Meeting documents
Cabinet
Monday, 5th July, 2004
Annex 9
|
Figure 2: Stages of plan-making and SEA |
|
|
Stages of plan-making |
Stages of SEA (and Sustainability Appraisal where relevant) |
|
Key stages are shown in bold. Detailed activities are in light type. |
Requirements of the Directive are in bold. Guidance on methods is in light type. |
|
Identify issues and options and prepare for consultation The ODPM guidance publication `Making Plans' suggests the following activities among others at this stage: _ Undertaking a policy context review _ Carrying out assessment of adopted plan _ Carrying out research and studies _ Developing strategic options _ Developing a participation strategy _ Preparing the issues and options report |
Prepare Environmental Report on the likely significant environmental effects of the plan or programme and reasonable alternatives (Article 5 and Annex I) The initial stages of SEA/sustainability appraisal can be carried out in parallel with the issues and options stage of plan-making. This will usually be the best time for: _ Identifying plans, programmes and environmental protection objectives relevant to the SEA _ Developing SEA and sustainability appraisal objectives, if these are to be used _ Collecting data to establish environmental and sustainability baselines and identify problems _ Identifying alternatives to be assessed Consult authorities with environmental responsibilities on the scope of the Environmental Report (Article 5.4) The Directive does not require public consultation until the Environmental Report on the draft plan is finalised, but authorities may find it useful to publish environmental and sustainability information in support of the issues and options report. Public feedback at this stage may also provide more information for the Environmental Report or sustainability appraisal. |
|
Consult public on issues and options Prepare the plan for formal consultation stage _ Assess responses to consultation on issues and options _ Develop preferred strategy _ Identify proposals to be taken forward _ Develop policies _ Draft the plan |
|
|
Full public consultation/participation on proposed plan (the deposit stage under the existing system) _ Publication of plan (corresponding to what the Directive terms `the draft plan') _ Public consideration and participation _ Analysis of representations _ Negotiations with objectors Consultation may take place in several stages including examination. This table does not make any assumption about the number of stages or how the public is involved at any given point during consultation |
Make the Environmental Report on the draft plan available to the public and environmental authorities and give them the opportunity to express opinions (Article 6) At this stage the Environmental Report should comply fully with Directive Annex I. It should therefore cover: _ The effects of the plan, including alternatives still under consideration, on the environment _ Proposals for mitigating adverse effects _ Proposals for monitoring Depending on the extent of changes to the plan during this stage, revisions may be needed to the Environmental Report/sustainability appraisal |
|
Finalise and adopt plan _ Amendments to the plan (including changes stemming from SEA or sustainability appraisal) _ Inspector's modifications |
Take account of the Environmental Report and opinions from consultees (Article 8) Integrate environmental and sustainability considerations to amendments and modifications to plan. |
|
Publish adopted plan |
Publish information on how the Environmental Report and consultees' opinions were taken into account, reasons for choice of alternatives, and proposals for monitoring (Article 9). |
|
Monitor plan implementation |
During implementation, monitor significant environmental effects (Article 10) |
Extract from `The Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive: Guidance for Planning Authorities', http://www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm_planning/documents/page/odpm_plan_026670.pdf
Figure 2: Stages of plan-making and SEA