BRAMHAM cum OGLETHORPEPARISHCOUNCIL STATEMENT OF COMMUNITYINVOLVEMENT:NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN STEERINGGROUP
Bramham cum OglethorpeParishCouncilhaslegalauthority,established underthe Local GovernmentAct1972 andother legislation, to administer affairswithin its parish. Following theenactmentof theLocalism Act 2011theParishCouncil determinedto preparea NeighbourhoodDevelopment Plan (NDP)andto includea Statement of Community Involvement(SCI)whichis anenabling statutory document. ThisSCIispreparedspecificallywiththeNDP in mindand isnot designedto coverother aspectsof theParishCouncil’soperations
TheParishCouncilconsists of“ElectedMembers” who areguided by theClerk to the Councilon financialandlegalmatters. Whilein law theParishCouncilisresponsible for alldecisionsunlessotherwise delegated, the decisionto seek advice and commit or restrictcertainavenuesofengagementdue to circumstances,which isbelieved to be in theinterests of the community,shallbe at their discretion.
TheOBJECTIVES ANDPRINCIPLESOF THE SCI
1.Toenhance and promote aninclusivesocietyby engagingand consultingwith residents,businessesand groups priortoand whenmakingdecisions concerning the NeighbourhoodDevelopmentPlanwhichaffect the economy, environmentandsocialwell–being of theparish.
2.Toensure thatthe viewsandconcernsofresidentsaregivendueconsideration throughouttheprocess of producing a NDP andto engage and represent residentsincommunicatingwith ourMemberofParliament,Leeds City Council through electedwardmembersandofficersof thatauthority.
4.Touseeverymeansavailabletoensureallresidentsaregiventheopportunity tocommentonallissuesandtodemonstrateacommitmenttoconsultwith the community atlarge.
TheParishCouncilis partyto the adoptedTown& Parish CouncilCharter and supplementary Planning Charter. TheSCI buildson theprinciples contained in these documentsbutisNOT subservient to them.
Thirdparties areencouragedto seek to engagewiththeParishCouncilwhere matters aredeemedtobe in theinterest ofor affecting theparishofBramham cum Oglethorpe.
–TheParish CouncilcomprisesmemberselectedundertheRepresentation of the PeopleAct1983 andLocal GovernmentAct1972. TheClerk or theChairmanto the Parish Councilaretheprimarycontacts,however individualCouncillors maybe contacted directly during reasonable timesofthe day.Thiscan bedoneby appointment, emailor telephone and contactdetails arelistedon theParishCouncil website–www.thisisbramham.co.uk.
–TheParish Councilnormallyholdsmonthlymeetings,usuallyon thefirst Wednesdayofeverymonth,exceptAugust.Other extraordinarymeetingsmaytake placeandsuchmeetings areadvertisedon theparishnoticeboardsandtheParish Councilwebsite.Allmeetingscan beattendedbythepublicandonlywhen confidentialmatters are includedon the agenda isexclusion of thepress andpublic permittedunderstanding orders.
–AllParish Councilmeetings areopenedwithan open forum which allows parishionersto raisemattersofconcern although they arenotpermittedto speak during theParishCouncilMeeting.
–During thelifetimeoftheNeighbourhoodDevelopmentPlanproduction process, theNDP willbeastanding agendaitemso that thefullParish Councilmayreceive updateson progress from therepresentativesof theNDP Management Group and input to the futurestrategic direction oftheworkin hand.
–TheParish Councilprovidesup to dateinformation andminutesofmeetingson the website. www.thisisbramham.co.ukor on thenoticeboardat theSenior Citizens Centre.
–When significant issues arise, the Councilwilldistributenoticesto everyproperty and inthecaseofapublicmeeting notification of the date,timeandvenue.
–Electedmembersof theParish Councilattendmeetingsofclubs,socialandother groups, including thelocalprimaryschooland churcheswhen requestedto do so and supportgalas andother events in thecommunityso asto freely engagewith anyone seeking help oradvice.
