Community Led Planning

The RCC believes in helping rural communities to develop themselves.The current economic situation affects many people in different ways. Consultation plays an important part in ensuring that people are involved in decision making that ultimately affects their quality of life.

The Leicestershire & Rutland RCC community led action planning process ensures that communities are given the opportunity to identify thir own needs enabling them to work with partners from statutory agencies in Leicestershire & Rutland to achieve the highest quality outcomes. The process makes the most of the resources available to each community and ensures that statutory agencies can engage with the process while allowing the community to retain 'ownership' of their future plans. The report and action plan produced as a result of consultation is unique to each community and reflects the majority view. It enables projects to be undertaken and funding sourced to answer the needs of each community.

Local authorities and other agencies recognise that having the local community engaged in the process of developing services in rural areas ensures that they are effective. Acting in partnership achieves excellent results.

The RCC Rural Action Team Community Development Officers are available to help communities and local partnerships to carry out a variety of consultations.

Tools, training and support are available to volunteers to ensure that consultation is robust and inclusive.
The RCC Rural Action Project, is partly funded by Leicestershire County Council and District Councils.

Community planning leaflets

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Parish and Community Plans

A Parish Plan is a comprehensive plan, which addresses issues of concern to the community, together in one document. It must be prepared by the community working together (a bottom up approach) and based on information provided through research, survey and consultation. It must be focused on action, and contain a clear statement for the future including - What? Where? Who? and When?

The end result must contain an action plan which includes ways of addressing identified needs. The plan may address housing needs, services, transport, local greenspace and countryside access, design and land use, local amenities e.g. Village Hall, playing fields, health and community care, business and employment. The Parish Plan will form a blueprint for use by the Parish Council and evidence for bidding for funds in the future as well as an indicator for delivery of services from statutory servece providers e.g. councils.

Current Parish Plan Questionnaires

Parish Plan Questionnaires can be completed online and the results will be submitted directly to help with quick analysis.
If your community is undertaking a Parish Plan you will have been notified, so log on below to the appropriate questionnaire for your community and fill in your answers.

If your community has prepared a contact sheet, to give you the opportunity to volunteer, please don't forget to fill in and return the paper contact sheet as well. These return slips may be collected by your local representative or you can hand them into the collection points listed on the front of the paper questionnaire
When completing online you can check your answers at any time by scrolling up and down the screen.
• It is not possible to partially complete the questionnaire and return later to finish it.
• Clicking on Reset will clear ALL responses entered.
• When you have completed all questions you may print a copy of your answers for your records.
• Click on Submit when you have completed the questionnaire.

Parish Plan funding.

How the RCC can help

The Leicestershire County Council Big Society fund may provide a useful funding source for Community led planning in Leicestershire. The RCC would be pleased to provide a quotation to suit your needs to enable you to apply.

Please contact the RCC for details of current funding opportunities. email: dcook@ruralcc.org.uk

• Talk to the Parish Council and advise on how to apply for funds and undertake such a project.
• Give advice on advertising a Public Meeting to promote the project.
• Present the Parish Plan process to the meeting.
• Assist with the setting up of a Steering Group within your Parish.
• Assist with preparation of a constitution and give ideas and advice on how to carry out and help you to plan the project.
• Give funding advice (A small amount of funding may also be available from the RCC to help the Parish with the initial costs of starting up).
• Introduce you to the Leicestershire Rural Partnership Consultation Protocol which will be used in the production of the appraisal and implementation of results at all levels.
• Guide the group through the process of preparing a Parish Plan.
• Assist you with computer software which can be used in preparing and analysing a questionnaire.
• Give advice on analysis and report writing and preparation of the action plan.
• Give advice on the printing and circulation of the final document.
• Liase with service providers at all stages of the appraisal.
• Assist with implementation and possible funding sources for projects identified in the appraisal

In all types of consultation the RCC Community Development Officers are keen to involve the Parish Council and will keep Service Providers informed of progress.