Decentralisation Minister Greg Clarke has announced The Localism Bill will contain a statutory obligation for councils to cooperate across area boundaries.
In a keynote speech to yesterday’s RTPI Conference, Clark said he was "passionately in favour of localism and passionately in favour of development."
He emphasised points made in Eric Pickles' letter to Councils last month, stating the importance of ensuring that Regional Spatial Strategies were "cast aside and they won’t come back."
However, he said that a shift away from regionalism wouldn’t see the end of cooperation between councils. The Localism Bill will contain an "obligation on authorities to cooperate on those parts of their policies which cross borders and boundaries and in a way that cross boundaries that were perhaps not recognised in the regional system."
Wednesday 30 June 2010
Tuesday 29 June 2010
Housing and Planning Unit scrapped 'with immediate effect'
In a letter to stakeholders Richard McCarthy, director general of housing and planning at the Department for Communities and Local Government, said that the National Housing and Planning Advice Unit would be wound up.
"In order to achieve savings, it has been decided to close the NHPAU with immediate effect," the letter said.
"This does not mean that the new Government is any less committed to increasing housing supply."
"In order to achieve savings, it has been decided to close the NHPAU with immediate effect," the letter said.
"This does not mean that the new Government is any less committed to increasing housing supply."
Monday 28 June 2010
Housing supply exceeds demand according to new research
Supply of housing has grown three times faster than demand, according to research published by property analyst Hometrack today.
Six out of ten English regions have seen demand fall this month, while new supply has grown 15 per cent compared to a 4.9 per cent increase in demand.
Growth in demand has been slowing for the past four months, said Hometrack, with the run up to the general election, pre-budget talk of austerity measures and a continuing lack of mortgage finance all contributing to market uncertainty.
Six out of ten English regions have seen demand fall this month, while new supply has grown 15 per cent compared to a 4.9 per cent increase in demand.
Growth in demand has been slowing for the past four months, said Hometrack, with the run up to the general election, pre-budget talk of austerity measures and a continuing lack of mortgage finance all contributing to market uncertainty.
Council newspapers next to feel the sharp end of Conservatives' localism
Mr Pickles announced over the weekend that he would toughen up council publicity codes to prevent ‘council PR passing itself off as independent journalism’.
Commenting, Mr Pickles said ‘At the same time, communities are seeing a decline in the number of local newspapers. This is a sorry trend.
‘One council prides itself on having the leading newspaper, with more readers, more news and more influence than any other paper in the borough. This jars with me. Is this really something a council should be boasting about?
‘Or should they be worrying more about whether they are providing leading schools, clean streets and value-for-money services?’
Commenting, Mr Pickles said ‘At the same time, communities are seeing a decline in the number of local newspapers. This is a sorry trend.
‘One council prides itself on having the leading newspaper, with more readers, more news and more influence than any other paper in the borough. This jars with me. Is this really something a council should be boasting about?
‘Or should they be worrying more about whether they are providing leading schools, clean streets and value-for-money services?’
Friday 25 June 2010
Minister urges planners to engage with communities
Junior planning minister Bob Neill has called on planners to become "experts at working with communities, and translating their visions into action".
Community consultation and local engagement were given pride of place in the Minister’s address to the National Planning Forum today, as Mr Neill called on the profession to “lead the revolution to put power back into the hands of people”
Mr Neill said: "We're abolishing this ridiculous system where Whitehall tells communities what they must build, and then dictates when and where they have to build it. Those who make planning decisions will no longer be able to avoid reporting back to those whose lives are directly affected by them.
"Communities will be able to come together and take responsibility for solving their own local challenges in a way that make sense for them. And in return, they will be offered powerful incentives that ensure they see the benefits of the development they welcome.
"But we can't return to localism simply by changing the rules. We need your help to make this work. Planning has its roots in a democratic system that engages local communities.
"You were there at the beginning, and you will be there again to give communities the real power and real influence they deserve."
Community consultation and local engagement were given pride of place in the Minister’s address to the National Planning Forum today, as Mr Neill called on the profession to “lead the revolution to put power back into the hands of people”
Mr Neill said: "We're abolishing this ridiculous system where Whitehall tells communities what they must build, and then dictates when and where they have to build it. Those who make planning decisions will no longer be able to avoid reporting back to those whose lives are directly affected by them.
