LGA Planning Conference 26 January 2006 DELIVERING LDFs : A CROSS- SECTORAL PERSPECTIVE Kay S. Powell Secretary, National Planning Forum National Planning Forum – inspiring planning

Delivering LDFs : a cross-sectoral perspective The National Planning Forum (NPF): is the largest cross-sectoral forum focussing on planning in England was re-launched in 2003 to help delivery of the new planning reforms acts as a sounding board, raises awareness, promotes positive planning, fosters best practice, agrees protocols, facilitates networking and conflict resolution, finds common ground has around 100 members, and is growing National Planning Forum – inspiring planning

Delivering LDFs : a cross-sectoral perspective LDFs are a huge opportunity, and a major challenge a large amount of policy and advice is available to inform the process and content but life is complex – there are a large numbers of issues, and numerous plans and strategies to be taken into account at national, regional, sub-regional and local levels LDFs need to make sense of all of these National Planning Forum – inspiring planning

Delivering LDFs : a cross-sectoral perspective A major NPF focus is on DELIVERY, and COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SCIs and results of community engagement contribute to the assessment of soundness National Planning Forum – inspiring planning

Delivering LDFs : a cross-sectoral perspective There’s some way to go - a survey by Heritage Link of voluntary sector experience [November 2005] showed that - confidence in the consultation process is variable and - effective participation is limited by capacity, communication, language, timescales [although RSS, highways and Conservation Area consultation rather than Development Plans cited as the least satisfactory ] National Planning Forum – inspiring planning

Delivering LDFs : a cross-sectoral perspective Early results from the POS Learning and dissemination project illustrate best practice As the project progresses there will also be more valuable information emerging from ODPM’s evaluation study So, what are the key pointers for community engagement to date? National Planning Forum – inspiring planning

Delivering LDFs : a cross-sectoral perspective Key pointers: - link to work elsewhere in the local authority, work with the LSP, seek powerful champions - engage key organisations early on to find the ways/times they would find most convenient to input - use appropriate, proven, engagement techniques (eg focus groups, workshops), in an achievable programme National Planning Forum – inspiring planning

Delivering LDFs : a cross-sectoral perspective Key pointers (cont’d): - engage early with umbrella organisations on the overall approach, as well as later on the detail - engage people/organisations at Preferred Options, rather than Submission, stage - give regular, concise, feedback National Planning Forum – inspiring planning

Delivering LDFs : a cross-sectoral perspective Key pointers (cont’d) - paint the broad picture, work down to the detail, feeding in relevant technical information at each stage - ensure that everyone understands the requirements of national and regional bodies, and so has realistic expectations from the LDF - consult on specifics where possible, target people directly affected eg those adjoining proposed allocations National Planning Forum – inspiring planning

Delivering LDFs : a cross-sectoral perspective As part of its work this year, the NPF will focus on the community engagement aspects of LDFs Useful if the workshop sessions identify what more needs to be done, and whether the NPF might support in any way You can also input via your umbrella organisation - contact if they wish to become National Planning Forum – inspiring planning

Delivering LDFs : a cross-sectoral perspective Q&A National Planning Forum – inspiring planning