Decision details

SCC in their response to the Preferred Options Version of the draft local plan asked the Borough to consider undertaking a Health Impact Assessment of the Local Plan. It was decided that this should be done after checking with neighbouring ISPA authorities to see if they had done so and this was the case. A meeting was held with the Director of Health Improvement and other health related professionals as well as our county liaison officer to discuss the questions that should be applied. This was also taken as an Item to the Policy Team Meeting so wider staff could input.

This could be conducted through any of the following options:

a) A member of the policy team could conduct it. – However, only the team leader has experience of conducting health impact assessments and it is time consuming and would not provide value for money.

b) A health specialist consultant could conduct it – but it would take time to move this forward.

c) It could be added as an additional stream to the sustainability appraisal which was already out to consultants and could be dealt with as a Contract Variation and the additional cost would be £2,500 to do this. The consultant was already committed to being available to give evidence at the Public Inquiry into the Local Plan next year and therefore this process was cost effective and provided the best value for money.

Option c) was therefore decided on.

Consultation taken with procurement, Director of Health Improvement, East Suffolk Council, and the Planning Operations Manager and SCC LP Liaison Officer.

That the Health Impact Assessment be added as an additional stream to the sustainability appraisal which was already out to consultants and could be dealt with as a Contract Variation and the additional cost would be £2,500 to do this. The consultant was already committed to being available to give evidence at the Public Inquiry into the Local Plan next year and therefore this process was cost effective and provided the best value for money.