At the heart of the preparation of the new LDP is the Council’s wish to inform, engage, collaborate, involve, and consult with a wide range of organisations, stakeholders, and people who live, work, invest and visit Angus. We want people to have a greater say in how Angus moves forward and how to address future development and investment, whilst ensuring that we address the twin climate and nature crisis.
This PS sets out how we will inform, engage, collaborate, involve and consult, and the methods of engagement we may use. This PS was subject to a four week period of consultation and there has been influenced by engagement and consultation with a wide range of organisations, stakeholders and people.
Also, as a result of the feedback from the engagement and consultation on the Draft DPS and PS, the Council will prepare an engagement and consultation strategy, which provides detailed information and timescales related to our intended methods and outcomes from the new LDP. This strategy will go into greater detail on the statutory requirements of engagement with certain groups and will include a detailed timetable of how and when we will engage with different groups, organisations, stakeholders, and members of the public to gather their views and take them on board throughout the development and publication of the new LDP.
When finalised, the engagement and consultation strategy will be publicised and available to view on the Council’s website. It will also be updated on an annual basis through the DPS and PS.
Principles
As the new LDP is required by NPF 4 to be both place-based and people-centred, we will, in accordance with the National Standards for Community Engagement (VOICE), follow the guiding principles for good engagement, and the Scottish Government’s draft Effective Community Engagement in Local Development Plan guidance, adhering to the following principles:
- Sustainable – socially, economically and environmentally.
- Democratic – with improved local governance.
- Deliberative – empowering local communities through co-learning and transparent knowledge sharing.
- Collaborative – demonstrating the place principle by working across specialisms with a joined-up approach.
- Place-based – within relatable and manageable Neighbourhoods and connected rural communities.
- Evidence-led – both qualitative and qualitative; and
- Inclusive – reaching out to often unheard groups of people in our society.
Tailored place-based and detailed methodologies will therefore be developed together with stakeholders and the general public as we move through this process and in accordance with the above.
Who Will We Engage With?
We are required by the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 (as amended), to engage and consult with specific groups, alongside internal Council services, external organisations and stakeholders, and the general public. These specific groups include:
- Children and Young People
- Gypsies and Travellers
- Disabled Persons
- Key Agencies:
- Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)
- Scottish Water
- Historic Environment Scotland
- Nature Scot
- NHS Tayside
- Scottish Natural Heritage
- Transport Scotland
- Scottish Enterprise
- Scottish Forestry
- Marine Scotland
- Architecture and Design Scotland
- COSLA
- British Geological Survey
- SportScotland
- Visit Scotland
- Improvement Service
- Planning Aid Scotland (PAS)
How May We Engage?
Throughout our processes of engagement with communities, stakeholders, and any other groups, we will carry out a number of different engagement methods, both online and in person. We have developed a series of potential engagement methods, which are listed below. Some methods may include internal/key agency communications and correspondence through email; however, some other methods may include:
Workshops and Interactive Events – we hope to carry out different workshops and interactive collaborative events which will be tailored to the targeted group, whether this is children, young people, gypsies and travellers, internal services or any others, the public to gain views and suggestions for the new plan.
Engagement HQ – the Council’s online consultation platform, which can feature several different engagement formats from surveys and forums to mapping features. These will be developed for different stages of the plan for different audiences.
LDP Page on the Council website, Social Media, Newsletters, Posters, Leaflets etc. – we aim to keep people updated with further events, information, and our progress towards the proposed plan through these methods. Social media platforms could include Twitter, TikTok, Facebook etc.
The engagement and consultation on this DPS and PS has influenced how communities and stakeholders want to be engaged for the new LDP. As noted above, this has also helped to influence and shape our more detailed engagement and consultation strategy which will be published when it has been approved and updated annually in line with the DPS and PS.
When Will We Engage?
The following timetable (next page) indicates proposed timings, methods, and audiences for each stage of engagement. Once approved and published, the engagement and consultation strategy will detail these methodologies in more depth depending on the group(s) being engaged with.
Timescale: Development Plan Scheme Q3 2023
Stage of plan preparation process and purpose: Consultation on DPS and Participation Statement. Provides opportunity for people to express how they wish to engage with Local Authorities in response to the Participation Statement.
Who:
- Public at large
- Children & Young People
- Gypsies & Traveller Communities
- Differently Abled People
- Community Councils
- Stakeholders
- Key Agencies
Methods we may use:
- Engagement HQ
- Social Media
- LDP Pages on Council Website
- Leaflets & Newsletter (physical &/or digital)
- Word of Mouth
- Letter included with planning correspondence
Aim: Inform, engage
Timescale: Local Place Plans, Q3 2023 – Q2 2025
Stage of plan preparation process and purpose: Invitation to create Local Place Plans
Encourages local communities to prepare a Local Place Plan, and advises what assistance we can offer, signposting to resources, and things to keep in mind
Who:
- Local Communities
- Community Councils
- Elected Members
Methods we may use:
- Email and Letters
- LDP Pages on Council Website
- Workshops
Aim: Inform
Timescale: Evidence Report, Q1 2023 – Q2 2025
Stage of plan preparation process and purpose: Evidence Gathering (Q2 2023 – Q3 2024). Provides opportunities for people to communicate their thoughts and opinions on all relevant topics in relation to the production of an Evidence Report.
