Dec 2010 - South Worcestershire Development Plan

SOUTH WORCESTERSHIRE ANNUAL MONITORING REPORT 2010152.0 METHODOLOGYKey Requirements for Annual Monitoring Reports2.1 Monitoring is essential to establish both what is happening now andwhat may happen in the future. It provides a crucial feedback loop inthe cyclical process of policy-making and helps to address questionslike:• Are policies achieving their objectives and delivering sustainabledevelopment?• Have policies had unintended consequences?• Are the assumptions behind the policies still relevant?• Are the targets being achieved?2.2 Three types of indicator are identified in government guidance onmonitoring:• Contextual indicators – these establish the baseline position ofthe wider social, environmental and economic circumstances.Contextual information sits alongside the three main core outputindicator themes and can be found in part A of this report.• Output indicators – these are aimed at measuring quantifiablephysical activities that are directly related to, and are aconsequence of, the implementation of planning policies. Coreoutput indicators are analysed at a South Worcestershire level inpart A of this report, whilst the individual authority local outputindicators are included at part B.• Significant Effects indicators – these assess social, economicand environmental effects and these should be linked tosustainability appraisal objectives and indicators. Significanteffects indicators are covered in part A of this report.2.3 Planning Policy Statement 12 ‘Local Spatial Planning’ (paragraph 4.47)states that core strategies must have clear arrangements for monitoringand reporting results. Annual Monitoring Reports should seek toachieve four key tasks: