Introduction
Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council (BDBC) supports community planning in both urban and rural communities.
BDBC sees community plans as being key documents that influence the policies, strategies and work programmes of the council.
The council is working with both rural (parished) and urban communities to develop community plans. The following pages tell you more about the process and how to get involved.
Community Plans and the Localism Bill
Nationally, community or parish plans have a proven track record of empowering communities and influencing policy within local authorities, since communities first began to develop plans in the late 1970s.
The Localism Bill proposes new powers for communities to influence planning decisions in their area. Neighbourhood plans will be vehicles for communities to be able to propose land use and development,
but these must be in line with the development plan of the Local Planning Authority (i.e. the Local Plan / Local Development Framework).
The process for developing a neighbourhood plan is outlined in the Bill, but will not be finalised until such time as the Bill becomes an Act of Parliament. Local authorities will be expected to provide support and advice to communities preparing neighbourhood plans, which can be developed by Parish or Town Councils or Neighbourhood Forums in non-parish areas.
Until such time as the procedure for developing a neighbourhood plan is clearer, communities would be well advised to continue to develop the broader based parish or community plan. Much of the information gathered in this process will mean that communities are well placed to develop their neighbourhood plan.
How can community plans benefit a community?
- they can bring the community together and engender community spirit
- they can provide clear evidence of community aspirations and priorities
- they provide a plan for the future which the council can support
- they can open up funding streams for projects – many grants are only available if evidenced by a community plan
- they encourage partnership working by highlighting projects that need help from external agencies as well as local people
- they influence and inform the Council Plan, Sustainable Community Strategy and Local Development Framework
For further information
Advice and support is available from the Community Development and Learning Team of the Borough Council. Please contact the Community Planning Officer, by email, community.development@basingstoke.gov.uk or by direct line, 01256 845485.
