WMPC response to 'Statement of Community Involvement'

WEST MONKTON PARISH COUNCIL

Clerk to the Council: Mrs P A Cavill
Hill Farm
West Monkton
Taunton TA2 8LP
Somerset
01823 412 663

Response of the Parish Council to the document ‘Statement of Community Involvement’ issued by the TDBC Forward Plan Unit.

In the first instance the Parish Council would like to comment on the difficulty encountered in understanding the document. The language used is complicated and the difficulties exacerbated by the proliferation of acronyms. Of itself, this makes participation in the process difficult, and could be excluding to some members of the community.

The second over-arching comment is that ways must be found to insist that developers are held to the agreed deal, particularly including all the arrangements that address community development above profit.

The responses to the specific questions follow:

1. Are there any other specific actions that you can suggest that will help the integration of the LDF with the Community Strategy?
Bring consultation to the Parish Councils (and non-parished areas in town, where appropriate) at the earliest stage possible.

2. During the early stages of LDF preparation, which options for consultation would you prefer (selected from Para 4.21 options A to C)
In the opinion of the Parish Council, the options A to C viz. (A) Inform, (B) Consult, and (C) Involve and Collaborate are not mutually exclusive of each other, but rather all three are part of an entire process. As such, all parts of the process are necessary, desirable and relevant. Parish Councils must be involved in the entire process.

3. For LDF preparation, are there any other methods of consultation that you would like us to consider?
The options for consultation listed in Para 4.21 covers all. The aim should be for the widest possible dissemination of information and response in timely manner. Should new alternatives become available they should be considered.

4. Do you have any comments on the proposed consultation techniques/principles as outlined in Tables 1 to 3?
All are relevant. Table 3 refers to ‘hopefully a web-forum if the technology is prepared in time’. The Parish Council would expect that if a web-forum was an option, then it would be ready and fully supported by the appropriate technology. The term ‘hopefully’ does not inspire confidence that a measured, well constructed process has been put in place.

5. Do you have any comments on the draft LDF consultation strategy as outlined in Table 4?
This Council would expect to be involved at every stage of the development of the Plan; to be informed of the timetable of meetings and given an opportunity to attend and speak. In the opinion of this Council it is crucial that the feelings and thoughts of people in all areas should be taken into account.

6. Do you agree with the tiered approach as a means of assessing the type of consultation activity to be undertaken?
The tier system would be acceptable as long as the tiers were clearly defined. What are the parameters defining the tiers? The Parish Council would wish to participate in defining the tiers.

7. Within Tier 3, have you any views on how we should define ‘local significance’ and ‘sensitive sites’?
Tier 3 needs the widest possible consultation and the views of individuals and local groups must be taken into account before any decisions are made. This Parish Council would feel that a site that is sensitive to development pressures may qualify as a ‘sensitive site’, not necessarily because it is a conservation area but by already having received large scale development under a previous plan. This is the case in point with Monkton Heathfield, which will double in size when the proposed and agreed 1000 houses are built. The Parish Council would strongly resist any further increase in the numbers of houses allocated to the area as by then it would potentially completely lose its identity.

8. Do you agree with the proposed methods of consultation – which do you prefer/are there any that should be added?
The Parish Council would take issue with the statement from the ODPM that ‘the following methods are worth considering’ as it considers that every item should be followed. Furthermore, this Council would point out that the bullet point ‘Parish and Town Councils’ is the only group on the consultation list that comprises elected bodies. As such, their position on the list – third from bottom – is psychologically damaging as it implies that they are very low in the pecking order. As the only democratically elected bodies they should have a higher priority.

9. Do you have any comments on the proposed strategy as outlined in Table 5?
Public meetings are very important to satisfy residents. The Parish Council are delighted that Parish Councils are involved.