§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information(a) is available and (b) will be made available to persons concerned about major changes to unitary development plans under the provisions of the citizens charter. [111]
§ Mr. Robert B. JonesThe free booklet, "Development Plans: What You Need to Know", published by the Department of the Environment, contains a code of practice for development plans and sets out the procedures that are to be followed by a local planning authority when it proposes to make alterations to, or replace, a unitary development plan. The Town and Country Planning Act 1990 requires the authority to place those proposals on deposit for public inspection for a period of six weeks, during which objections or representations may be made by any member of the public. Notices of the deposited proposals are required to be advertised locally and in theLondon Gazette. Additionally, in planning policy guidance note 12, "Development Plans and Regional Planning Guidance", the Secretary of State advises authorities to give adequate publicity at an early stage to the proposed alteration or replacement, and to give members of the public an opportunity to participate in the preparation of those proposals, prior to deposit.