Issue - meetings

To receive a report setting out the purpose and content of the Local Plan Issues Engagement Paper, the Local Plan Issues Summary Paper and the Local Plan Issues Easy Read Paper.

Executive Councillor: T Sanderson.

The Cabinet has

a)  approved the contents of the Local Plan Issues Engagement Paper, the Local Plan Issues Paper Summary and the Local Plan Issues Consultation – Easy Read documents; and

b)  agreed that the Local Plan Issues Engagement Paper April 2023, the Local Plan Issues Paper Summary and the Local Plan Issues Consultation – Easy Read documents can be published for public consultation for ten weeks after this meeting and its call-in period.

With the aid of a report prepared by the Chief Planning Officer (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet received a report setting out the purpose and content of the Local Plan Issues Engagement Paper, the Local Plan Issues Summary Paper and the Local Plan Issues Easy Read Paper.

By way of background, the Executive Councillor for Planning explained that the proposed Issues Engagement Paper formed part of the continuing engagement opportunities for the Local Plan designed as a discursive document highlighting the issues faced by Huntingdonshire and posing a series of questions to elicit opinions and priorities from Huntingdonshire’s residents, communities, businesses and wider stakeholders. It was noted that engagement would cover social media messaging, online documents, surveys, face to face and remote meetings.

Having had their attention drawn to the eight theme based chapters and in welcoming a quick read version of the paper would be available for young adults and others who might wish to engage, the Cabinet’s attention was then drawn to the views of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Performance & Growth) which were presented in detail by the Executive Councillor for Planning.

In noting that the consultation period would run for ten weeks from 26th April until 5 July 2023 and in response to a question from the Executive Councillor for Climate and Environment, the Executive Councillor for Planning undertook to provide details about the communications to be undertaken in advance of the consultation launch and to circulate around details to Members outside of the meeting. Furthermore, he reported that there would be opportunities to engage with Town and Parish Councils and it was also noted that the item appeared on the agenda for the next Town and Parish Council engagement event scheduled to be held on 14th June 2023.

Councillor B M Pitt commented upon the breadth of responses anticipated to be received and the need for proper engagement back with respondents. He further commented upon the need for Town and Parish Councils to ensure they were engaging directly with their local communities. In noting there would be some links to other areas of Council strategy, such as the Place Strategy and in acknowledging the importance of linking up with existing communities and other partner authorities such as Cambridgeshire County Council, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

a)  to approve the contents of the Local Plan Issues Engagement Paper, the Local Plan Issues Paper Summary and the Local Plan Issues Consultation – Easy Read documents; and

b)  to agree that the Local Plan Issues Engagement Paper April 2023, the Local Plan Issues Paper Summary and the Local Plan Issues Consultation – Easy Read documents can be published for public consultation for ten weeks after this meeting and its call-in period.

The Panel is invited to comment on the Issues Engagement Paper.

By means of a report by the Chief Planning Officer (a copy of which was appended in the Minute Book) the Issues Engagement Paper 2023 was presented to the Panel.

Councillor Pickering praised the excellent report, a sentiment which was echoed by the Panel.

Following questions from Councillors Blackwell, Pickering and Corney on the target audience of the consultation along with questions relating to resident engagement and timescales, the Panel were advised;

· that the consultation period would run for 10 weeks from 26th April – 5th July 2023;

· that the documents would be interactive with hyperlinks being added to allow residents to access the parts of interest to them;

· that the different forms would use language relevant to the related document and anticipated audience;

· it was noted that the Panel requested to view the interactive documents alongside the written reports in the future.

The Panel heard, in response to questions from Councillors Howell and Gardener, that the team would be investigating how best to ensure public engagement could encompass all areas of the district including northern and rural areas.

Councillor Cawley enquired what a good engagement level would look like to the team. The Panel heard that whilst a number would be difficult to quantify at this stage, the team would endeavour to reach as many residents and businesses as possible. However, it was further assured that the examiner would be looking at methods of engagement rather than numbers of responses in the final plan. Following the response, Councillor Cawley’s suggestion of a simple communications pack for members to use to encourage engagement with parish councils in particular was noted.

Following a question from Councillor Gleadow, the Panel heard that a communications plan was being developed to promote engagement with the younger generation across the district.

The Panel were advised, following a question from Councillor Gardener, that although the team wished to engage with parish councils it would not be practical or achievable to visit all throughout the district therefore alternatives were being developed.

Councillor Corney enquired whether there was any flexibility in the consultation dates, whereupon the Panel heard that parishes were encouraged to communicate with the team if the dates were anticipated to cause an issue.

Councillor Slade expressed concerns that the system used for responses may prove discouraging due to the need to register. The Panel were assured that the registration process was very swift and required minimal details and was only required for responding to the full Issues Engagement Paper not the Summary or Easy Read versions. Furthermore messaging will be shared via social media to publicise the consultations, the mechanisms for responses to be received would be investigated. Following concerns from Councillor Pickering that Facebook is thought to have an older demographic the Panel were assured that other services such as Twitter and LinkedIn would also be used along with YouTube videos.

Following an enquiry from Councillor Martin relating to residents without digital access, the Panel heard that hard copies would be available in local  ...  view the full minutes text for item 91