Statement of Community Involvement April 2019

1. Introduction

View the Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) (PDF) [496KB] as a PDF document, alternatively the information is available below in an accessible format.

Role and Purpose of the SCI

1.1 The role and purpose of the Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) is to provide the community with clarity on the levels of involvement and engagement that they should expect in planning processes. It gives a level of certainty to key stakeholders, the general public and representative organisations as to how they can be involved in plan making and development control management processes.

1.2 Chorley Council will have to comply with the standards and methods of consultation as set out in the SCI when preparing and reviewing the Central Lancashire Local Plan, Supplementary Planning Documents, Area Action Plans, Neighbourhood Plans, and when determining planning applications.

1.3 This SCI supersedes the 2014 SCI and has been produced in line with the 2012 Town and County Planning (Local Planning)(England)Regulations(as amended).

General Principles of Planning Consultation

1.4 Local Plan documents and determination of planning decisions must comply with the general duty in the Equality Act 2010. The Council is committed to equality and diversity and will apply some general principles to any planning consultations it carries out. These are:

Involvement will be open to all, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion and belief, rurality, marriage and Civil Partnerships, sex and sexual orientation;
We will seek views of interested and affected parties as soon as possible;
Consultation publications will be clear, concise and avoid unnecessary jargon; and
As part of the preparation of the Central Lancashire Local Plan and Neighbourhood Plans, people who respond to consultations can request to be kept informed of later stages of plan preparation.
Please see the Council's Privacy Policy to find out how we use information and personal data from respondents to planning policy consultations on local development documents, as well as applicants for planning permission and respondents to to planning applications.

Role of Planning Officers

1.5 Planning Officers are generally available by prior appointment to discuss issues raised during the production of plans and other planning documents and in relation to pre-application and planning application enquiries. The Council operates a charging scheme for pre- application enquires.

Role of Councillors

1.6 Councillors have an important role within the planning system, as both decision makers and as community representatives. Councillors are a vital link between the local community and the Council. Councillors also make decisions on planning issues, such as adopting Planning Policy documents and in deciding planning applications.

1.7 Whilst Councillors are willing to receive and consider the views of their constituents on planning matters, it should be noted that if any person wishes to formally comment on a planning document they can email planning.policy@chorley.gov.uk To comment on a planning application they should write to the Chief Planning Officer or as otherwise indicated in consultation documents.