Statement of Community Involvement

This sets out how, and when, we will undertake consultation in relation to documents of the Local Development Framework and in determining planning applications.

Statement of Community Involvement Review

Since the adoption of our original Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) in 2006, the Government has revised both Planning Policy Statement 12 on Local Spatial Planning and The Town and Country Planning Regulations. These changes coupled with the establishment of the South Downs National Park Authority, has meant that the SCI has been revised.

Consultation

As part of the review of the SCI, we conducted an informal consultation stage by sending a questionnaire to statutory consultees and selected other stakeholders. The consultation lasted between 5th May and 30th June 2010.

The results from the consultation helped inform the content of a draft SCI that went out for consultation on 1st October and lasted until 12th November 2010. Summaries from both consultations and how they influenced the content of the revised SCI can be found at the bottom of the page.

The revised SCI has now been adopted by Lewes District Council and the South Downs National Park Authority. The document and the Adoption Statement can be found at the bottom of the page.

Summary

With regards to the preparation of planning documents, the revised SCI sets out that the council will:

Invite representations on draft documents from the statutory bodies and, where appropriate, will invite comments from groups and individuals that we have on our consultee database.
Add contact details of any group or individual who wishes to be kept up to date about the preparation of planning documents to our consultee database. They can do this by emailing ldf@lewes.gov.uk.
Send out regular ‘email alerts’ to every email address contained in the consultee database updating interested parties about recent planning policy work and provide updates of work in District News.
Provide consultation documents online, as well as paper copies of documents in libraries and at Southover House.
Where appropriate, use methods such as newspaper adverts, press releases, public meetings and exhibitions to advertise and provide information about consultation documents.

With regards to development management issues, the revised SCI states that the council will:

Make available a weekly list of planning applications, which can be found on this website.
Advertise a list of major planning applications, and those located in the National Park, or a Conservation Area or affect a Listed Building each week in the Sussex Express.
Allow people to view and make representations on planning applications through this website.
Allow planning applications to be viewed at Southover House or at the respective town councils of Newhaven, Peacehaven, Seaford and Telscombe.
Allow members of the public to report unauthorised development by contacting the enforcement team either by phone (01273 484482) or by email (planning@lewes.gov.uk).
Enable people to speak either for or against an application at Planning Applications Committee (see amendment below)

Amendment

As a result of a Cabinet decision on 19th October 2011, the District Council adopted a new protocol on planning matters between the District Council and the Lewes District Association of Local Councils. This decision supersedes the information detailed in paragraph 3.14 and on page 28 in the ‘Time Limits for Speakers’ section.

The changes affect the following parts of the ‘Opportunity to Speak’ scheme at Planning Applications Committee:

A single representative of a Town/ Parish Council may now speak for up to 5 minutes on a planning application. Previously they were only able to make comments for two minutes.
Members of the public may now speak for up to 3 minutes on a planning application. Previously they were only able to make comments for two minutes.
Members of the Planning Applications Committed may ask questions via the Chair to seek clarification or provide more information, from participants in the ‘Opportunity to Speak” scheme
The time available for Ward Councillors remains the same – they are allowed to speak for up to five minutes on a single application

Revised Statement of Community Involvement
PDF Revised Statement of Community Involvement (0.21mb)

Adoption Statement
PDF Adoption Statement (0.08mb)

Statement of Community Involvement Review responses
Word Statement of Community Involvement Review responses (0.43mb)

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Statement of Community Involvement