Last week Saltford Parish Council raised concerns to B&NES Council about the need to ‘click twice’ on the submit button for each section of the B&NES Council Local Plan Options Consultation for residents to be able to successfully submit a response.
SPC was concerned that residents both in Saltford and throughout B&NES would believe that they had submitted responses to the B&NES Options Consultation when this may not have been the case, and that those still looking to submit comments may not realise the need to ‘click twice’ to submit.
SPC contacted B&NES Council’s Planning Policy team to flag the technical issue and to make the following recommendations:
- B&NES Council to rectify the ‘click twice’ issue as soon as possible, in light of the fact that the consultation still had 3.5 weeks to run (at the time of the request).
- If choosing not to resolve the issue (which was not recommended by SPC), to recommend B&NES Council share information via media release, social media, ‘How to comment’ video etc to raise awareness of the technical issue so residents still looking to engage with the consultation could be made aware of the need to ‘click twice’ to submit successfully.
- B&NES Council to contact any person it had the email address for who had successfully responded to at least one section of the consultation, to share that they should check that confirmation email(s) had been received for all sections of the consultation they had submitted responses to, and if not received to encourage to resubmit.
- B&NES Council to publicise the technical issue via e.g. social media, its website etc. to raise awareness to anyone who had submitted a response(s), so that they could be made aware that they should check either for a confirmation email or a confirmation number, as generated only when a submission had been successfully made to the B&NES Council Options Consultation to ensure their views had been successfully submitted.
On first making recommendations, B&NES Council had initially stated to SPC that the Parish Council should find it reassuring that B&NES had successfully received a significant number of responses which showed that the webform submission was working for many. In response, SPC highlighted to B&NES Council that B&NES was unaware of the scale of the impact of the ‘click twice’ issue, and as such must equally acknowledge that a significant number of responses by many people may have failed to be submitted successfully.
In response to SPC’s most recent correspondence with B&NES Council about its concerns and recommendations for action, today (Tuesday 19 March) SPC welcomed communications from the B&NES Planning Policy team that the following had or would take place:
- B&NES Council had liaised with its web team and the issue regarding submitting comments using the webform had now been resolved. This meant that from 19 March those using the webform to make comments should click the ‘submit’ button only once and wait for a comment reference number, and that if the user/respondent had supplied an email address that they would also receive a confirmation email.
- That in light of the ‘click twice’ technical issue having recently been resolved B&NES Council would extend the consultation period until 16th April 2024 (previously 8 April 2024) to give those commenting or wishing to comment four weeks from today to submit their comments.
- B&NES Council would issue communications through various media channels (including a news release and social media) to advise that the Local Plan Options Consultation period had been extended until 16th April and also including succinct guidance on submitting comments via the webform, and that this information would also be set out on the B&NES Council’s website.
- B&NES Council would also email those on its Local Plan mailing list with this information and to advise them to check whether they received a comments reference number in relation to comments they have already submitted. If they have not, B&NES will advise to resubmit, and that the extension to the consultation period would give them extra time to do this.
- Specifically with regards to SPC’s request, B&NES Council intended to email those that had submitted at least one comment on the options document to advise that they should check they have received a reference number for each of the comments they have made. Any comments made and where they have not got a reference number they would be advised by B&NES Council to resubmit.
On receipt of the above information, SPC welcomed B&NES Council’s understanding of the concerns that Saltford Parish Council had raised, and the detail shared on how B&NES Council intended to actively address and respond to SPC’s concerns based on the recommendations made.
A copy of the B&NES Council media release about the time extension to respond, as shared on Tuesday 19 March, can be found below. A copy of the email sent by B&NES Council to those who had submitted a response successfully to at least one section of the consultation (if their email address was provided) is also copied below. SPC will look to share further communications from B&NES Council.
In light of the technical issue on the Options Consultation webform and its potential impact, SPC Councillors will consider the above response and actions by B&NES Council prior to discussing whether to raise concerns about the Local Plan Options Consultation process at a future SPC meeting.