"Communities will be able to come together and take responsibility for solving their own local challenges in a way that make sense for them. And in return, they will be offered powerful incentives that ensure they see the benefits of the development they welcome.
"But we can't return to localism simply by changing the rules. We need your help to make this work. Planning has its roots in a democratic system that engages local communities.
"You were there at the beginning, and you will be there again to give communities the real power and real influence they deserve."
PickleWatch
Tunbridge Wells: Update
The Council’s review into its newly adopted core strategy will investigate the possibility of:
* A reduction in total housing numbers.
* Whether there should be any review of Inner Green Belt boundaries before 2026.
* That windfall sites should be counted in the first ten years of the Plan.
* Changes be made to reflect the abolition of minimum densities (PPS3) and garden grabbing.
Cllr Roy Bullock, Leader of the Council - ‘I am delighted members agreed to the adoption of the Core Strategy now. With the review, we can start to change the Core Strategy, following due process, to reflect the concerns of Councillors and residents with elements imposed on the Council by the last government. This review will be carried out in parallel with the consultation on Area Action Plans and the Allocations Development Plan Documents’.
The Council’s review into its newly adopted core strategy will investigate the possibility of:
* A reduction in total housing numbers.
* Whether there should be any review of Inner Green Belt boundaries before 2026.
* That windfall sites should be counted in the first ten years of the Plan.
* Changes be made to reflect the abolition of minimum densities (PPS3) and garden grabbing.
Cllr Roy Bullock, Leader of the Council - ‘I am delighted members agreed to the adoption of the Core Strategy now. With the review, we can start to change the Core Strategy, following due process, to reflect the concerns of Councillors and residents with elements imposed on the Council by the last government. This review will be carried out in parallel with the consultation on Area Action Plans and the Allocations Development Plan Documents’.
CAA's scrapped in localism shake-up
The Communities and Local Government Secretary has written to Councils up and down the country with the announcement that Council league tables have been formally scrapped by the new Government. Comprehensive Area Assessments (CAA) are the latest over-arching local government mechanism to get the chop in the Coalition’s localism agenda.
Commenting, Mr Pickles said: "Today I have instructed town hall watchdogs to stop tying the hands of council workers with unnecessary red tape and paperwork.
"It is much more important for the public to know what their councils are doing than having thousands of hush-hush, unseen papers being sent back and forth between Whitehall bureaucrats and the town hall. We are already pushing power as far away from Whitehall as we can and calling on councils to throw open their books to create much more cost effective and efficient local public services."
Commenting, Mr Pickles said: "Today I have instructed town hall watchdogs to stop tying the hands of council workers with unnecessary red tape and paperwork.
"It is much more important for the public to know what their councils are doing than having thousands of hush-hush, unseen papers being sent back and forth between Whitehall bureaucrats and the town hall. We are already pushing power as far away from Whitehall as we can and calling on councils to throw open their books to create much more cost effective and efficient local public services."
Budget Opinions from 3 Political Viewpoints
We asked three of our political consultants to give us their view on Tuesdays Emergency Budget. Here's what they had to say.....................
Conservative Opinion
Fixing the mess
It was the budget that no-one really wanted, but everyone accepts the country desperately needed. George Osborne has set out a package of very stiff measures aimed at reducing the record £158billion deficit. To put this in perspective, for every four pounds the government currently spends one pound of that is borrowed. That is a huge amount of money and the consequences of not getting to grips with this mean that we are now shelling out more on debt interest than the cost of educating our children.
It needs to stop and the Coalition government have resolved to do something about it.
This budget was remarkable for the way that it went out of its way to protect poorer people. Those on modest incomes in the public sector will have to make a contribution as their salaries will be frozen, but this is more than compensated by increasing the personal allowance by £1,000. Almost a million people will be taken out of paying tax altogether.
Of course the headline of this budget is the VAT rise to 20%. For any government serious about getting a deficit down this is the best way of doing it as you tax at the source of any purchase. But the commitment to restore the link between pensions and earnings should insulate those who would feel a VAT rise the most, pensioners.
All in all this budget plans for a full parliament. It aims to bring the deficit down from 25% of national income to 1.1% in 2015. Most importantly it has given the UK economy the kind of credibility it needs to carry on functioning on the international markets. It has, in essence, saved this country from bankruptcy.
Antony Calvert
Antony was the Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate (PPC) in the Morley and Outwood constituency for the 2010 General Election and was also formerly a Wakefield councillor and deputy leader of the Conservative group.
