Tailoring the Checklist for local authorities
How can the Checklist be tailored to meet the needs of the individual local authority?
The Checklist has been built to be as flexible as possible, with the Local Planning Authority and Developer free to agree where questions are not applicable for individual sites or developments. Since all the questions are linked to regional policy, objectives and indicators, it should not be necessary to remove questions.
However, each local authority has its individual context and the SEA/SA process may bring up issues of local relevance which have not been addressed at the regional level. It is suggested that the local planning authority may wish to add specific questions and standards to deal with these issues. Specific examples include issues for consideration in areas of specific landscape value, or coastal zone issues. In order that the Checklist can be a material consideration in the planning process, questions introduced to the Checklist must be covered by an appropriate policy reference in the Local Development Framework.
Local Authorities can also tailor the Checklist by altering the weightings to reflect their local context. This can be done by the local authority alone, or in consultation with other bodies such as the Local Strategic Partnership, or indeed in consultation with the wider public.