SPC response to Local Plan Options Consultation
SPC has strongly objected to proposals for 1,300 new residences on Saltford’s green belt. These have been proposed in two sections of the consultation, ‘West Saltford’ and ‘South Saltford’.
If residents have responded to both Saltford sections of the consultation, SPC urges them to check that they have received confirmation emails or a confirmation number for both sections responded to via the online form (webform).
For more information about SPC’s response, please view SPC’s news article ‘SPC strongly objects to B&NES Council’s Local Plan Options Consultation proposals for 1300 residences at West Saltford and South Saltford‘.
SPC’s news article includes a full copy of SPC’s response to the Local Plan Options Consultation (resolved at SPC’s March meeting).
B&NES Council email to consultation participants:
B&NES Council has shared a copy of its email dated 19 March to those on its Local Plan mailing list and to those who have submitted a comment via email to the Local Plan Options Consultation, as follows:
Residents, businesses and stakeholders now have until Tuesday 16 April to give their feedback on a plan shaping future development across Bath and North East Somerset.
The Local Plan Options consultation period has been extended by a week to offer people more time to register their opinions on the options document, which is the next stage in the development of a new Local Plan for the district.
This also allows additional time for people who have not received a reference number, in response to each of their individual online comments, to re-register their views. Those who have received a refence number or email confirmation do not need to resubmit comments.
Comments can also be submitted by post to Bath and North East Somerset Council, Planning Policy, Lewis House, Manvers Street, Bath BA1 1JG.
B&NES Council media release: Local Plan Options consultation extended by a week (released 19/03/24)
The following media release has been received from B&NES Council:
Residents, businesses and stakeholders now have until Tuesday 16 April to give their feedback on a plan shaping future development across Bath and North East Somerset.
The Local Plan Options consultation period has been extended by a week to offer people more time to register their opinions on the options document, which is the next stage in the development of a new Local Plan for the district.
This also allows additional time for people who have not received a reference number, in response to their online comments, to re-register their views. Those who have received a refence number or email confirmation do not need to resubmit comments.
People can comment on the options proposed by responding to an interactive version of the Local Plan online. Once you have submitted your comments using the webform, you will receive a reference number for your comment and anyone entering an email address will also be sent a confirmation email.
The consultation started on 12 February. It outlines options for where to deliver new homes and jobs and the policies that are needed for addressing the climate and ecological emergencies. A series of drop-in sessions have also been held for residents to discuss the options with council officers.
Councillor Matt McCabe, cabinet member for Built Environment and Sustainable Development, said: “We are getting a lot of response to the consultation and extending the closing date by a week will give people more time to provide their feedback on the options. It is important that as many people as possible have their say so their views can be considered because the Local Plan will form the basis for determining planning applications until 2042.”
The options, which were approved by Bath & North East Somerset Council’s cabinet, support the council’s Corporate Strategy and Economic Strategy, which aims to deliver a fairer, more prosperous and sustainable economy.
A key objective for the Local Plan is to maximise the delivery of housing that is more affordable and the document says an estimated 14,500 new homes are needed up to 2042. Of those, more than 6,000 will be built on sites, mainly brownfield sites in Bath, which are already committed for development via planning permission or allocated in the current Local Plan.
Videos on the council website discuss the locations identified in the Options Document that could be developed: Keynsham and Saltford, Hicks Gate, Whitchurch, Bath and the Somer Valley.
Other videos give step-by-step guidance on ‘How to comment on a Local Plan’ and explain ‘What is a Local Plan’ or outline how the various options will help to deliver the council’s priorities on housing, the climate emergency and sustainable transport.
Comments can also be submitted by post to Bath & North East Somerset Council, Planning Policy, Lewis House, Manvers Street, Bath BA1 1JG.
Printed copies of the Options Document are available at Bath Central Library; Keynsham Library; Midsomer Norton Library; Bath Housing, Welfare and Advice Services, the mobile library and all community libraries. Easy Read copies can be requested by emailing: planning_policy@bathnes.gov.uk and there is an Easy Read version of the document online.
Visit our dedicated Local Plan pages, to find out more about the preparation of the Plan, and work done so far.
You can respond to the consultation on the council website.