Ipswich Borough Council Local Development Framework Statement
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Ipswich Borough Council Local Development Framework Statement of Consultation on Proposed Focused Changes to the Core Strategy and Policies Development Plan Document November 2010 – January 2011 Planning, Transport and Regeneration Ipswich Borough Council Grafton House 15-17 Russell Road Ipswich IP1 2DE Tel: 01473 432019 Web: www.ipswich.gov.uk Email: [email protected] Contents 1. Introduction 3 2. Background 3 3. Persons or bodies invited to make representations 4 4. Consultation techniques used by the Council 5 5. Conclusion 6 Appendices 1. LDF Mailing List 7 2. Letters sent to stakeholders 18 3. Advertisements placed in local press 21 4. Article published in the December 2010 Angle 25 5. Notes of public meeting 26 6. Notes of Discussion Group 29 2 1. Introduction 1.1 On Monday 15th November 2010, Ipswich Borough Council published for public consultation Proposed Focused Changes to the submitted Core Strategy and Policies Development Plan Document. 1.2 This Statement of Consultation describes: which bodies and persons Ipswich Borough Council as local planning authority invited to make representations on the Proposed Focused Changes; and how those bodies and persons were invited to make representations. 1.3 A separate document called the Summary of Main Issues Raised in Representations, February 20111, provides a summary of the representations received to the Proposed Focused Changes and the main issues raised through them. 2. Background 2.1 The East of England Plan was published in May 2008 and provided the context for the preparation of the Ipswich Core Strategy. It set out the housing and jobs targets for Ipswich Borough and the basis for cross boundary working within the Ipswich Policy Area, which reflects the extent of the urban area rather than the Borough, and includes land in neighbouring districts2. The Proposed Submission Core Strategy was published for consultation in October 2009 and submitted to the Government with minor amendments on 26th March 2010. 2.2 Examination of the Core Strategy commenced upon its receipt by the Government and the appointment of an independent Inspector, Frances Mahoney DipTP, MRTPI, IHBC. Examination hearings were scheduled for July and September 2010, and a Pre-Hearing Meeting for 15th June 2010. 2.3 However, on 27th May 2010 the Secretary of State announced that he planned to rapidly abolish regional strategies and return decision making powers on housing and planning to local councils. 2.4 On 9th June 2010 the Programme Officer wrote to the Council to suggest deferring those hearings relating to Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) issues until further clarity had been provided by the Secretary of State. It was agreed to postpone all hearings until September. The scheduled Pre-Hearing Meeting was held instead as an Explanatory Meeting to update interested parties on the process and publicise draft matters, issues and questions. 2.5 On 6th July the revocation of regional strategies was announced and guidance issued to councils on how to proceed3. The Council wrote to the Programme 1 Summary of Main Issues Raised in Representations, Ipswich Borough Council, February 2011. Core document library reference PCD41. 2 East of England Plan, Government Office for the East of England, May 2008, page 32 policy H1, page 20 Policy E1, page 89 para 13.28. Core Document Library reference RCD01 3 Letter to Chief Planning Officer 6th July 2010 from Steve Quartermain Chief Planner including questions and answers guidance. Core Document Library reference PCD25. 3 Officer on 22nd July indicating that September would be the earliest opportunity for the Council to consider the way forward. As a result, on 30th July 2010 the Inspector suspended the Core Strategy Examination for five months to allow time for the Council to consider its options. 2.6 The Council decided on October 27th to continue with a strategy of jobs-led growth for Ipswich, but to adjust housing targets to reflect local evidence. As a consequence of this decision, public consultation was necessary. The Council proposed an eight-week period of public consultation on the Proposed Focused Changes, starting by Monday 15th November 2010 and ending on Friday 7th January 2011. The Council wrote to the Programme Officer on 1st November to inform the Inspector of the decision. 