Labour Opinion
This Con Dem Budget is the biggest gamble since Apollo 13 attempted re-entry, and it has just as much a risk of burning up.
The fundamental risk is that cutting deeper and faster the Con Dem government will damage the fragile recovery. This slash and burn approach to the public sector is dressed up as some national crisis. We all know that debt reduction is important, but economic growth and sustained investment in key sectors is a better solution than ripping the heart out of the public services and making hundreds of thousands more people unemployed. The Tory Party have a long held an ideological aversion to the public sector and this is truly at the heart of this budget. The economic recession gives them the cover from which to unpick the national health service, deregulate and privatise education, and destroy the safety net of the welfare state. This is a radical budget, a right wing radical budget - the Nasty Tory Party are back in power.
So how the Liberal Democrats can be happy sat there nodding in approval as the Tory Chancellor announces policies only a few weeks ago they were opposing in the election is beyond belief and principle. They have surrendered any pretense to progressive centre left politics.
The key points that stand out are a real terms cut in Child Benefit, a freezing of public sector pay while VAT is pushed back up to 20%. People on housing benefit will have it capped at £400pm and this will result in thousands of people losing their homes. Child Tax credits will be limited, and thousands of public sector employees will be sacked as 30% cuts are pushed through. That will mean less nurses, police and teachers as well as civil servants.
The poorest in our society will be punished and the bankers still with their bonuses get off lightly. As local government budgets are slashed, social services, education and children’s services, care homes and support for the most vulnerable in our society will be hit very hard.
The danger is that all of this will stall the recovery and lead to a double dip, the Americans have been so worried by this approach Obama even called on our politicians to think twice before embarking on this journey of such risk. The impact will not just be reducing the public state, but it could tip the balance of recovery in the private sector. The Japanese followed the same budget philosophy in the 90s and it led to years of pain and no recovery.
Before the general election, Nick Clegg said that big, early cuts in public spending would be dangerous for the ordinary working people of Britain. But this week's Con Dem budget is a combination of tax rises and spending cuts -- and it will hit ordinary families the hardest of all.
Paul Harvey
Paul is the former leader of Basingstoke and Deane County Council and a current Labour councillor.
Liberal Democrat Opinion
Tuesday’s emergency budget made for interesting if rather demoralising reading. Those on the political centre-Left will have found solace in a lower than forecast VAT rise, but little else. The £1,000 increase in personal income tax allowance, 10% rise in capital gains tax on top-rate earners and the extension of the entrepreneurs 10% “relief rate” from the first £2m to £5m too will go some way to appeasing the Conservative’s critics.
Any enthusiasm for the above, however, will be tempered by the understanding that this budget has been a hammer-blow to the public sector, and anyone unfortunate enough be in a position of dependence on the services that its mechanisms provide.
Of course, in tackling the deficit, the coalition has been left with little choice but to trim the fat of the state where it sees fit, and to confront wasteful spending head on. We can all accept that the country needed a radical financial overhaul, and that New Labour left the Conservatives an unenviable task in restructuring an economy in tatters. However, the disparity between the rhetoric (particularly that of “fairness”) and the budget’s main thrust is striking, and will have done little to comfort Liberal Democrats gauging the party’s influence over their Conservative “allies”.
Some Tory maxims, devolution for example, have been more fully evinced in the emergency budget, particularly with regards to planning. The emphasis on localism will encourage local Councils, although the Conservative proposals for replacing the current bureaucratic planning structure remain a mystery. Commitments to the environmental agenda were predictably thin and flakey, burying the central issues in Committees, reviews and the usual decade-spanning targets for emissions cuts. Given the overwhelming ambivalence on the Conservatives’ part, it seems unlikely that this will change for some time.
Osborne was quite right in saying that this Budget was the one that nobody wanted, but the country needed. Whether he has got the balance right remains to be seen.
Ally Kennedy
Ally has recently joined Curtin&Co and previously worked on policy and research for the Liberal Democrats at their Headquarters in Westminster and at constituency level.
Conservative Opinion
Fixing the mess
It was the budget that no-one really wanted, but everyone accepts the country desperately needed. George Osborne has set out a package of very stiff measures aimed at reducing the record £158billion deficit. To put this in perspective, for every four pounds the government currently spends one pound of that is borrowed. That is a huge amount of money and the consequences of not getting to grips with this mean that we are now shelling out more on debt interest than the cost of educating our children.