– On suchoccasions asin thepreparation of the ConservationAreaManagement Plan, ParishPlan,VillageDesign Statementor NeighbourhoodDevelopmentPlan, publicmeetingsandworkshopswillbe held.Information maybedisplayedin the mobilelibrary,shop,doctors’ surgeries, villagehallandanyplacewheremeetings maybeheld inaddition tonoticeboards,website andlocaldistribution to ensure thatallresidents are informedofanyproposals.TheParishCouncilwillensure participation of the community during andprior to their adoption.
In the developmentoftheseplansvolunteerswho mayform asteering or working group should have considerable inputas it isvery important that theviews andideas of thoseliving andworking in theparish arereflectedin thefinalappraisaland documentation.
OPERATION OFTHENDPMANAGEMENTGROUP
–TheManagement Group establishedto drive forwardtheNDP haveproduced TermsofReferencewhichhavebeen approvedbytheParishCouncil. The Management Group willmeet inpublicon a monthly basisthrough theproduction processof theNDP with allmeetingsadvertisedon website andnoticeboards and opento thepublicto attend. Thepublicwillbe allowedto contributeto meetings in an open sessionat theendofeachmeeting.
–Membersof theManagement Group willbeguidedbythe agreedTermsof Reference andwillproduce andupdateonaregular basisa RegisterofMembers Interest, maintainedbytheManagement Group’s secretariat& availableto thepublic on request.
–Throughout theprocessofproducing theNDP, everyeffortwillbemade to ensure thatconsultation, communication and engagementwithparishioners andother interestedpartiesis asopen and accessibleasispracticable.Inparticular:
partyto have their sayover issuesofconcern to them withregardto theNDP
andthesustainablefutureof theparish.
–Allinformation producedbytheGroup, including minutes andsurveys,willbe written in plain English andproofedfor ‘readability’ so asto beasaccessible as ispracticable.
–Wherever requestedto do so, theGroup willproduce information to respondto theparticular needsofparishioners;for example,translated, largeprint, braille.
Theworkof theGroupin thisregardwillbeguidedbya Communicationssub group whichwillact to ensurethatallefforts in relation to communication, consultation and engagement follow best practice, aremonitoredandreviewedto ensurethe processissuccessfulin its ambitionsto beasinclusive andopenaspossible.
FUTUREREVIEWS OFTHESCI
TheSCI isnow aformaldocumentadoptedbytheParishCouncilandwillbe reviewedperiodicallythroughouttheperiodofproducing theNDP. Itis anticipated thatareview of the documentshouldoccur at the endof thisprocesswithaview to producing agenericSCI to guide all future activityof theParish Councilin relation to communication,consultation and engagementwithparishioners.
COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE
To follow theParishCouncil’s complaintsprocedure contactin the first instance
BRAMHAM cum OGLETHORPE PARISH COUNCIL STATEMENT OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN STEERING GROUP
Bramham cum Oglethorpe Parish Council has legal authority, established under the Local Government Act 1972 and other legislation, to administer affairs within its parish. Following the enactment of the Localism Act 2011 the Parish Council determined to prepare a Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) and to include a Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) which is an enabling statutory document. This SCI is prepared specifically with the NDP in mind and is not designed to cover other aspects of the Parish Council’s operations
The Parish Council consists of “Elected Members” who are guided by the Clerk to the Council on financial and legal matters. While in law the Parish Council is responsible for all decisions unless otherwise delegated, the decision to seek advice and commit or restrict certain avenues of engagement due to circumstances, which is believed to be in the interests of the community, shall be at their discretion.
The OBJECTIVES AND PRINCIPLES OF THE SCI
1. To enhance and promote an inclusive society by engaging and consulting with residents, businesses and groups prior to and when making decisions concerning the Neighbourhood Development Plan which affect the economy, environment and social well–being of the parish.
2. To ensure that the views and concerns of residents are given due consideration throughout the process of producing a NDP and to engage and represent residents in communicating with our Member of Parliament, Leeds City Council through elected ward members and officers of that authority.
3. To engage with all other stakeholders including statutory and other service providers with a view to encouraging investment and to ensure best practice is afforded to those living and working in the parish.
4. To use every means available to ensure all residents are given the opportunity to comment on all issues and to demonstrate a commitment to consult with the community at large.
The Parish Council is party to the adopted Town & Parish Council Charter and supplementary Planning Charter. The SCI builds on the principles contained in these documents but is NOT subservient to them.