2.7 On 4th November 2010 the Programme Officer responded to the Council on behalf of the Inspector: “The Council’s proposed consultation process on the focused changes comprises a mix of consultation techniques including: Letters to stakeholders; Advertisements in Local Press; An article in the December Angle; Use of the Council’s web site; Letters to those included on the Local Development Framework database (including those that replied at the last major consultation). In the circumstances of the nature of the focus changes, this seems to be an appropriate strategy for presenting the changes in the public domain. Should the process prompt representations from parties who have not previously been involved in the Examination the Inspector considers these representations should be accepted subject to them being solely in connection with the advertised changes. It is noted your intention to carry out an 8 week period of consultation which would include the Christmas break. In these circumstances an added week to the consultation period would be in the spirit of fairness and transparency. “ 2.8 The Council responded by extending the consultation period to nine weeks, from Monday 15th November 2010 to Monday 17th January 2011. 3. Bodies and persons invited to make representations 3.1 The Council maintains a database of organisations and individuals who have an interest in the Local Development Framework process. It includes both organisations which the local planning authority is required to consult as set out in the Town and Country Planning (Local Development) (England) Regulations 2004 (as amended) (‘the Regulations’), and other organisations and private individuals who have previously engaged with the Local Development Framework process or asked to be kept informed about it. 3.2 The broad categories of consultees included on the database are as follows: Specific consultation bodies (which includes mainly statutory consultees, for example utilities undertakers, Suffolk County Council, and adjoining district and parish councils); 4 General consultation bodies including voluntary bodies, and bodies representing the interests of businesses, racial or ethnic groups, faiths, and disabled people; Other groups and organisations, for example education establishments and environmental groups; Businesses located within, or with interests in, the Borough; and Private individuals. 3.3 The organisations are listed at Appendix 1. 3.4 The Council also has in place an adopted Statement of Community Involvement, which in Appendix 3 identifies broadly the consultation bodies to be contacted in relation to development plan document consultations4. The Council complied with the requirements of the Regulations and the Statement of Community Involvement in inviting bodies and persons to make representations on the Proposed Focused Changes to the Core Strategy. 4. Consultation techniques used by the Council 4.1 The Council published four documents for consultation on 15th November 2010: A schedule of Proposed Focused Changes to the submission Core Strategy and Policies DPD (including revised Tables 3 and 4); A Sustainability Appraisal Addendum; An update to the Appropriate Assessment; and A topic paper called ‘Reviewing the Ipswich Housing Figures’. 4.2 Two additional documents were published for information only; the first was a schedule of proposed minor amendments to the submission Core Strategy and Policies DPD. The second was a version of the Core Strategy document showing all three sets of amendments as tracked changes: Proposed Minor Amendments approved on 17th March 2010 prior to submitting the plan; Proposed Focused Changes approved on 27th October 2010; and Proposed Minor Amendments approved on 27th October 2010. 4.3 The Council used a range of techniques and approaches to publicise the Proposed Focused Changes to the submission Core Strategy and Policies DPD, make the documents available for inspection, and invite representations. a. Letters to all stakeholders as required by the Regulations (including documentation as appropriate) and others as included on the LDF database (sample letters included at Appendix 2); b. Advertisements in the local press (see Appendix 3); c. An article in the December issue of the Council’s newspaper, the Angle (see Appendix 4); d. Information on the Council’s web site (accessible through a ‘friendly’ url www.ipswich.gov.uk/corestrategyexamination and also advertised on homepage); and e. Information and documentation placed at key venues around the Borough, including the Customer Services Centre at the Town Hall, the reception desk at 4 Statement of Community Involvement, adopted September 2007, IBC, page 41 Appendix 3. Core Document Library reference ICD05. 5 the Council’s offices at Grafton House, and the County Library in Northgate Street, Ipswich. 4.4 The Council did not consider that the fullest range of potential consultation events was appropriate for the Proposed Focused Changes, as the changes to the Strategy were not substantial and were likely to mainly be of interest to those already involved in the process. Also, experience during the submission stage consultation under Regulation 27 indicated that numbers