Committee Meetings to discuss the future planning of Christchurch and East Dorset

Christchurch Borough and East Dorset District Councils will be holding special committee meetings that will allow members of the public to address councillors on issues contained in an important document for both councils.

The Core Strategy is a document that will contain the broad development planning strategy for the area until the year 2028. Some draft proposals were put forward in a consultation in autumn 2010. Responses from this consultation have now been analysed and a draft Pre-Submission Core Strategy has been drawn up.

Members of both councils will decide, in March 2012, on a further consultation to take place for members of the public in Christchurch and East Dorset to again give their views.

Before the decision on the consultation, residents are being invited to address councillors at meetings to be held as follows:

Wednesday 25 January 2012 at 6pm

Special Community Services Committee (Christchurch Borough Council)

Council Chamber, Civic Offices,

Bridge Street, Christchurch.  BH23 1AZ

Wednesday 1 February 2012 at 6pm

Special Policy and Resources Committee (East Dorset District Council)

The Barrington Theatre, Penny's Walk, Ferndown.   BH22 9TH

The agenda for the meetings will be available from 17 January 2012 and will give the detail upon which the councils will be consulting.

The councillors will not be making decisions at these meetings; the purpose of the meetings is to allow them to listen to the views of stakeholders and the community before the Pre-Submission Consultation Document is finally approved for public consultation at a Joint Council meeting on 5 March 2012.

Judith Plumley, Head of Community and Economy at the Christchurch and East Dorset Partnership, said: "We know that there will be a number of people who will want to give their views at these meetings but, due to time constraints, we can only allow each speaker to talk for three minutes and there will be 20 three-minute slots available.

"Representatives with a common issue may wish to get together in order to make their points more succinctly. We cannot guarantee that everyone who wishes to speak will be able to do so, but we will try to make sure that all of the themes raised are given the opportunity. Organisations or individuals may speak at only one meeting.

"To enable us to draw up a list of speakers which is representative of the local communities and issues we are asking people to register their interest to speak by contacting us."

For the Christchurch meeting contact Vanessa Ricketts, Democratic Services Officer - v.ricketts@christchurch.gov.uk 01202 495141.

For the East Dorset meeting contact Sarah Culwick, Committee Services Manager - sculwick@christchurchandeastdorset.gov.uk  01202 639174.

The deadline for requesting a slot in which to speak at Christchurch is noon on Friday 20 January 2012, and at East Dorset, the deadline is noon on Friday 27 January 2012. Those who have been allocated a slot will be notified on the Monday after each deadline.

The Core Strategy Pre-Submission document will be ratified for consultation by a Joint Full Council meeting of Christchurch Borough Council and East Dorset District Council on Monday 5 March 2012 at 6pm at The Village Hotel in Bournemouth.  Public speaking will not be allowed at this meeting.

Following this meeting, the Core Strategy Pre-Submission Consultation will begin on Monday 2 April 2012 running for a period of 12 weeks until Monday 25 June 2012.