LONDON THAMES GATEWAY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
STATEMENT OF POLICY ON CONSULTATION
Introductory Remarks
1.1.London Thames Gateway Development Corporation ("LTGDC") is fully committed to working with all stakeholders within its operating area regarding the sustainable regeneration of London Thames Gateway, including residents, businesses, community and voluntary organisations.
1.2. One way LTGDC can engage with stakeholders is to consult on many aspects of its work, to ensure the fullest range of views and ideas are considered, and that as broad a consensus as possible is reached on the major interventions that are needed to ensure that the Lower Lea Valley and London Riverside are great places to live and work. Effective consultation may help develop greater cohesion in communities by offering opportunities for direct engagement in the consultation process.
1.3. Consultation by LTGDC will take several forms, depending on the area involved, whether it be to do with strategy, town planning, or projects.
Consultation on Strategy
2.1. LTGDC undertakes to communicate and consult with key stakeholders on its various regeneration and business strategies to ensure as much compatibility as possible with other agencies and organisations operating in complementary fields.
The form and timing of each consultation will vary but will be communicated to the host borough by LTGDC.
2.2. A prime relationship is with the London Boroughs within whose area the LTGDC operates.
2.3. This will be achieved in a variety of ways.
2.4. Firstly, senior nominees from each London borough are appointed to the board of LTGDC and share responsibility for the appropriate governance of the organisation.
2.5. They are involved with all strategic issues considered and developed by LTGDC and as well as acting as Board Members with a shared corporate responsibility for Board decisions they act as a point of liaison with their boroughs, on Board and other matters.
2.6. Secondly, the Chief Executive meets with the Chief Executive/senior officers of each London borough as well as senior representatives of the GLA & LDA on a regular and "ad hoc" basis to review matters of common interest.
2.7. Thirdly, the Chief Executive will, from time to time, seek the views and opinions of its host boroughs to identify significant interest groups who have particular relevance to a policy issue.
2.8. Fourthly, representatives of LTGDC will attend meetings arranged by the boroughs to discuss issues deemed to be relevant by the local authority and LTGDC, where necessary, including Local Strategic Partnerships.
2.9. On specific regeneration strategies such as the Lower Lea Valley Regeneration Strategy, LTGDC will use a range of the following methods to ensure appropriate stakeholder and public involvement in the development of the strategies:
- Inclusion of boroughs and others as deemed relevant by LTGDC (for example, landowners) in strategy steering groups and sounding boards at the commencement of and during the development of strategies
- Formal consultation by letter with appropriate time periods for response at particular times
- Exhibition and display material with leaflets illustrating key aspects of strategies with opportunities to respond within appropriate time periods
- Information on the LTGDC website with appropriate opportunities for interaction and comment
Consultation and Representation on Town Planning
3.1. Consultation on planning applications will usually be managed on LTGDC`s behalf through the London boroughs who will continue to manage day to day activities relating to the registration, advertising and notification of planning applications. It is expected that boroughs will handle consultation on planning applications to be determined by LTGDC in accordance with their normal statutory and adopted procedures as further developed through their statutory Statements of Community Involvement.
3.2. LTGDC Planning Committee agendas and minutes will be published on the LTGDC website from the date that the LTGDC Planning Functions Order comes into force.
3.3. All planning committee meetings will be held in public, usually in Stratford Town Hall, although LTGDC will consider alternative venues provided suitable premises can be found and sufficient notice, in order to improve convenience to members of the public.
3.4. A procedure allowing public speaking at LTGDC planning committee meetings is published on the LTGDC website, as part of the planning committee papers
Consultation on Projects
4.1. LTGDC has powers to lead and promote development project activity, and may itself be instrumental in bringing forward planning applications.
4.2. Under these circumstances, LTGDC will undertake to inform relevant boroughs and other stakeholders likely to be affected and explain their proposals and likely implications before any planning application is submitted or any project is implemented.
4.3. LTGDC will use a range of means of appropriate communication in order to achieve this including public meetings and exhibitions, newsletters, advertisements, and questionnaires. LTGDC will investigate establishing a database of consultees to ensure regular feedback on activities is maintained. LTGDC will ensure appropriate communication and consultation methods are adopted which reflect the diverse needs of communities in the areas in which projects are located.
In General
5.1. LTGDC welcomes involvement from all stakeholders who have an interest in its work.
5.2. Stakeholders are invited to contact LTGDC on any issue of relevance and are advised to make contact in the first instance via the website www.ltgdc.org.uk.
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