Let the people decide - when they understand it

On his Neighbourhoods blog Kevin Harris alerts us to publication by the UK Government of its planning policy statement (PPS12) on local development frameworks and says despite the dry title "it's historic stuff so sit up straight".
The interesting point is that local councils will now have to prepare a Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) which:
"sets out the standards to be achieved by the local authority in involving the community in the preparation, alteration and continuing review of all local development documents and planning applications. The statement should be a clear public statement enabling the community to know how and when they will be involved in the preparation of local development documents and how they will be consulted on planning applications."

The reforms come into effect later this month. Here's the press release and the pdf download.
As well as PPS12, PPS11 spells out "how regional planning bodies can ensure that their draft plans are better joined up with other plans and programmes to secure sustainable development and help deliver the Sustainable Communities Plan."
Anything that obliges local government to set out how people can be involved in planning decisions seems a good thing to me. The question is whether anyone will be able to understand what's going on. The proposals for Statements of Community Involvement have been around for consultation for some time - earlier consultation documents here. But it is difficult for the concerned citizen - rather than the professional planning officer - to work out what will happen in practice.
The press release is rather grandly headline "Let the people decide, says Hill", but the quote from Planning Minister Keith Hill is heardly populist stuff:
“The publication of these two PPSs marks another major milestone in our planning reform agenda and will help ensure that plan making plays its part in helping to ensure sustainable communities.
“Both PPSs will greatly assist regional and local planning authorities in ensuring partnership working and community involvement so that their plans are in tune with regional and local aspirations. This whole new system is all about involving people in planning and I’m pleased these new PPSs will help achieve that.”
The release says that "Creating Local Development Frameworks will shortly be published as a 'how to do' guide in terms of the policy set out in PPS12", but I expect the advice will be for the professionals rather than the punters.
Meanwhile, there is some guidance on the site of the Government Office for the South East. This explains that when the Statements are subject to independent examination, the criteria for testing soundness, which the inspector will apply are whether the SCI:
* Shows that the LPA (local planning authority) is meeting legal requirements
* Sets out the LPA's strategy for community involvement and its links with other community involvement initiatives, e.g. the local authority's community strategy;
* Identifies in general terms which local community groups and other bodies need to be consulted;
* Shows how local people, community groups and other bodies can be involved in a timely and accessible manner;
* Shows that the methods to be used to involve people, community groups and other bodies are suitable for the different stages in the preparation of the LPA’s local development documents and for the particular communities;
* Shows that the LPA can resource and manage the process effectively;
* Shows how the results of the community involvement are to be fed into the preparation of development plan documents and supplementary planning documents;
* Sets out the mechanisms for reviewing the procedures in the SCI.
The Governmernt Office site also provides a link to download “Community Involvement in Planning: The Government’s Objectives” which provides more general guidance.
My experience is that while Government policy statement and requirements are, of course, a crucial part of promoting strong local democracy, they don't do much on their own.
What's important on the front line is the attitudes of council officers and others, and the culture of the organisation they work for. Unfortunately there's plenty of ways to offer involvement without really giving people a look in.
I'll take some soundings among my planning colleagues and see if they think it will all make much difference.
More on this blog about community involvement

Comments

[ian]

My experience is that while Government policy statement and requirements are, of course, a crucial part of promoting strong local democracy, they don't do much on their own.
What's important on the front line is the attitudes of council officers and others, and the culture of the organisation they work for. Unfortunately there's plenty of ways to offer involvement without really giving people a look in.

Spot on unfortunately!