The SCI sets out the local authority’s vision and strategy for effective community engagement throughout the planning process.

It is becoming increasingly important to encourage local people to play an active role in the early stages of all planning activities. The SCI provides a framework to ensure that comprehensive and effective public engagement will take place throughout all stages of the planning process.

Our SCI (revised on 4 June 2025) sets out the following:

• Why consultation is important.
• What will be consulted on.
• Who will be consulted.
• When consultation and engagement will take place.
• How these views will be taken into account.

The SCI includes guidance on consultation during the production of planning policy documents, as well as setting out the formal statutory processes for producing these documents. It also sets out what we will do to engage people in relation to planning applications. This version of the SCI has been expanded to include sections on both neighbourhood planning and the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL).