Local planning authorities are legally required to prepare a Statement of Community Involvement (SCI). The SCI is an important part of the Council’s Local Development Plan and sets out how the Council will engage with the local communities through the planning process. As part of the Local Plan process the Council last updated its SCI in December 2018. National Planning Practice Guidance has recently been updated with temporary guidance on plan-making during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The guidance requires that the Council consider how its SCI needs to be updated in light of COVID-19 restrictions, such as the need for people to stay at home or socially distance. The guidance is temporary and to be kept under review. Updates

are specific to the plan-making process, such as having hard-copy documents on deposit in physical locations and consultation events in physical locations.

Mr Drane presented this report.

Following a full discussion Cllr Kerslake MOVED and Cllr Sanders SECONDED a motion to APPROVE the recommendation in the report.

Members voted as follows:

For: Cllrs Chilvers, Fryd, Haigh, Jakobsson, Kerslake, Keeble, McCheyne, Morrissey, Mynott, Miss Sanders, Tanner and Mrs Tierney (12)

AGAINST: None (0)

ABSTAIN: None (0)

Members APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY to:

Approve the revised Brentwood Borough Statement of Community Involvement enclosed in Appendix A.

Reasons for Recommendation

In accordance with temporary COVID-19 Planning Practice Guidance updates

from the Government, the Council has reviewed its SCI and identified

temporary measures to address inconsistencies between plan-making

consultation measures and national restrictions. To ensure that the SCI

continues to be legally compliant with government guidance while maintaining

active, meaningful and continued involvement with local communities and

stakeholders through the planning process, it is considered necessary to

temporarily update the document.