Planning Inspectorate Newsletter - Issue 5
Stakeholders
At the end of October 2006, Sheila Rice wrote to stakeholders to ask for their views on the meetings which the Planning Inspectorate had held with stakeholders in 2005 and 2006. This was seen as a way of ensuring we were engaging fully with stakeholders and meeting their needs.
On the whole the feedback from attendees was favourable so we appear to be on the right lines but there were a few comments/suggestions for changes that we will be looking at. All groups considered an annual meeting was right.
Regional Bodies
Most felt the meeting was useful with the right mix of attendees. Some felt that London was more central and easier than Bristol for people to travel to from distant locations. Others that events should sometimes be held in the north or midlands. It was important for agenda items to be notified to delegates in advance to allow consultation. One representative was interested in being part of a wider grouping of interests than regional bodies.
During the course of the year we have added in a London stakeholder event, hosted by the Government Office for London, which was able to concentrate on London based issues. We would be open to other Government Offices who wish to host a similar event in the future. A meeting is planned in Wales in the autumn this year.
Professional Bodies
Meetings and groupings were sensible. Stakeholder meetings showed high level of commitment from the Inspectorate. It was suggested that at the meeting we should go round the table to give everyone a chance to raise their key issues.
Agreed. Happy to give all attendees the opportunity to raise their key issues.
Public Bodies
2006 meeting cancelled through lack of support. Comments received from only one organisation which were that some people were unhappy because there no longer appeared to be the opportunity to discuss some areas of interest with the Inspectorate; suggested carrying out a number of meetings each year focussing on specific issues rather than spatial planning.
The Inspectorate is open to suggestions as to how to improve this session.
Interest Groups
Venue/timing/length of meeting/agenda OK. Annual meeting OK. Grouping was OK but may be more appropriate to group stakeholders according to their interests i.e. those interested in rights of way issues attending together although this might mean some organisations attending more than once. Meetings should not be dominated by one issue unless this is agreed beforehand - rights of way dominated the last meeting and did not warrant the amount of attention it received. Representatives should avoid raising issues over which the Inspectorate has no control. Might be useful for the Inspectorate to give formal presentations on aspects of its work. Meeting gave insight into how Inspectors work and issues they face including applying Government policy. Annual meeting with user groups to discuss specific issues would be beneficial.
We would be happy to customise this meeting by starting with a shared agenda and then running two (or more) sub-groups to cover specific areas.
Legal Group
Annual meeting between PEBA/Law Society/PINS useful opportunity for discussion and mutual feedback. London would be more appropriate venue but Bristol acceptable. Agenda and format good. A meeting was held in Cardiff in January 2007 to discuss issues specific to Wales; it was agreed that separate meetings are useful and will continue.
We are happy to alternate meetings between London and Bristol.
APOS/CoT
Meetings with the Advisory Panel on Standards (APOS) and the Administrative Justice & Tribunals Council are of a different nature and character, concentrating as they do on the quantitive and qualitative aspects of the quality target set by Ministers for the Inspectorate to achieve on an annual basis. This particular session has only recently been introduced; we hope to use forthcoming sessions to discuss best practice and innovation in tribunal services.
Development Community
Timing/venue/structure/mix of attendees most satisfactory. Meetings very worthwhile and allow stakeholders to appreciate limitations within which the Inspectorate works including budgetary control. Pleased with ability to express views with colleagues. One attendee had suggested meeting is delayed until September. Thought it would be useful to have on same day as Legal bodies so there could be a joint session.
We will continue these meetings as now for the time being, and are also open to invitations from specific develop groups to discuss appeals issues. We have, for example, recently held discussions with the Home Builders Federation.
RSS Reviews
As the first round of RSS Reviews come to an end in the autumn of 2007, it would be our intention to set up an RSS Stakeholder meeting.
General
Comments/contributions as to what should be covered in annual stakeholder meetings would be welcome and should be sent to my Personal Assistant, Sheila Rice (Sheila.Rice@pins.gsi.gov.uk).
Katrine Sporle
Chief Executive