It needs to stop and the Coalition government have resolved to do something about it.
This budget was remarkable for the way that it went out of its way to protect poorer people. Those on modest incomes in the public sector will have to make a contribution as their salaries will be frozen, but this is more than compensated by increasing the personal allowance by £1,000. Almost a million people will be taken out of paying tax altogether.
Of course the headline of this budget is the VAT rise to 20%. For any government serious about getting a deficit down this is the best way of doing it as you tax at the source of any purchase. But the commitment to restore the link between pensions and earnings should insulate those who would feel a VAT rise the most, pensioners.
All in all this budget plans for a full parliament. It aims to bring the deficit down from 25% of national income to 1.1% in 2015. Most importantly it has given the UK economy the kind of credibility it needs to carry on functioning on the international markets. It has, in essence, saved this country from bankruptcy.
Antony Calvert
Antony was the Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate (PPC) in the Morley and Outwood constituency for the 2010 General Election and was also formerly a Wakefield councillor and deputy leader of the Conservative group.
Labour Opinion
This Con Dem Budget is the biggest gamble since Apollo 13 attempted re-entry, and it has just as much a risk of burning up.
The fundamental risk is that cutting deeper and faster the Con Dem government will damage the fragile recovery. This slash and burn approach to the public sector is dressed up as some national crisis. We all know that debt reduction is important, but economic growth and sustained investment in key sectors is a better solution than ripping the heart out of the public services and making hundreds of thousands more people unemployed. The Tory Party have a long held an ideological aversion to the public sector and this is truly at the heart of this budget. The economic recession gives them the cover from which to unpick the national health service, deregulate and privatise education, and destroy the safety net of the welfare state. This is a radical budget, a right wing radical budget - the Nasty Tory Party are back in power.
So how the Liberal Democrats can be happy sat there nodding in approval as the Tory Chancellor announces policies only a few weeks ago they were opposing in the election is beyond belief and principle. They have surrendered any pretense to progressive centre left politics.
The key points that stand out are a real terms cut in Child Benefit, a freezing of public sector pay while VAT is pushed back up to 20%. People on housing benefit will have it capped at £400pm and this will result in thousands of people losing their homes. Child Tax credits will be limited, and thousands of public sector employees will be sacked as 30% cuts are pushed through. That will mean less nurses, police and teachers as well as civil servants.
The poorest in our society will be punished and the bankers still with their bonuses get off lightly. As local government budgets are slashed, social services, education and children’s services, care homes and support for the most vulnerable in our society will be hit very hard.
The danger is that all of this will stall the recovery and lead to a double dip, the Americans have been so worried by this approach Obama even called on our politicians to think twice before embarking on this journey of such risk. The impact will not just be reducing the public state, but it could tip the balance of recovery in the private sector. The Japanese followed the same budget philosophy in the 90s and it led to years of pain and no recovery.
Before the general election, Nick Clegg said that big, early cuts in public spending would be dangerous for the ordinary working people of Britain. But this week's Con Dem budget is a combination of tax rises and spending cuts -- and it will hit ordinary families the hardest of all.
Paul Harvey
Paul is the former leader of Basingstoke and Deane County Council and a current Labour councillor.
Liberal Democrat Opinion
Tuesday’s emergency budget made for interesting if rather demoralising reading. Those on the political centre-Left will have found solace in a lower than forecast VAT rise, but little else. The £1,000 increase in personal income tax allowance, 10% rise in capital gains tax on top-rate earners and the extension of the entrepreneurs 10% “relief rate” from the first £2m to £5m too will go some way to appeasing the Conservative’s critics.
Any enthusiasm for the above, however, will be tempered by the understanding that this budget has been a hammer-blow to the public sector, and anyone unfortunate enough be in a position of dependence on the services that its mechanisms provide.
Of course, in tackling the deficit, the coalition has been left with little choice but to trim the fat of the state where it sees fit, and to confront wasteful spending head on. We can all accept that the country needed a radical financial overhaul, and that New Labour left the Conservatives an unenviable task in restructuring an economy in tatters. However, the disparity between the rhetoric (particularly that of “fairness”) and the budget’s main thrust is striking, and will have done little to comfort Liberal Democrats gauging the party’s influence over their Conservative “allies”.
