Section 15(1) places a duty onlocal authorities to initiate, facilitate and maintain a community planning processto plan and provide public services provided in their area. It specifies that thereshould be consultation among:· “all the public bodies (includingthe local authority)” responsible for providing services, and with· “such community bodies and other bodiesor persons as is appropriate”.The Community Planning StatutoryGuidance (paragraph 2) explains that: “this duty has been placed on local authoritiesbecause they are unique as democratically accountable bodies with a broad rangeof responsibilities which impact significantly, and directly, on communities.”