Hart Local Plan 2044 Engagement Strategy - Digital engagement

The Government has placed emphasis on digital engagement which has the potential to be more convenient for people to engage with, and to speed up the processing of representations.

The New Hart Local Plan webpages will be the main vehicle for community engagement where we will provide updates to the Local Plan process and publish our evidence base and other information when this becomes available. Consistent branding will be used across Local Plan documents and publicity material to ensure they are more easily identifiable. 

The Council is using a digital platform called ‘PlaceMaker’ for consultations on the Local Plan. Respondents will be encouraged to respond online via PlaceMaker to help us manage the information received, but all duly made written comments, however received will be taken into account. Where possible we will use interactive maps to support consultations. 

Publicising our consultations

We will publicise our consultations, so that stakeholders are aware that they are taking place, through the following means:

Consultation database

We will contact all those who are currently registered on our consultee database. 

Anyone (resident, business, interest group etc.) can join the Hart Local Plan consultee database by signing up to our Local Plan database.   

As well as being notified of the mandatory consultations, you can also request to be notified at other stages: 

• the submission of the Local Plan for independent examination 
• the publication of Gateway 2 and 3 observations and advice
• the submission of the Local Plan for independent examination 
• any pause in the Local Plan examination and the submission of additional evidence during the pause
• the publication of the recommendations and reasons of the examiner 
• the adoption of the Local Plan. 

Social media

At the start of, and during consultations we will as a minimum, use Facebook to raise awareness. 

Website

We will publish all Local Plan consultations on our website with links to PlaceMaker, our digital consultation software.

Online news releases

We will issue an online news release as a minimum at the start of each consultation.

Hart News

The Council’s magazine to all households goes out twice a year (usually May and November) – we will use this to publicise the Local Plan and also to highlight the timing of public consultations.

Residents’ online newsletter

This is issued regularly providing residents with up-to-date news and information. Any resident can sign up for the newsletter.

Hard copies

We will make hard copies of all consultation documents available for those who are unable to access the consultation using the internet. Generally, hard copies will be available to view at the Hart District Council offices and at libraries or town/parish council offices in our main settlements across the district. Locations and opening times will be published alongside each consultation. 

Posters and QR codes

We will place posters across the district which will contain QR codes with links to the consultation. 

Engagement activities

We will undertake a range of engagement activities whereby stakeholders can find out more about the content of the consultation documents. As a minimum these will include staffed exhibitions across the district at different times of the day during the consultation period.

We may also provide one or more of the following:

• On-line events – pre-recorded videos setting out further information about the Local Plan and how to respond
• Online exhibition – a digital version of the exhibition boards
• Topic/site-specific discussions – either during the main consultation stages or outside of these where we consider it is beneficial to get stakeholder input to support the development of the Local Plan. 

Towns and parish councils

Town and parish councils will be automatically notified of any public consultations as they are specific consultees. We will also run an on-line briefing for town and parish councils prior to, or at the start of, each public consultation stage.

The Council will provide Local Plan updates to town and parish councils via the Hart District Association of Parish and Town Councils and via Councillor Connect (an on-line newsletter that goes to dstrict, county and town/parish councillors).

Town and parish councils will also be engaged through other consultation events that are undertaken such as in-person exhibitions or presentations. Subject to the proposed location of future development, we may do some tailored local engagement. 

Less represented groups

In addition to the standard contact we make to inform people that consultations are taking place, we will reach out further to ensure that less frequently represented groups are aware of consultations and have the opportunity to respond.

This may include the use of representative local groups on the Local Plan database and raising awareness through groups that Hart District Council works closely with such as Hart Voluntary Action. Other ways that we might use to support wider engagement and accessibility to respond to the Local Plan include:

• varying the times at which in-person events take place and ensure that venues are accessible
• providing consultation documents in alternative languages and formats upon request where a need is identified
• the use of market research companies to contact specific groups in the community that may find it harder to engage
• using contacts with Gypsy and Traveller communities to raise awareness
• roviding QR codes on posters at a range of locations which link to consultation material that can be accessed at any time. Locations might include train stations, educational facilities, community centres and libraries; 
• Group-specific presentations or workshops

The Council will also publish documents that meet required accessibility standards.