed beforecommencement with the Council. The advice that follows in paragraphs 9.30-9.35 and in Appendix 7 indicates good practice which developers/applicantsare encouraged to follow when carrying out a CIE.

9.30 Community Involvement is the process of:

a) Explaining proposals to parish councils, residents, workers and users ofthe area around the site of the proposed development.;

b) Requesting the views of people in the community, including parishcouncils;

c) Considering those views;d) Where appropriate, amending the proposals to take the views of the

community into account.

9.31 The Council considers that a genuine CIE can:


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a) Provide an ideal opportunity for an explanation of proposals beforeminds are made up on the basis of possibly inaccurate information;

b) Save time in obtaining a decision on a planning application;c) Produce more certainty about the outcome;d) Create a more sustainable, high quality designed and acceptable

development;e) Avoid appeals and call-in procedures.

9.32 A large range of proposals could benefit from Community Involvement. Theseare set out below along with the thresholds beyond which a CIE should becompleted.

Type of Proposal ThresholdMedium and large scale industrialand commercial development in theurban areas

Sites of 1.5 hectares or above

Medium and large scale residentialdevelopment in the urban areas.

50 dwellings or sites of 1.5hectares or above.

New educational or institutionalbuildings

All Proposals

Major infrastructure projects All proposals falling into thedefinition contained in theschedule of Rule 2 of the Townand Country Planning (MajorInfrastructure Project InquiriesProcedure)(England) Rules 2002together with other majorinfrastructure schemes such asmajor new roads, power cables.

Developments in the rural areas 10 dwellings or sites of 0.3hectares or above.

non-residential proposals on sitesof 0.3 hectares or above.

Changes of use of buildings or landfor purposes which are likely to becontroversial

By negotiation

Developments where opportunitiesfor community benefits may beavailable (e.g. the upgrading of afacility used by the community)

By negotiation

9.33 The Council considers that there are four stages to completing a CIE.


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1) Carry out a Community Involvement Appraisal to determine thenature, the methods of consultation to be used and the extent of theexercise.

2) Carry out the Community Involvement Exercise3) Complete a Community Involvement Submission to record the CIE

and the outcome4) The developer should supply a copy of the completed CIE to parish

councils and participants in the exercise.

9.34 Appendix 7 sets out a form that has been designed to help complete stages1-3. The Council would encourage applicants to complete and return the form.

9.35 Developers will be required to provide parish councils and participants of theCIE exercise in with a copy/summary of the completed CIE. Planning officerswill also summarise the results of the CIE within planning committee reportsand how the proposal may have changed as a result of the consultation.

10.0 Consultation on the Statement of Community Involvement (see diagramon page 7)

10.1 The procedure for producing the Statement of Community Involvement is thesame as Development Plan Documents.

10.2 This Statement of Community Involvement was subject to an informal six-week consultation period ending on 31st August 2004. Comments from thisperiod of consultation informed the production of the Pre-SubmissionStatement of Community Involvement.

Pre-Submission Statement of Community Involvement29th October -10th December 2004

10.3 Pre-submission consultation took place for a period of six weeks giving peoplethe chance to comment on the proposals before the submission Statement ofCommunity Involvement was prepared. Comments received at the pre-submission stage cannot be carried forward to the ‘Submission Stage’,although comments received will inform the process.

10.4 After consideration of p