The Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) is a statutory document which sets out how and when the Council will engage with stakeholders and the wider community to ensure that everyone can participate in the planning process. This includes both the preparation of policy documents and the determination of planning applications. The SCI also sets out how and when the Council will support local communities in preparing Neighbourhood Plans.
It details which documents require public involvement and how and at what stage there are opportunities to be involved. It also sets out how we will notify and consult all interested groups and ensure equality of engagement.
Following a 6-week consultation, the SCI was adopted by the Council on 31 January 2022. This latest version updates and supersedes the previous SCI which was adopted on 18 December 2018.
This updated SCI sets out how the Council will involve the community during the production of the New Local Plan 2019-2039. In addition to identifying the Council’s statutory consultation requirements, the updated SCI provides a higher level of detail in respect of how early engagement will be undertaken, as well where the Council will carry out informal engagement. The SCI also has regard to the increased scope of engagement that has recently become available through new online platforms. Other updates include the incorporation of the changes made since 2018 to the public speaking processes at Planning Committee.
Coronavirus Addendum to the SCI
In compliance with current Government advice in relation to COVID-19 Rother District Council Strategy & Planning Service has produced a Coronavirus Addendum to its adopted Statement Community of Involvement (SCI). The Coronavirus Addendum identifies methods of community engagement in the SCI that may no longer be possible or effective due to the current public health arrangements made necessary by COVID-19. Where methods of engagement have been identified as problematic, temporary methods have been outlined to ensure that the Council’s Strategy and Planning Service can safely continue to carry out its various functions for which it is responsible. This Coronavirus Addendum should be read alongside the adopted SCI. In line with the amended national advice and guidelines published in May and July 2020, as well as legislative amendments made in March, May, July and December 2020, the temporary changes made to the SCI remain in force until national guidelines and legislation are further amended.
