The Head of Planning Services has submitted a report to ask Cabinet to formally adopt an updated version of the Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) in Planning following public consultation.

Recommendations: That Cabinet resolves to:

1.Adopt this updated version of the Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) as the formal document that sets out how the City Council will engage people in the planning process; and

2. Authorise the Head of Planning Services, after consultation with the Cabinet Lead Member, to make any necessary editorial corrections to the Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) prior to final publication.

The Head of Planning Services had submitted a report to ask Cabinet to formally adopt the updated version of the Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) in Planning following public consultation.

Cllr Alex Hollingsworth, Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Delivery, introduced the report . The Statement of Community Involvement was a statutory document which set out how the Council should consult the public about planning policy documents and planning applications. This latest iteration placed increased emphasis on digital technology and included a greater emphasis on the importance of early consultation. He noted that the Statement reflected current planning practice not future planning practice. If the proposals in the current White Paper on planning are implemented as they stand, there will be very few matters in relation to which consultation will be required.

Cabinet resolved to:

1.Adopt this updated version of the Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) as the formal document that sets out how the City Council will engage people in the planning process; and

2. Authorise the Head of Planning Services, after consultation with the Cabinet Lead Member, to make any necessary editorial corrections to the Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) prior to final publication.