CAAS has extensive experience in all forms of public participation – ranging from presentations to evening meetings with Tidy Towns Committees through technical presentations Members or Committees to formal evidence to an Bord Pleanála Hearings.
Public participation requirements bring important legal requirements for local authorities. CAAS can provide advice and training on these implications – especially concerning the Aarhus Convention for public participation procedures in the context of plan preparation and planning consent procedures. The focus of this advice and training is:
- compliance with the requirements of the transposing legislation especially the European Communities (Access to Information on the Environment) Regulations 2007-2011 and Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2011
- auditing of procedures to ensure compliance with statutory public participation requirements
- how to meet best practice expectations
