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Published: Sun, 27th June - 15.47 GMT
Last Updated: Sun, 27th June - 15.47 GMT
Level of community involvement depends on where you live
Councils explain that they set their own standards for getting communities involved at meetings, meaning the system differs all over the country.
The ability to speak at public meetings about how your area is developed can depend on where you live, it has emerged.
The timings of public meetings, who can speak at them and for how long is all at the discretion of individual local authorities.
Some councils hold public planning meetings in the middle of the day, meaning many working age residents are unable to attend without taking a day off from employment.
Many meetings require you to contact the council a few days in advance to declare that you would like a slot to speak, but others can allow you to turn up on the day and take advantage of a more generous speaking time.
Planning team leader Stephen Harrison from Southampton City Council said: “With some authorities, you have to write in and say you’re going to speak.
“You [the council] set your own standards for those [planning] panels,” he adds.
Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat MP Annette Brooke has said that she can see differences between councils within her own Mid Dorset and North Poole constituency when it comes to formulating long term development plans.
“In some villages, there has been such a high proportion [of people] that have participated in the Parish Plan process,” she says.
However, in more urban unitary authorities she adds: “there are area meetings and opportunities... but it is that much more distant and I don’t think there is quite such a high proportion of participation.”
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