Decision details

It is a legal requirement for the council to both have an SCI (2004 Act) and to update it at least once every five years (2004 Act and 2017 Regulations). Further details on these legal requirements are set out in the report. It is also good practice to regularly monitor and keep up to date an SCI, to ensure it remains effective.  

Cabinet considered the report and RESOLVED to approve the updated Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) for formal adoption. 

PCC are required, by regulations, to review their SCI every 5 years. With the current SCI around 3.5 years old, and a few elements of it in need of updating, it is timely to adopt a refreshed SCI. 

Adoption of the SCI will ensure PCC continues to satisfy the regulations regarding SCIs, and continue to offer a sustainable planning consultation and support services to all our customers. 

The alternative option considered was to not review the SCI at this time, and instead wait until late 2022 / early 2023 to commence the review, yet remain within the 5 year timeframe required by the 2004 Act. 

This option was discounted for a number of reasons: 

·         At present, PCC is not preparing a Local Plan for Peterborough, therefore the team had some limited capacity to commence the SCI review at this time. 

·         There is opportunity to make some limited cost savings, which is important considering the council’s current financial situation.  

·         There is opportunity to make some carbon savings, which is important given the council’s climate emergency declaration.  

·         Some minor elements of the SCI are currently unable to be implemented (eg fax service) so valuable to remove such commitments as soon as possible. 

No other alternative options were considered.  

None.

No background documents.