Calstock Parish Neighbourhood Plan

Communications and Engagement Plan

Version Control

May 2014 / Draft Template for Communications and Engagement activity / Calstock CC / Neighbourhood Plan Board 21/5/14
July 2014 / Re drafting / Calstock CC / Neighbourhood Plan Board 5/8/14

Calstock Parish Neighbourhood Plan

  1. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

A Neighbourhood Plan (the Plan) is a community led framework for guiding the future development, regeneration and conservation of an area. It may deal with a wide range of social, economic and environmental issues or it may focus on one or two issues only. It is important that the Plan reflects the issues that are important to people living in the Parish. The Plan must support and be in line with the National Planning Policy Framework and the Local Development Plan. Once a Neighbourhood Plan is approved local authorities or planning inspectors will have to make decisions on the basis of the Neighbourhood Plan and any other material considerations when considering planning applications or appeals, effectively giving the local community more influence and control over the development of the area.

Calstock Parish Council has successfully applied to create a community led Neighbourhood Plan. An inaugural meeting was held by the Parish Council in April 2014 with the aim of forming a Neighbourhood Plan Board (the Board) to lead the steps necessary to implement thePlan. At that meeting an initial group of local organisations, councillors and individuals came forward to commence the work but the Neighbourhood Plan is a Community document and it is acknowledged that the membership of the Board will flex dependent on need. The Board will operate as a sub-committee of the Parish Council.

The Board agreed a set of Aims and Objectives for their work and the Plan itself, which would be supplemented and refined through the Communication and Engagement Plan with identified stakeholders and the wider public.

The vision of the Board is to;

Create a Neighbourhood Plan that encourages sustainable developments within the Parish, ensuring that they conserve and enhance the historical and cultural character and maintain the social well-being of its residents

The aims of the Board is to;

  • include within the Plan steps to deliver the Board’s vision
  • ensure that open spaces remain between the establishes settlements of the Parish
  • consider the impact of development on infrastructure such as transport
  • consider the needs of businesses as well as residential development

With regard to new developments;

  • identify land within the Parish that is available for development and the criteria for its development
  • review new developments with regard to the vision and aims of the Board

The Board has identified three phases which it believes necessary to deliver the Plan and successfully pass the local authority independent examination. The completed Neighbourhood Plan will need to demonstrate that it meets basic conditions, including general conformity with existing strategic local and national planning policy as well as having followed proper legal process. The Plan will also be subject to a local referendum before becoming part of the statutory development plan for the area.

Communications and Engagement Phases

Phase 1 March 2014 – December 2014Establish the Board : Establish the Plan scope : Establish what is not in scope

Phase 2January 2015 – September 2015Explore response to scope : Create the Plan : Commence agreement process

Phase 3October 2015 – March 2016Complete agreement process and hold referendum

  1. STAKEHOLDERS

A prime focus will be successful communications with key stakeholders, including the differentiated views of Children and Young People, Families and Older People; sports and recreational groups, business and statutory bodies. If these people feel they have been well informed and had input, they will be ambassadors for any proposals which are put forward.

Stakeholders were identified in phase one and the list is a live document and can be added to or amended. The stakeholders are grouped into:

Parishioners

Statutory Authorities

Voluntary Groups

Wider Interest

  1. COMMUNICATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT AIMS – By Phase

This communication and engagement plan aims to deliver the following communications and opportunities to engagewith the Boardand produce the following products;

Phase One – Establish the Board: Establish the Plan scope : Establish what is not in scope

Aims:

  • Ensurestakeholders can access information about the Board, its creation and purpose.
  • Ensure stakeholders can access information about the desire for a Neighbourhood Plan and how they can be involved in the process.
  • Establish through communication and engagement with stakeholders the scope of the plan and what is not in scope

Products:

  • Representative and operational Board
  • Mandate to deliver a Neighbourhood Plan in place
  • Document describing the scope of the Plan and what is not in scope

Phase Two– Explore response to scope : Create the Plan : Commence agreement process

Phase Three– Complete agreement process and hold referendum

  1. COMMUNICATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT METHODS

Various methods will be utilised to deliver effective communications and engagement and where necessary consultation in each phase of the Plan. This is not a definitive list of approaches and will be developed in response to the needs of the Plan but include;

  • Information via the Parish Council and Neighbourhood Plan websites
  • Attendance at local events such as festivals, fetes and public events
  • Face to face workshops by Parish ward or village
  • Reference groups based around the Parish Ward structure
  • The use of media releases
  • Static displays e.g. Tamar Valley Visitor Centre
  • Schools project
  • Social Media outlets and stakeholder group’s own websites
  • Stakeholder distribution and email lists
  • Presentations or talks at stakeholder events or groups
  • The use of online and hard copy surveys
  • The use of partner organisation newsletters and bulletins
  • Access to a specific email address for the Board
  • Frequently Asked Questions document
  1. BUDGET AND COSTS

The following costs associated with this Communications and Engagement Plan has been identified:

  • Venue hire and associated equipment e.g. microphones
  • Newsletters/leaflets
  • Advertising of events
  • Translation services

The cost will be funded through the sub-committee arrangements with Calstock Parish Council who has identified a budget for the delivery of the Plan. Further opportunities through partner organisation cost sharing will be examined.

  1. OUTLINE TIMETABLE

Ref / Stage / Due
1 / Phase One
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
1.6
1.7
1.8
2 / Phase Two
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
2.6
2.7
  1. Stakeholder List

The stakeholder list is a live document and will be added too as other groups are identified and become involved

Parishioner Groups / Statutory Authorities
Wider Interest Groups / Voluntary Groups
  1. Table of Face to Face Events as at Current Date

14 June 2014Albaston Fete

19 July 2014Harrowbarrow and Metherell Show

26 July 2014Latchley and Cox Park Show

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