Decision details

Purpose of Report: Following the resolution in October 2020 to approve temporary amendments to the Council’s Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) for a period of six months, the purpose of this report is to provide Members with an update and ask that consideration be given to extending the temporary amendments, in line with the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown timetable. This reflects the need to revise planning related public access and involvement procedures contained in the Council’s SCI in response to current social distancing restrictions as a result of the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic.

To ensure meaningful engagement remains during the pandemic, alternative methods have been proposed where existing consultation methods need to be temporarily suspended in light of social distancing measures. It is anticipated that the temporary amendments to the SCI can be removed once it is safe to resume all standard consultation methods.

The Executive Member will be asked to agree that the temporary revisions to the Council’s adopted SCI to reflect the specific requirements arising from national guidance and procedures on dealing with coronavirus implications are extended, in line with the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown timetable and authorise Officers to publish a revised covering note to the adopted SCI on the Council’s website.

Resolved:  (i)      That the temporary revisions to the council’s adopted SCI, as set out in Annex A, be approved for a further period of 6 months maximum, to reflect the specific requirements arising from national guidance and procedures on dealing with the implications of coronavirus.

                   (ii)      That authority be delegated to the Corporate Director of Economy & Place, in conjunction with the Executive Member for Economy & Strategic Planning, to take a decision to revert back to the pre-pandemic version of the SCI when the pandemic situation allows for suspended consultation methods to be lifted.

Reason:     To ensure that consultation and engagement in the planning process remains effective at a time when restrictions have been placed on face to face social interactions to help combat the spread of coronavirus.