Who:
- Public at large
- Children and Young People
- Gypsies and Traveller Communities
- Differently Abled People
- Older People
- Key Agencies
- Infrastructure Providers
- Other data providers
- Council Services
- Elected Members
- Community Councils
- Other community groups and partnerships
Methods we may use:
- Workshops and Interactive Events (in person & online) tailored to each group*
- Engagement HQ
- Email requests for data (Key Agencies, stakeholders, and data providers)
- Collaborative approaches to data collection (Key Agencies, stakeholders, and data providers)
Aim: Engage, collaborate
* As many of these groups have protected characteristics and differing needs, each engagement event or programme will be prepared with this in mind and tailor to the needs and abilities of the group(s) involved. Much of this will be covered in the LDP2 EQIA.
Timescale: Evidence Report, Q1 2023 – Q2 2025
Stage of plan preparation process and purpose: Consultation on Draft Evidence Report (Q2 2024). Provides opportunity for people to express their views on the draft Evidence Report and to agree or dispute the information stated in the report. This is a non-statutory requirement
Who:
As above and
- Scottish Ministers
- Adjoining Planning Authorities
- Community Councils
- Stakeholders
Methods we may use:
- LDP Pages on Council Website
- Social Media
- Engagement HQ
- Physical copies in Libraries and other Council Facilities
- Letter included with planning correspondence
- Leaflets & Newsletter (physical &/or digital)
- Workshops (online and in person)
Aim: engage, consult
Timescale: Evidence Report, Q1 2023 – Q2 2025
Stage of plan preparation process and purpose: Publication of Evidence Report (Q4 2024/25 – Q2 2025). Published online to allow for public access
Who: There is no specific engagement or consultation stage
Methods we may use: LDP Pages on Council Website
Aim: inform
Timescale: Proposed Plan, Q2 2025 – Q3 2029
Stage of plan preparation process and purpose: Preparation of Proposed Plan (Q2 2025 – Q3 2027). Allows for all stakeholders, the general public and community groups to engage in the preparation of the proposed plan through a variety of methods.
Who:
- Children and Young People
- Key Agencies
- Scottish Ministers
- Community Councils
- Stakeholders
- Developers
- Any other relevant groups
Methods we may use:
- Workshops and Interactive Events (in person & online) tailored to each group*
- Engagement HQ
- Email invites
- Call for views
Aim: engage, collaborate
Timescale: Proposed Plan, Q2 2025 – Q3 2029
Stage of plan preparation process and purpose: Consultation on Proposed Plan (Q4 2027/28 – Q1 2028). Provides opportunity to provide comments and representations or ask questions about the Proposed Plan.
Neighbour Notification.
Who:
- Public at large
- Key Agencies
- Scottish Ministers
- Adjoining Planning Authorities
- Community Councils
- Stakeholders
- Any other relevant groups
Methods we may use:
- Advertisement
- Engagement HQ
- Physical Copies
- Neighbour Notification
- Social Media
- Interactive Events & Information Meetings (online & in person)
Aim: Consult
Timescale: Proposed Plan, Q2 2025 – Q3 2029
Stage of plan preparation process and purpose: Examination (Q3 2028 – Q2 2029). Advertise the examination of the Proposed Plan.
Who:
- Members of the Public
- Objectors
Methods we may use:
- Advertisement in local newspaper and libraries
- Notify those who made representations during consultation
Aim: Inform
Timescale: Proposed Plan, Q2 2025 – Q3 2029
Stage of plan preparation process and purpose: Adoption of Proposed Plan (Q3 2029). Publicise the adoption of the Proposed Plan.
Who:
- Members of the Public
- Scottish Members
- People who commented on Proposed Plan
Methods we may use:
- Submit to Scottish Ministers
- Publicise online and in local newspaper
- Notify those who commented on the plan
Aim: Inform
Timescale: Delivery Programme, Q3 2029 – Q4 2029/30
Stage of plan preparation process and purpose: Preparation of Delivery Programme (Q3 2029 – Q4 2029/30). Seek the views of and engage with relevant bodies to aid in preparation and content of the Delivery Programme.
Who:
- Key Agencies
- Scottish Government
Methods we may use:
- Email invites
- Workshop sessions (Online and in-person)
Aim: engage, collaborate
Timescale: Delivery Programme, Q3 2029 – Q4 2029/30
Stage of plan preparation process and purpose: Publication of Delivery Programme (Q4 2029/30). Published online to allow for public access.
Who:
- Scottish Ministers
- Members of the Public
Methods we may use:
- LDP Pages on Council Website
- Physical Copies in Libraries
Aim: inform