Third parties are encouraged to seek to engage with the Parish Council where matters are deemed to be in the interest of or affecting the parish of Bramham cum Oglethorpe.
PARISH COUNCIL ENGAGEMENT WITH PARISHIONERS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS
– The Parish Council comprises members elected under the Representation of the People Act 1983 and Local Government Act 1972. The Clerk or the Chairman to the Parish Council are the primary contacts, however individual Councillors may be contacted directly during reasonable times of the day. This can be done by appointment, email or telephone and contact details are listed on the Parish Council web site –www.thisisbramham.co.uk.
– The Parish Council normally holds monthly meetings, usually on the first Wednesday of every month, except August. Other extraordinary meetings may take place and such meetings are advertised on the parish notice boards and the Parish Council website. All meetings can be attended by the public and only when confidential matters are included on the agenda is exclusion of the press and public permitted under standing orders.
– All Parish Council meetings are opened with an open forum which allows parishioners to raise matters of concern although they are not permitted to speak during the Parish Council Meeting.
– During the lifetime of the Neighbourhood Development Plan production process, the NDP will be a standing agenda item so that the full Parish Council may receive updates on progress from the representatives of the NDP Management Group and input to the future strategic direction of the work in hand.
– The Parish Council provides up to date information and minutes of meetings on the website. www.thisisbramham.co.uk or on the notice board at the Senior Citizens Centre.
– The Council publishes an update in the Bramham Parish News on a periodic basis which is distributed to every property in the parish.
– When significant issues arise, the Council will distribute notices to every property and in the case of a public meeting notification of the date, time and venue.
– Elected members of the Parish Council attend meetings of clubs, social and other groups, including the local primary school and churches when requested to do so and support galas and other events in the community so as to freely engage with anyone seeking help or advice.
– On such occasions as in the preparation of the Conservation Area Management Plan, Parish Plan, Village Design Statement or Neighbourhood Development Plan, public meetings and workshops will be held. Information may be displayed in the mobile library, shop, doctors’ surgeries, village hall and any place where meetings may be held in addition to notice boards, web site and local distribution to ensure that all residents are informed of any proposals. The Parish Council will ensure participation of the community during and prior to their adoption.
In the development of these plans volunteers who may form a steering or working group should have considerable input as it is very important that the views and ideas of those living and working in the parish are reflected in the final appraisal and documentation.
OPERATION OF THE NDP MANAGEMENT GROUP
– The Management Group established to drive forward the NDP have produced Terms of Reference which have been approved by the Parish Council. The Management Group will meet in public on a monthly basis through the production process of the NDP with all meetings advertised on website and noticeboards and open to the public to attend. The public will be allowed to contribute to meetings in an open session at the end of each meeting.
– Minutes, agendas and background papers will be published on the Parish Council website.
– Members of the Management Group will be guided by the agreed Terms of Reference and will produce and update on a regular basis a Register of Members Interest, maintained by the Management Group’s secretariat & available to the public on request.
– Throughout the process of producing the NDP, every effort will be made to ensure that consultation, communication and engagement with parishioners and other interested parties is as open and accessible as is practicable. In particular:
– Newsletters produced will be distributed to every property in the parish.
– Questionnaires and surveys will be developed which enable every interested
party to have their say over issues of concern to them with regard to the NDP
and the sustainable future of the parish.
– All information produced by the Group, including minutes and surveys, will be written in plain English and proofed for ‘readability’ so as to be as accessible as is practicable.
– Wherever requested to do so, the Group will produce information to respond to the particular needs of parishioners; for example, translated, large print, braille.
The work of the Group in this regard will be guided by a Communications sub group which will act to ensure that all efforts in relation to communication, consultation and engagement follow best practice, are monitored and reviewed to ensure the process is successful in its ambitions to be as inclusive and open as possible.
FUTURE REVIEWS OF THE SCI
The SCI is now a formal document adopted by the Parish Council and will be reviewed periodically throughout the period of producing the NDP. It is anticipated that a review of the document should occur at the end of this process with a view to producing a generic SCI to guide all future activity of the Parish Council in relation to communication, consultation and engagement with parishioners.
COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE
To follow the Parish Council’s complaints procedure contact in the first instance
should be made with the Clerk to the Council.