Some Tory maxims, devolution for example, have been more fully evinced in the emergency budget, particularly with regards to planning. The emphasis on localism will encourage local Councils, although the Conservative proposals for replacing the current bureaucratic planning structure remain a mystery. Commitments to the environmental agenda were predictably thin and flakey, burying the central issues in Committees, reviews and the usual decade-spanning targets for emissions cuts. Given the overwhelming ambivalence on the Conservatives’ part, it seems unlikely that this will change for some time.
Osborne was quite right in saying that this Budget was the one that nobody wanted, but the country needed. Whether he has got the balance right remains to be seen.
Ally Kennedy
Ally has recently joined Curtin&Co and previously worked on policy and research for the Liberal Democrats at their Headquarters in Westminster and at constituency level.
Tuesday 22 June 2010
Planners' Budget Breakdown
Simplifying the planning process
* through the use of Local Development Orders, was "part of the shift to a more locally driven planning regime".
* a rise in VAT to 20%
* two-year pay freeze for public sector workers the government
* confirmation of intention to scrap Regional Development Agencies and replace them with "strong local enterprise partnerships, particularly those based around England’s major cities and other natural economic areas, to enable improved coordination of public and private investment in transport, housing, skills, regeneration and other areas of economic development."
* a new Regional Growth Fund for England in 2011-12 and 2012-13 to support employment and economic growth. The Devolved Administrations will be "encouraged" to undertake similar action.* a "new approach" to the English regions with a white paper on the issue later in the summer.
Further Cuts
* government departments including CLG, Environment and Transport will have their budgets cut by 25% over the course of the Parliament.
Go-aheads
* Osborne confirmed the upgrade of the Tyne & Wear Metro, the extension of the Manchester Metrolink, the redevelopment of Birmingham New Street station and improvements to the rail lines to Sheffield and between Liverpool and Leeds.
* the establishment of Infrastructure UK (IUK) to lead work within HM Treasury to "enable greater private sector investment in infrastructure, and improve the government’s long-term planning and delivery".
Budget Reaction
Stay tuned for analysis from our Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Labour consultants on the most eagerly anticipated budget in a generation...............
Friday 18 June 2010
PickleWatch
Tunbridge Wells
The Council has resolved to adopt its Core Strategy Development Plan Document (aka the Core Strategy) following a meeting of Full Council on the 17th June. It becomes one of the first Councils to adopt a DPD following Eric Pickles’ letter concerning the abolition of Regional Spatial Strategies.
However, the Council has voted to conduct immediate reviews into its newly adopted DPD, particularly with regard to a very specific ‘reduction in housing numbers’.
Updates will follow as the situation develops.
The Council has resolved to adopt its Core Strategy Development Plan Document (aka the Core Strategy) following a meeting of Full Council on the 17th June. It becomes one of the first Councils to adopt a DPD following Eric Pickles’ letter concerning the abolition of Regional Spatial Strategies.
However, the Council has voted to conduct immediate reviews into its newly adopted DPD, particularly with regard to a very specific ‘reduction in housing numbers’.
Updates will follow as the situation develops.
Government gives green light to transport projects
The DfT has confirmed that major transport schemes including a £121 million project to extend Manchester's Metrolink tram system and a £19 million road-widening scheme in Liverpool will go ahead after escaping the latest round of Treasury cuts.
