Effective Communication in Planning: Enhancing Stakeholder Engagement

1. Perception of Planning by Different Stakeholders

2. Do we really Cllr. Anthony Greenwood Blaby District Council September 2012

3. My Approach • Provide a brief background regarding S106 agreements issues • Describe key issues and affects on key stakeholders • Describe the action taken and by whom to improve/remedy the situation • Describe the outcomes and benefits so far

4. Who are the “Stakeholders?” • An individual or a group that can influence, or be influenced by Planning departments of District and County Councils, and thus form an important element in the establishment of Communications. Why do we need to Communicate? • Only informative and effective communication can assist in the development of a good relationship between Planning officers and the environment, thus informing and changing attitudes including the development of mutual trust and social responsibility on all sides.

5. AIMS • Communication of information plays a strategic role within the planning environment • Understanding the principles of effective communication • Listening in relation to life in general • Recognising the importance of developing and maintaining communication with people within our communities • Respecting difficult planning and other complex matters or situations relating to the quality of life • Developing an effective communication strategy with stakeholders

6. Why do we need to communicate effectively? “What do communities want? • To be afforded the same courtesies as they afford you • Good communication with Planning professionals • To be given clear, understandable and relevant information about their planning applications, public consultations, pending Secretary of State Appeals

7. Effective communication is perhaps the most important attribute of successful planning. The difference between stress, strife and serenity often depends on the meaning and interpretation of a single word……. YOURS !

8. What usually happens? • Only 50% of concerns are likely to be elicited • Little information obtained about their personal or communities perception • Information that is given is on many occasions given in an inflexible way • Little checking of applicants understanding of requirements, or how the planning system works

9. Planning Professionals “distance” themselves from local communities and individual applicants Fear of….. • Unleashing strong emotions and upsetting the community or applicant • Damaging any perceived relationship and doing more harm than good • Facing difficult questions • Getting too close or emotionally involved • Taking up too much time / too busy • Concern about personal survival within the organisation

10. Assessment of relevant issues involved • How to explore and delve to gain a clear understanding and move on • Handling difficult situations – ie breaking bad news – “planning permission refused”, difficult questions, uncertainty

11. Think that……. • It’s not my job • I may not be able to do anything about it • Instructions from the organisation prevents disclosure Lack of support………. • From working colleagues • From colleagues in other authorities • From County Council colleagues

12. TOP FIVE PLANNING MYTHS AND OTHERS • The Default Response to a Planning Application is “NO” • PLANNING IS SLOW • PLANNING IS COSTLY • PLANNING IS A DRAG ON ECONOMIC GROWTH • PLANNING FORCES HOUSE PRICES UP • OTHER MYTHS

13. ACRONYMS ABBREVIATIONS TITLES

14. Information and research indicates over two hundred (200) acronyms are presently in use by planners. AAP Area Action Plan AMR Annual Monitoring Report CS Core Strategy GPDD General Permitted Development Order LDD Local Development Document LDF Local Development Framework LDS Local Development Scheme PPG Planning Policy Guidance RPG Regional Planning Guidance SEA Strategic Environmental Assessment SPD Supplementary Planning Document TPO Tree Preservation Order

15. Although Developers do even better with over three hundred (300) OWL Outstanding Works List or Harry Potter: Ordinary Wizarding Level QIP Quality Improvement Plan QMP Quality Management Plan PPE Personal Protection Equipment CDM Construction (Design Management) Regulations CMP Contract Management Plan QMS Quality Management System IMS Integrated Management System I&TP Inspection and Test Plan O&M Operating & Maintenance DCS Drawing Comment Sheet DWB Don’t Walk By

16. The District Council is fully aware of the local support for this proposal and considers that the particular circumstances outweigh the policy presumption to refuse. On this basis, taking into account the relevant provisions of the development plan as summarised and also other material considerations, the proposed development is acceptable, as per the following

17. To permit, subject to the applicant entering into a section 106 agreement/unilateral undertaking or payment of monies to secure the following……..........… • On-site public open space maintenance contribution or an agreed maintenance programme; • Provision of 25% affordable housing; • Payment to Leicestershire and Rutland Primary Care Trust towards healthcare; • Payment to the Police Authority; • Payment towards library facilities; • Payment towards public transport. • Payment towards footpath upgrade • Payment towards Civic Waste AND SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS:

18. Précis conditions • Statutory outline condition • Details to be submitted (including full details of vehicular access) • Landscaping scheme to be carried out • Existing trees to be retained to be protected. • Materials to be agreed. • Buildings not to exceed two storeys in height. • Noise attenuation proposals to be agreed. • Foul and surface water drainage details to be agreed. • Sustainable drainage scheme to be agreed. • Finished floor levels to be set at or above levels identified within the Flood Risk Assessment. • Flood compensation scheme to be submitted and agreed. • No development within 8 metres of Whetstone Brook. • Contamination risk assessment and remediation strategy to be approved.

19. Contamination verification report to be approved. • No infiltration of surface water drainage into any ground identified to be contaminated • Details of development to comply with LCC design standards. • Construction Method Statement to be agreed. • Construction vehicle parking within site. • Water Vole mitigation measures to be carried out as identified in the ecological survey/report. • Refuse Management Strategy to be submitted and approved. • Reserved Matters to make provision for pedestrian/cycle link to existing informal footpath along the Whetstone Brook.

20. Summary of Reasons for Recommendation and Relevant Development Plan Policies The application site is designated as an Open Area of Importance to the Form and Character of the Built Environment on the Proposals Map of the Blaby District Local Plan (1999). However, the proposed residential development would include public open space adjoining Whetstone Brook and sustainable drainage attenuation ponds to its north and south, thus retaining open form and character over a large section of this land.

21. East Midlands Regional Plan (March 2009) • Policy 1 – Regional Core Objectives • Policy 2 – Promoting Better Design • Policy 3 – Distribution of New Development • Policy 12 – Development in the Three Cities Sub-Area • Policy 13a – Regional Housing Provision • Policy 35 – A Regional Approach to Managing Flood Risk • Policy 43 – Regional Transport Objectives • Policy Three Cities SRS 3 – Housing Provision Blaby District Local Plan (1999) • Policy R4: Affordable Housing • Policy R13: Playspace for Children • Policy R14: Open Space Provision for Formal Recreation • Policy T6: Parking and Servicing • Policy C10: Open Areas of Importance to the Form and Character of the Built Environment • Policy L2: Protection of Recreation Land and Buildings • Policy CE22: Landscaping • Policy CE25: Crime Prevention • Policy M3: Contaminated Land • Policy CF5: Floodplain Protection • Policy IM1: Planning Obligations

23. PLANNING FINANCE CUSTOMER CES HUMAN RESOURCES ADMIN ATION

24. Implement the following recommendations: • Transparency in Communication, between Planning Departments and Finance Depts • Information on Section 106 should be reported

25. “Sustain the New Approach”