Reflection on Spring 2008 Consultation
Successes and Lessons Learnt
In March and April the Planning Policy
Team undertook a six week consultation period on two key documents
for the emerging Local Development Framework (LDF); The Core
Strategy Preferred Options and the Issues and Options for the
Allocations Development Plan Document.
Nearly 1,000 individuals, companies and
organisations submitted more than 8,200 separate representations
and this information has now been added to a database. To view the
outcome of these consultations please click the links below:
Core Strategy Preferred Options
Issues and Options Allocations Development Plan
Document
The consultation period had many successes
such as a school event and the public exhibitions. The exhibitions
were well attended and they provided an excellent opportunity for
the public to ask questions directly to officers.
As well as identifying successes Planning
Policy have also looked at ways future consultation work could be
improved. Below are some key observations from the spring
consultation period.
Documents:
The complexity of the LDF system meant that
too much documentation formed part of the consultation period and
some of the documents were complex in nature. To some extent this
is unavoidable as specialist evidence base documents must be made
available as they have informed the policies or decisions made in
the main documents. Consulting on two key documents at the same
time was intended to provide a clear link between strategic
policies and actual potential sites. However, the additional
documentation out for consultation appears to have added further
confusion. Six weeks, which is the statutory period for
consultation, was insufficient for the amount of documentation out
for consultation.
In the future we will avoid consulting on more
than one Local Development Framework document at any
time.
Community Boards:
Community Boards potentially offer a valuable
means of communicating with the wider public and the meetings are
run by the board themselves. However, the meetings were poorly
attended with the exception of Emsworth.
The Community Boards will continue to be used
as a consulting tool. Alternative methods of engagement will be
investigated, including the council taking the lead in organising
and publicising a public meeting to which the Community Board will
be invited as a key participant. This may also offer the
opportunity for the Board to advertise what they do and what they
are about – therefore of mutual benefit.
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Exhibitions:
These were considered to be very successful
and the Saturday exhibition in the Meridian Centre was particularly
well attended. It was clear that although there were two Saturday
exhibitions, more would be desirable, together with other
exhibitions undertaken outside normal working hours. In the future
an evening exhibition will also be held. In addition to this it
will be made clearer that the public can attend ANY of the
exhibitions and that they are not restricted to the one within
their area. This should mean that any member of the public who
wished to attend an exhibition would be able to find one that fits
in with their individual commitments.
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Schools Event:
A successful event was held with small groups
of pupils from three local secondary schools. This very useful
approach will be repeated on other key consultations on Local
Development Framework Documents.
Other Points:
- The questionnaires that accompany consultation periods will be
simplified where possible with improved cross-referencing to the
relevant parts of the documents.
- Greater use will be made of other publications such as Park
Life.
- Public notices will be used to advertise exhibitions with the
view of engaging a wider audience.
- Consideration will be given on ways to engage the 18-40 age
groups.
- The maps will be made more user friendly
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It is hoped that this review of the
consultation methods will allow us to draw on strengths and address
weaknesses. This will help improve public involvement and
participation in the emerging Local Development Framework.