Consult the public, say the Government – or 'Have your shout', to quote the peculiar vulgar phrase used by our District Council. The rules of engagement for the consulting exercise are set out in the Statement of Community Involvement – the SCI. The SCI devised by South Bucks District Council has been granted the imprimatur of the Planning Inspectorate against strong representations for changes and additions. The rules are now set in concrete. We shall have to shout much, much louder if our future concerns are to be heeded to even a miniscule degree.
Before endorsing the District Council SCI, the Inspector appointed by the Planning Inspectorate 'listened' to a three-hour presentation by the Taplow team headed by Mary Trevallion, Chairman of our Parish Council, and comprising Professor Bernard Trevallion, Richard Dawson and Karl Lawrence. The main thrust of the Taplow concerns was the minor role assigned to democratically elected parish councils in policy and planning decisions in contrast to the major role played by nominated non-elected organisations, quangos – most especially the Local Strategic Partnership – and individuals. This was manifest in the dismissal of our Parish Plan as an offering of 'evidence' with no special significance. In addition, the presentation covered many points of procedural detail, the provision of information, time schedules and the language of the Statement.
After several weeks 'consideration', the Inspector accepted just one of the points made by the Taplow team. He told the District Council to remove the phrase 'to reduce consultation fatigue'.
Karl Lawrence
