Public Engagement & Neighbourhood Planning Roundtable

29th November 2012, London, Prospero House, SE1

The cost of the seminar is:
£125 + VAT for Members
£165 + VAT for Non-Members

Public Engagement and Neighbourhood Planning:

Progress, Problems & Potential

One of the Government’s main aims in introducing Neighbourhood Planning was to galvanise local communities and try to get them more involved than ever before in deciding what happens to their local areas.

Six months after the relevant parts of the Localism Act came into force, it is time to take stock, and check whether and how any of these objectives are being realised. It is not just a matter for Town Planners. It affects a whole range of other professionals as well as elected Councillors.

This Roundtable will hear the latest thinking from the Department of Communities and Local Government which is spearheading this quiet revolution in planning and development. Hear also from those with practical experience of trying to make the new system work, including Planning Aid England. Do people really become involved?Or is it yet again a mechanism for the ‘usual suspects’ and the same old voices?How can public participation focus on the positive rather than the negative?How can consultation and engagement practitioners help develop positive participation?Does the prospect of a local Referendum excite more activity?How much does it cost, and do people think it is worth it?Institute Roundtables provide the opportunity to keep abreast of the latest thinking with plenty of scope to pick the brains of well-informed discussion leaders, and to exchange views with others from different organisations.

Registration 10.00
Seminar starts 10.30
Seminar ends 15.15

Attendance at this seminar gives 10 credits towards the Institute's Certificate of Professional Development.

Roundtable Programme

Welcome and Who’s Who

Brief Introduction
Rhion H. Jones – Director, The Consultation Institute

SESSION ONE: Neighbourhood Planning – key messages and where are we now? A progress update, why community engagement is important and de-mystifying Neighbourhood Planning
Gareth Bradford – Policy and Legislation, Neighbourhood Planning Team, DCLG

SESSION TWO: The Challenge of Positive Public Participation in Neighbourhood Planning. A discussion of the main issues faced in generating a community-led planning process
Dave Chapman – Head of Social Action, Locality
Dave Chetwyn – Managing Director, Urban Vision Enterprises CIC and Locality Planning Adviser

Morning Roundtables

Networking Lunch

SESSION THREE: Neighbourhood Planning in Practice
Example of a success story, examining what helped enable positive participation and what engagement practitioners can learn from this
John Romanski – Senior Neighbourhood Planning Adviser, Planning Aid England
Tim Wood – Forge Architects, Bankside Neighbourhood Plan

Afternoon Roundtables

Conclusions

Roundtable Close