Agenda

Delegated planning decisions for the week beginning 22 June 2020 are attached.  Contact for enquiries: Jean McPherson, Group Manager: Development Management on jean.mcpherson@crawley.gov.uk.

A Temporary Traffic Regulation Order for Green Walk, Northgate is attached.

A key legal requirement of the Local Plan Review is that it must be prepared in accordance with an up-to-date adopted Statement of Community Involvement (SCI). The current SCI was adopted by Head of Service Significant Officer Decision on 29 October 2019. It is published to the website and can be viewed from this link:
https://crawley.gov.uk/planning/planning-policy/engagement-and-monitoring/statement-community-involvement.

 
However, this document required some factual update and minor amendments in order to address the conflicts of the expectations for public consultation during the current restrictions in place due to COVID-19. In particular, in relation to events being held and the publication and deposit of documents in the Council offices and other appropriate public buildings (historically considered to be Crawley Library). The amendments to the SCI follow current government advice (Statements of Community Involvement).

It should be noted that the current minimum requirements for public consultation in plan-making are established through the Planning Regulations (Town and Country (Local Development) (England) Regulations 2012: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/767/contents/made.

Until and unless these were amended it would continue to be necessary for the Council to make documents publicly available to inspect by members of the public at the Council offices and other appropriate places.

In light of this, on 30 June 2020 the Head of Economy and Planning, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development, exercised delegated authority to adopt a factual update to the Statement of Community Involvement to confirm that the Council will, at least, meet the requirements of the Regulations, including as they may be amended or revised (either temporarily or permanently).  This approach offers the greatest flexibility and ensures the Council will continue to progress the Plan meeting its legal requirements, reducing the risk of legal challenge.

The following businesses are already open in Tilgate Park:

·       Tilgate Water Sports – already open

·       Smith & Western – currently open as a takeaway, intend to reopen as a restaurant from 4th July

·       Mr Whippy Ice Cream – already open

·       Glendale Golf – already open

·       Go Ape – already open via soft reopening

The following businesses are yet to reopen in Tilgate Park:

·       Walled Garden Café & Ice Cream Parlour – 4th July

·       Craft huts – from 4th July, business category dependent

·       Recreational huts – 4th July, business category dependent

·       Nature Centre – Provisional date 13th July

Press releases are available at www.crawley.gov.uk/news