Community Led Planning (also known as Parish Planning) is a step-by-step structured process, taken on by active members of the community usually with the support of the local Town or Parish Council, to create a vision for a community and an action plan to achieve it. The process involves using a mix of evidence collection and various types of consultation and debate at a very local neighbourhood level. At the heart of this is usually a locally relevant questionnaire which goes to every household in the community. Response rates are usually very high because of the way the questionnaire is promoted, distributed and collected. In some areas response rates have reached around 80% of households in a community complete and return the questionnaires. The resulting vision covers the social, economic, environmental and cultural well-being of the community and all those who live and work in it. An action plan is also prepared with the relevant partners to identify solutions to local issues which will help realise the shared vision.
Creating a Community Led Plan?
How a Community Led Plan or Parish Plan Can Benefit Your Community…
- They bring the community together and create a greater sense of community spirit
- They provide a plan for the future of the community, which South Gloucestershire Council and the Parish Council, if there is one, can support, adopt and take action on
- The plan is based on clear evidence of the needs and priorities of your community to help inform how the council, other statutory agencies and community groups deliver their services and activities locally
- They encourage partnership working by highlighting projects that need help from local people as well as external agencies
- They open up funding streams for projects – many grants are only available if evidenced by a Community Led Plan
Support to Create a Community Led Plan
South Gloucestershire Council is supportive of Community Led Plans and is keen to assist its Town and Parish Councils to achieve the aspirations of the communities they represent. A guidance booklet (see ‘Read More’ section) has been produced with information and advice on how to carry out the process.
Further advice and support on the process and how to find funding for it can also be sought from the Rural & Parishes Team in Community Engagement, South Gloucestershire Council. Please contact 01454 863 311 or 01454 868 127 for details.
Where have Community Led Plans been produced in South Gloucestershire?
To view an interactive map of where Community Led Plans have been created, are in progress and under consideration see the Read More section.
To then read a Community Led Plan for an area click on the parish name that interests you. If a plan has been completed but is not available online please contact parishes@southglos.gov.uk for a paper copy.
The following Town or Parish Council areas have completed Community Led Plans which can be viewed in the Read More section:
- Alveston
- Bitton
- Downend and Bromley Heath
- Doynton
- Hawkesbury
- Oldland (hard copy on request)
- Pilning & Severn Beach
- Pucklechurch
- Tormaton
- Wickwar
- Yate
The following Town or Parish Council areas are in the process of creating a Community Led Plan:
- Charfield
- Frampton Cotterell
- Hanham
- Hanham Abbotts
- Marshfield
- Oldbury on Severn
- Siston
- Siston Hill (Development)
- Winterbourne
- Westerleigh
The following Town or Parish Council areas are considering embarking on a Community Led Plan:
- Sodbury
- Tortworth
- Dyrham and Hinton