Decision details

The report seeks approval to adopt an update to Sheffield’s currently adopted Statement of Community Involvement (SCI).

To adopt the 2020 update of the Statement of Community Involvement (SCI), attached to the report.

Seeking approval of the 2020 update to the SCI ensures accessible information is available that explains how this Authority intends to consult on planning policy documents and planning applications prior to consultation on the Sheffield Plan, which begins in July 2020.  The SCI update additionally explains how we intend to consult on changes to the Brownfield Register, Neighbourhood Planning and the CIL Charging Schedule; effectively updating the document’s contents, attractiveness and usability.  Approval of the document in line with this report’s recommendations also allows us to fulfil our legal duty to update the SCI on a regular basis.

Not updating the Statement of Community Involvement was considered but was immediately rejected. This was because we have a legal duty to review the SCI every five years from the date of adoption.

Undertaking consultation on the changes to the SCI was considered, but was rejected as the changes to the document’s content are administrative in nature: they do not introduce new planning policies that affect local communities, they are procedural updates that need to be published prior to us consulting on the Sheffield Plan’s Issues and Options document this July.  Consultation now on the proposed SCI runs the risk of the proposed SCI update not being adopted and published before consultation on the Sheffield Plan.