Issues and Options Document
(46) 2 Tell Us Your Views
(8) How can I have my say?
2.1 Community participation in plan-making – both local residents and businesses – is central to the creation of a shared vision to deliver prosperous, sustainable communities. We are now asking you to tell us what you think about the issues and options that have been identified for the future of your district.
2.2 We are inviting comments on the Issues and Options Document, and its accompanying Draft Sustainability Appraisal, from Wednesday 13 December 2017 until 5pm on Wednesday 7 March 2018. Comments can be made in any of the following ways, however late comments may not be accepted:
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Online – using the Council's online public consultation system for planning policy available at www.rochford.gov.uk/iao. This is a simple process requiring a valid email address. If you are already registered on the Planning Policy mailing list, you do not need to re-register.
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Email – issuesandoptions@rochford.gov.uk
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Post – Planning Policy, Rochford District Council, Council Offices, South Street, Rochford, Essex. SS4 1BW.
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Fax – 01702 318181
2.3 We will listen to the feedback we receive during this consultation and this will help us shape the next stages of preparing the new Local Plan. We will continue to do this at each stage of its preparation. If you are interested in what we have done previously, more information can be found on our website[11].
(4) How are you engaging with residents and businesses?
2.4 We have prepared a local Statement of Community Involvement which details how we plan to widely and proactively engage with local communities and businesses on local planning matters. Our Statement of Community Involvement 2016 sets out the techniques we will use to consult and engage on our planning policy documents[12]. This is in compliance with the legal requirements set out in the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012. We have also prepared a Consultation Summary Paper which sets out how we have met the requirements of the 2012 Regulations and our Statement of Community Involvement 2016.
(1) What are the next steps?
2.5 After this consultation on the Issues and Options Document we will review and respond to the comments that have been received. We will then continue developing the evidence base to support our plan-making and, taking the comments received into account, will be working towards the preparation of a draft new Local Plan that sets out our preferred options for the future of the district. It is anticipated that this plan will be published for consultation in 2018. The new Local Plan will go through a number of stages and there will be opportunities for you to get involved at each point. The diagram below sets out the broad timetable that we are looking to follow to prepare the new Local Plan as of October 2017.