Stakeholders Meetings May/June 06

Group Feedback - Key Messages

Delegation

Pre-application advice should be promoted, accessible, timely and Parish Council input encouraged.
Decisions must be consistent and subject to internal review.
The views of the Parish Council, and its local knowledge, should have a significant bearing upon whether a decision can be delegated.
The level of delegation must be balanced against such issues as local democracy and public participation.
Emphasis on speed limits, the opportunity to comment upon and amend proposals.

We will look at new ways to provide timely and accessible pre application advice.

We will feed the views of stakeholders into the current review of the scheme of delegation.

Sustainability

This is extremely important and is a challenge to all, both now and in the future;
Design will have to balance tradition and innovation.
It is doubted whether the Council would approve an innovative and different looking building.

We will look at further ways of promoting sustainability issues through our design guide, design awards ,training, planning policy and the Thames Valley Energy Centre (TVEC)

Design

There were concerns that those making decisions on design matters lacked the necessary skills and training.
There was concern that the Council steered new development toward safe and comfortable traditional design.
That design awards and the promotion of good design require the involvement of the community, the young and professionals.
That local distinctiveness needs a fresh approach.

We will provide further member and officer training in design matters

We will consider ways to engage and interest the wider community in design issues

We will promote innovation in our design guide.

Service Improvement

That the drive for speed and focus on applications has resulted in lengthy delays in respect of correspondence, discharge of conditions and pre application advice. Officers have become increasingly inaccessible.
21 days is simply not long enough for interested parties to comment.
Public speaking at Committees should be considered
Poor quality plans and submissions.

We will feed the views of stakeholders into the ongoing review of public speaking at Committees.

We will look at ways to encourage interested parties to contact the case officer to see if, in appropriate circumstances, the consultation period can be extended

We will introduce a validation checklist to drive up the quality of planning submissions.

Community involvement

Pre-application advice should involve the community

Published information should be accompanied by a "Jargon Buster" so that people can understand what is being said
Don't provide too much information - just enough to whet the appetite and provide the opportunity to find out more.
Scenarios and options can be thought provoking.

We will look at ways of promoting and encouraging applicants to consult with the community before making an application.

We will put a "Jargon buster" on our website and also look at other ways of making this generally available.

We will review how we present information and consult with the community.

Ian Morrow

Head of Planning Services