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HOW DO YOU PREPARE A COMMUNITY LED PLAN?

Community Led Planning is a guided process that takes up to 18 months to complete. It begins with interested residents taking on the challenge of overseeing the plan’s development and accessing the skills, partners and additional resource material needed to deliver an effective community plan.

A ‘9 step process’ sets out the main milestones to be achieved. This provides a framework supplemented by additional resource material and appropriate support and guidance: 

Step 1 - Getting Started

Community Steps
To start the process you need to get people interested with publicity and hold an open event to gather support to undertake the process

Bridging with Local Authority
Make contact with your Rural Community Council and Local Authority to inform them of your intention to produce a Parish or Community Plan and ask for their support.
Invite your Councillors to early meetings and events to engage with the community.

Step 2 - Establishing the Steering Group

Community Steps
Set up a steering group with wide representation from the community

Bridging with Local Authority
Nominate a steering group member to act as the main point of contact with the Local Authority officers.

Step 3 - Developing a Project Plan

Community Steps
Over a series of meetings put together a strategy, budget and programme on how you are going to undertake the plan, ensuring you consult with everyone in the community.

Bridging with Local Authority
Include in your programme the moments at which you wish to involve local authorities, although it is best to engage with them, right from the beginning of your plan.

Step 4 - Community Consultation

Community Steps
This is a time to undertake a variety of interesting and fun consultation exercises involving as many people as possible both in taking part and in expressing their views.

Bridging with Local Authority
Consult with the LSP and LDF officers about the linkages between the Sustainable Community Strategy and Local Development Framework, how they are relevant to your community and what questions can usefully be asked.

Step 5 - Prioritising and planning action

Community Steps
Sort and prioritise the issues and begin to form focus groups to take forward actions.

Bridging with Local Authority
Liaise with the LSP and LDF coordinators and any other agencies that have been identified in an action, to agree that what is being proposed is feasible and can be delivered. This does not mean you cannot have aspirations for future actions which are not possible at present.

Step 6 - Drafting the Plan

Community Steps
Put together the first draft to share with the community and partner organisations.

Bridging with Local Authority
Make your plan more accessible to outside agencies by using the Model Action Plan as a template. Show a draft plan to all relevant stakeholders. 

Step 7 - Finalising the Plan 

Community Steps
Consult with the community and partner organisations and produce the final document.

Bridging with Local Authority
Categorise your actions under community, service providers and strategic.
At this point celebrate with your community but keep the
momentum going to implement what you have decided

Step 8 - Implementing the Plan

Community Steps
Consolidate any actions started and begin to implement others.

Bridging with Local Authority
Feed into the Sustainable Community Strategy or the Local Development Framework, for longer term implementation.

Step 9 - Monitor & Review

Community Steps
Once you have completed a plan a regular review and update will ensure continuous progress on the needs and requirements of your community.

Bridging with Local Authority
Keep your service providers and local authorities (such as your Local Strategic Partnership, Local Area Committee and Planning Department) informed of your progress. Successes and challenges should be fed back.

Please click on the links below to find out more about the Community Led Planning process:

What is Community Led Planning?

Why prepare a Community Led Plan? 

What makes a good Community Led Plan?

Alternatively please contact Lesley Millgate or Carl Marshall for information.

Please click here to return to the Community Led Planning homepage.