Neighbourhood Plan >>> "How you can become involved" >>> join the steering group

Last night, the Town Council put its ideas for a Neighbourhood Plan to the public:
Futures Forum: Neighbourhood Plan >>> "How you can become involved" >>> public meeting >>>Tuesday 19th January

This is a profoundly democratic process, with each stage looking for maximum involvement and accountability:
Who really runs our neighbourhoods? | openDemocracy
Neighbourhood plans – democracy in action or just a sham? | Local Leaders Network | The Guardian

The next stage is to put together the Steering Group:

Neighbourhood Plan: residents learn more

06:30 20 January 2016

Stephen Sumner

Picture by Alex Walton. Ref shs 7217-08-08AW

Residents find out more about a project which aims to give the community ownership of the Sid Valley’s future.

Scores of residents attended a meeting to learn more about a project which aims to give the community ownership of the Sid Valley’s future last night (Tuesday).

The Neighbourhood Plan will need a dedicated core of residents to make it happen and Sidmouth Town Council organised a public meeting to outline the aims of its project and to take questions.

The Herald reported last week how the town council, which gave the green light to a Neighbourhood Plan in December, is now recruiting a chairperson and steering group to take it forward.

The process, likely to take between 18 months and two years to complete, will give residents a say on where future development should be located, what it should include, and how it should look.

Councillor Louise Cole, who has led the project so far, said: “The process must be owned by the whole community and we know that there are lots of people in Sidmouth who have great skills to do this. We now have the funding and a statutory framework for it to happen.

“It will also help Sidmouth to shape what we know is coming in the Local Plan.

“We hope that a committed group of people will come forward to give their time and skills as part of the steering group who will help make the project a success.”

The process will be run by the community with support from the town council, to ensure the plan itself is relevant and meaningful.

Cllr Cole said a Neighbourhood Plan for the Sid Valley is even more important now East Devon’s Local Plan has been deemed sound and is approaching adoption.

The closing date for expressions of interest for the roles of chairperson and steering group members is February 8.

Neighbourhood Plan: residents learn more - News - Sidmouth Herald

The Town Council website has a lot of very helpful information:
NeighbourHood Plan - Sidmouth Town Council

Here is their press release inviting members of the public to get involved:

Your Community Needs You!!… 

Chairperson & Steering Group Members needed for Sidmouth Neighbourhood Plan 

Sidmouth Town Council has chosen to create a Neighbourhood Plan which will enable local people to have a say on future development in Sidmouth and the Sid Valley area (Sidmouth, Sidford, Sidbury and Salcombe Regis). The aim is to work as a whole community to develop a plan which reflects the aspirations of us all for the future of Sidmouth. To do this and to do it well, the Council is seeking a Chairperson who has the skills, qualities and capacity to lead the project as well as create a community Steering Group to deliver the project and report. In particular, the Council is looking for a Chairperson who is a collaborative leader and effective communicator with project management experience alongside willingness, enthusiasm and time to devote to the whole project. 

The Steering Group will consist of volunteers from a range of disciplines who will work together to bring the following skills and experience to the process: project management, town planning, community engagement and consultation and report writing. Also required will be steering group volunteers with interests in tourism, environment, energy, history, education, health and well-being, community participation, design, architecture, law, culture/arts communication and information technology. 

Sidmouth Town Council are asking that people who wish to join the Steering Group, should submit an expression of interest to Sidmouth Town Council, indicating if you would like to be considered for the role of Chairperson and/or Steering Group member. This should include a short resume of their experience and what they would bring to the role of Chair and/or to the Steering Group. Additional information about the role of the Chairperson and the Steering Group, including a person specification and job description, is available on request via the email address below. 

The closing date for the receipt of expressions of interest is 12 noon on Monday 8 February 2016 either in writing to Sidmouth Town Council, Woolcombe House, Woolcombe Lane, Sidmouth, Devon, WX10 9BB or via e-mail to: enquiries@sidmouth.gov.uk  

Following the appointment of the Chairperson, they, along with the Sidmouth Town Council Neighbourhood Plan Group, will select the members of the Steering Committee which is likely to be capped at 12 members and will include a small number of Town Councillors. We hope that the Steering Group will represent a cross section of the community to form a strong Neighbourhood Plan team for Sidmouth. There will be plenty of opportunities for those who wish to volunteer to help in addition to the work that will be undertaken by the new Steering Group which will be announced on the 12 February 2016.

www.sidmouth.gov.uk/images/Neighbourhood_Plan_Public_Meeting_1.pdf
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