Branch District Groups Ideal Roles & Activities
ROLE
Our District Groups represent the national CPRE organisation and the Lancashire Branch in each local planning authority area. They ensure the vision, values and objectives of CPRE are fulfilled, and the presence of CPRE activity is recognised by the local planning authority (LPA), town and parish councils and the community.
ACTIVITIES
- Organise regular District Group meetings and Annual General Meetings.
- Provide regular reports of activities to Group members, Branch Directors and Trustees.
- Awareness of local issues, including countryside, housing, transport, rural services, farming.
- Cooperation and networking with other like-minded local community organisations, including 'single issue' action groups, for the purposes of - 1. Sharing information and advice on local issues, including relevant CPRE knowledge; 2. CPRE Support for their aims and objectives and partnership in campaigns where appropriate; and 3. Recruiting new CPRE members.
- Liaison with local Town and Parish Councils - 1. Encourage them to join CPRE; and 2. Have representatives on the District Group committee.
- Review local planning applications and make representations to the LPA - 1. Apply or seek local knowledge about each application, including site visits if necessary; 2. Submit objections to applications potentially harmful to the countryside or environment; and 3. Provide constructive support for good planning.
- Involvement with development of the local planning system - 1. Consultation on the LPA's Local Development Framework (LDF); and 2. Attend and contribute where necessary to LDF or appeal public inquiries.
- Membership of the LPA's Local Strategic Partnership (LSP).
- Membership of Stakeholder Groups and other forums for specific local issues.
- Lobby local councillors and MPs about CPRE's views on local and national issues.
- Act as consultants to Town/Parish Councils eg. for Planning Policy, Parish Plans, Village Design Statements.
- Publicise the objectives and activities of CPRE though - 1. Local media, eg. press releases, radio and TV interviews; 2. Publicising and supporting CPRE national campaigns at local level; 3. Stands at local shows and exhibitions; 4. Talks about CPRE to local organisations; 5. Leaflet distribution and posters at libraries, information centres, shops, supermarkets, etc; and 6. Invitations to District Group meetings and other CPRE events.
- Organise fundraising events, eg. lectures, collections at supermarkets, etc.
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