Issue details

South Cambridgeshire District Council adopted the Greater Cambridge Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) on 1 July 2019, jointly with Cambridge City Council.

The SCI for planning sets out how and when we will involve the community and key stakeholders in preparing, altering and reviewing our plans and guidance to guide future development. It also explains how we will involve the community in planning applications.

The Councils are committed to keeping essential services running during the Coronavirus outbreak.  Planning has an important role to play in supporting our economy and our communities. It is important that we find a way to keep the planning process moving forward. There are a number of ways in which the Councils are having to adapt the approach to planning applications and plan making while movement restrictions are in place.

It is therefore proposed to add an Addendum to the SCI, to set out which elements are impacted by current restrictions, and how the Councils will continue to enable full involvement of people in planning matters. Updating the SCI reflects advice from the Planning Advisory Service. Each of the changes proposed is explained in the Addendum, included as Appendix 1 to this decision.

When the SCI was adopted it was subject to Equalities Impact Assessment (EQIA). An update of this assessment has been undertaken (appendix 2 to this decision) to consider the impacts of the Addendum. No changes to the impact of the policy were identified each of the protected characteristics identified.

A decision is needed through the out of cycle decision process in order that the SCI amendment can be published, to provide greater clarity on the planning process during the Coronavirus outbreak.