Statement of community involvement summary

We are responsible for dealing with all minerals, waste and anything related to planning matters in North Yorkshire, except for those areas within the North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales National Parks.

This includes deciding on planning applications for mining, quarrying and waste management facilities, as well as applications for our related development such as schools, roads and adult care facilities.

As part of its role, we also have responsibility for preparing minerals and waste-related policy, known as the minerals and waste plan, which sets out a local basis for minerals and waste planning within the plan area up to 2030.

The new minerals and waste plan is being developed through an extensive consultation process with stakeholders, including the minerals and waste industry, environmental organisations, parish councils and members of the community.

Community involvement is an important part of the planning process. Because of this, we have taken a responsibility to produce a Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) which sets out how we will involve different groups and individuals in preparing our new minerals and waste plan, and in taking decisions on planning applications dealt with by us.

This document provides a summary of our SCI and explains how you can get involved in local planning decisions.

Our statement of community involvement

Our statement of community involvement was first adopted in 2006. However, a number of changes have been made recently to the planning system which has led to the need to revise the statement of community involvement.

This page explains what we will do to involve people in preparing new minerals and waste related policy and in determining planning applications for minerals, waste and county related planning matters. It also sets out our vision for community involvement for planning related activities in the North Yorkshire plan area.

“Our vision is to ensure that all members of the community are provided with the opportunity to engage actively and equally in the process of preparing the minerals and waste plan, and in any other consultation procedures concerning planning matters dealt with by us.”

The SCI aims to:

promote and raise awareness locally of minerals and waste planning issues
respond effectively to the differing needs of the community and to actively encourage their involvement
ensure that information is made accessible to everybody through the use of electronic equipment and other means necessary
encourage more people from all community groups to become involved in minerals and waste issues affecting their locality and
listen to and consider the views of the local community and stakeholders, in order that decisions are well balanced and take into account the public interest

Our engagement promise

All consultation carried out in relation to the minerals and waste plan must follow our engagement promise. This means we will:

communicate clearly and write all documents in plain English
make it easier for you to get involved, where appropriate, through roadshows, exhibitions, workshops and our website
consider ideas and comments fairly
make sure your involvement is meaningful and effective
share information and feedback
keep the process as simple as we can where possible
co-ordinate consultations and
make all our consultation documents available in alternative formats

Community Involvement in the preparation of the minerals and waste plan

There are a number of different groups and individuals, known as Consultees, who we seek to involve in the preparation of the minerals and waste plan.

When undertaking a consultation we must decide who to consult. To do this we must decide whether the group, organization or individual:

has an interest in the issue dealt with by the plan
has relevant expertise or data related to the plan
has specific needs that are addressed by issues covered in the plan
represents all or part of the geographic area covered by issues in the plan

A list of consultees is maintained on a database. Anyone who would like to be involved in consultations can ask to be added to the database and will automatically receive information about consultations that are happening. You can do this by contacting us.

Community involvement in the preparation of the minerals and waste plan broadly involves three key stages. The flow diagram below identifies these stages and summarises the main purpose of that stage and what we will do to involve people during them.

Community involvement in development management

Opportunities for community involvement in planning applications may occur at a number of stages in the process and will vary depending upon the nature of the planning application and the specific details of the development.

The SCI provides details on the following matters relating to planning applications:

pre-application discussion and enquiries
pre-submission consultations
consultations when a planning application has been submitted
how to make a representation in relation to a planning application
determination of planning applications and planning committee
public inquiries and
monitoring and compliance

How can I get involved

Anyone who would like to get involved in consultations relating to the preparation of the new minerals and waste plan can contact us or write to:

Minerals and waste planning policy team,

Planning Services,

County Hall,

Northallerton,

DL7 8AH

You can also ask to be consulted on planning issues related to specific plans or applications by contact us or writing to:

Head of Planning Services,

County Hall,

Northallerton,

DL7 8AH

Find out more

If you would like to find out more about what the SCI contains, individual paper copies are available upon request.

Details of planning applications can be viewed on our online planner register.