We have had several discussions on this site about community engagement in planning ... and some notable successes at getting our local authorities to take action as a result of community concerns.

Now The London Borough of Enfield has opened a short period of consultation on the way the Council connects with the local community in relation to local planning issues.

Enfield Council adopted its Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) in 2006 setting out the Council’s approach to community involvement in the preparation of the Local Plan as well as consultation on planning applications and appeals. Since then a number of changes to both planning legislation/policy including the introduction of the Localism Act 2011, and technological advances including increased use and availability of electronic communications such as email and the web, have changed the way public consultation is carried out. This meant that this document required an update. The revised Statement of Community Involvement in Planning seeks to ensure the active, meaningful and continued involvement of local communities and stakeholders in planning. It sets out a consultation strategy for the Councils planning functions including:

• How, when and who will be consulted throughout the preparation stages of Local Plan document preparation;
• Current statutory procedures in dealing with planning applications and appeals which include provisions for consultation on planning applications, and specifies the bodies to be consulted, depending on the type of planning application together with guidance on requirements for statutory notices to be served on adjacent premises regarding prior approvals for householder extensions;
• Guidance on Neighbourhood Planning which will provide the opportunity for community groups (as designated neighbourhood forums) to prepare their own neighbourhood plans;
• An overview of the provisions in relation to the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), the procedures and the bodies that will be consulted during its preparation;
• The Council’s approach to the Duty to Co-operate;
• Update on Enfield’s communities to take account of 2011 Census data.

The Enfield Statement can be read here - Responses are invited before March 27th.