The Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) sets out the Council’s approach to consulting the local community and other stakeholders on planning matters. The production of a SCI is a requirement of the Planning & Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, and should explain how the Council will engage local communities and other interested parties in producing their Local Plan and determining planning applications. It is a legal requirement that any consultation on Local Plans is undertaken in accordance with the adopted SCI.
The Council’s existing SCI was adopted in July 2011. Since then many changes in legislation have taken place: the Localism Act was introduced in 2011, the National Planning Policy Framework was introduced in 2012 and in the same year the Town and Country Planning regulations were revised. Additionally the Neighbourhood Planning Act was introduced in 2017.
Before the new SCI can be adopted, it should be published for consultation with the local community and other stakeholders. It is proposed that public consultation on the draft SCI should take place for a 6 week period (+ 2 weeks for the holiday period) between 10 December 2018 and 4 February 2019, in line with the principles set out in the existing SCI.
Decision type: Policy framework
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Wards affected: (All Wards);
Notice of proposed decision first published: 06/11/2018
Decision due: 28 Oct 2019 by Lewes District Council Cabinet
Decision due: 25 Nov 2019 by Lewes District Council Full Council
Lead member: Councillor Emily O'Brien, Cabinet member Emily.OBrien@lewes.gov.uk
Lead director: Director of Regeneration and Planning
Department: Regeneration and Planning
Contact: Gerda Zijm, Planning Policy Officer Email: Gerda.zijm@lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk Tel: 01273 085870.
Consultation process
An informal pre-consultation has taken place from 21 August till 1October 2018. A questionnaire was sent to 19 Town and Parish Councils in the District outside the National Park and to 3 organisations recommended by the Equality and Fairness Officer. It was stated that any other comments on experiences with past consultations were welcomed.
Making Representations: We received 6 reactions from Town and Parish Councils and 1 from an organisation representing people with protected characteristics. Barcombe Parish Council – 20 September Newick Parish Council – 14 September 2018 Ringmer Parish Council - 8 October 2018 Newhaven Town Council – 17 September Telscombe Town Council - 9 October Wivelsfield Parish Council – 25 September Friend of Lewes – 20 September All responses were sent by email and all except one consisted of responses to the questionnaire. The fact that it was an informal pre-consultation made us to accept responses till 10 days after the deadline when the Town or Parish Council applied for this.