The key purpose of a Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) is to set out how local planning authorities will involve local communities, businesses and other organisations in the planning process.
The requirement for local planning authorities to produce a SCI was one of the changes to the development planning system introduced by the Government through the Planning & Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. This reflected a greater emphasis on consultation and involvement with local communities in the planning process, in relation to both the preparation of development plan documents and the determination of planning applications. It recognised that effective community involvement in the planning process will help to ensure that planning policies and decisions on planning applications will better reflect the needs and concerns of local communities.
In 2006, Amber Valley Borough Council adopted a Statement of Community Involvement (SCI). This set out the procedures and methods that the borough council will follow in preparing plan documents and in determining planning applications, as well as specifying the range of groups and organisations that it will consult and involve.
Whilst the adopted SCI has continued to underpin the consultation and engagement undertaken by the borough council in relation to development plans and planning applications, there is now a need to review and update the adopted SCI, given changes in planning legislation and national planning policy since 2006, as well to reflect current practice and expectations in relation to community involvement in the planning process.
On 12 February 2020, a draft updated Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) was agreed by the borough council for consultation. This consultation took place between 28 February 2020 and Tuesday 14 April 2020.
Following the receipt and consideration of representations on the draft updated SCI, a final version of the update, incorporating a number of amendments, was agreed through an Executive Decision by the Leader of the Cabinet, on 17 June 2020.
Following the agreement by Full Council on 8 June 2022 to a further revised programme and timetable for the new Local Plan, a further update of the SCI was prepared and subsequently agreed by the Cabinet on 29 June 2022.
This latest updated version of the SCI can be viewed using the link below.
The SCI will be further reviewed within 5 years from the date of adoption, in accordance with the duty on local planning authorities introduced by the Town and County Planning (Local Planning) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2017.
The Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) was adopted in June 2006 and explains how Amber Valley Borough Council will engage with key stakeholders including the local community and businesses to prepare planning policy documents and determine planning applications.
Contact the team directly on 01773 841584 or email LDF@ambervalley.gov.uk