Confirmed schemes:
- Luton-Dunstable Busway- A130/A13 Sadlers Farm Junction (Essex)- Tees Valley Bus Network Improvements- Metrolink Extension (Greater Manchester)- Edge Lane/Eastern Approaches (Liverpool)- Bidston Moss Viaduct Maintenance (Merseyside)- Poole Bridge- A41 Expressway (Sandwell)- A65 QBC (Leeds)- Silver Jubilee Bridge Maintenance (Halton)- Tyne and Wear Metro- M1 J19 Catthorpe Viaduct Replacement
Confirmed schemes:
- Luton-Dunstable Busway- A130/A13 Sadlers Farm Junction (Essex)- Tees Valley Bus Network Improvements- Metrolink Extension (Greater Manchester)- Edge Lane/Eastern Approaches (Liverpool)- Bidston Moss Viaduct Maintenance (Merseyside)- Poole Bridge- A41 Expressway (Sandwell)- A65 QBC (Leeds)- Silver Jubilee Bridge Maintenance (Halton)- Tyne and Wear Metro- M1 J19 Catthorpe Viaduct Replacement
Thursday 17 June 2010
Labour Government schemes hit hard by £2bn cuts list
Cancelled Schemes
Stonehenge Visitor Centre - £25 million, Department for Culture Media and SportLocal
Authority Leader Boards - £16 million, Communities and Local GovernmentSheffield
Forgemasters International Limited - £80 million, Business Innovation and Skills
Roll-out of the Future Jobs Fund - £290 million, Department for Work & Pensions
Six-month offer recruitment subsidies - £30 million, Department for Work & Pensions
Extension of Young Person's Guarantee to 2011-12 - £450 million, Department for Work & Pensions
Two-year Jobseeker's Guarantee - £515 million, Department for Work & PensionsActive Challenge Routes - Walk England - £2 million, Department of Health
County Sports Partnerships - £6 million, Department of Health
North Tees and Hartlepool Hospital - £450 million, Department of Health
Local Authority Business Growth Initiative (LABGI) - £50 million, Local Government: (previously announced)
Regional Development Agencies - Outukumpu: £13 million
Suspended Schemes
Libraries Modernisation Programme - £12 million, Department for Culture Media and Sport
Sevenstone Sheffield retail quarter - £12 million, Communities and Local Government
Kent Thameside Strategic Transport Programme - £23m, Communities and Local Government
University Enterprise Capital Fund - £25 million BIS
Newton Scholarships - £25 million, BIS
Birmingham Magistrates Court - £94 million, Ministry of Justice(2010-11 element included in Osborne's £6.2 billion announcement)
A14 road - £1.1 billion, D for Transport
Stonehenge Visitor Centre - £25 million, Department for Culture Media and SportLocal
Authority Leader Boards - £16 million, Communities and Local GovernmentSheffield
Forgemasters International Limited - £80 million, Business Innovation and Skills
Roll-out of the Future Jobs Fund - £290 million, Department for Work & Pensions
Six-month offer recruitment subsidies - £30 million, Department for Work & Pensions
Extension of Young Person's Guarantee to 2011-12 - £450 million, Department for Work & Pensions
Two-year Jobseeker's Guarantee - £515 million, Department for Work & PensionsActive Challenge Routes - Walk England - £2 million, Department of Health
County Sports Partnerships - £6 million, Department of Health
North Tees and Hartlepool Hospital - £450 million, Department of Health
Local Authority Business Growth Initiative (LABGI) - £50 million, Local Government: (previously announced)
Regional Development Agencies - Outukumpu: £13 million
Suspended Schemes
Libraries Modernisation Programme - £12 million, Department for Culture Media and Sport
Sevenstone Sheffield retail quarter - £12 million, Communities and Local Government
Kent Thameside Strategic Transport Programme - £23m, Communities and Local Government
University Enterprise Capital Fund - £25 million BIS
Newton Scholarships - £25 million, BIS
Birmingham Magistrates Court - £94 million, Ministry of Justice(2010-11 element included in Osborne's £6.2 billion announcement)
A14 road - £1.1 billion, D for Transport
Wednesday 16 June 2010
Local Authority Leader Boards to be scrapped
Communities Secretary Eric Pickles announced today that the coalition Government plans to roll back regional bureaucracy by abolishing unelected Local Authority Leader Boards.
The Leader Boards, created in the last weeks of the Labour regime, replaced appointed regional assemblies which had previously held responsibility for regional strategies on a range of issues including planning, housing and transport.
The Leader Boards, created in the last weeks of the Labour regime, replaced appointed regional assemblies which had previously held responsibility for regional strategies on a range of issues including planning, housing and transport.
PickleWatch
West Dorset
Hilary Jordan, Planning Policy Manager - “It is likely that local authorities will be expected to take account of evidence of housing need and forecasts of population growth when deciding on the right level of development for their areas, but no targets will be set at national or regional level.
“With no regional target now being set ... we will need to consider what level of development is appropriate and achievable in West Dorset and will be consulting our local communities later this year on the potential options for development.”
Hilary Jordan, Planning Policy Manager - “It is likely that local authorities will be expected to take account of evidence of housing need and forecasts of population growth when deciding on the right level of development for their areas, but no targets will be set at national or regional level.
“With no regional target now being set ... we will need to consider what level of development is appropriate and achievable in West Dorset and will be consulting our local communities later this year on the potential options for development.”
Tuesday 15 June 2010
PickleWatch
Durham
The Council is considering revising its housing targets in light of the Secretary of State’s letter almost three weeks ago.
Cllr Alan Napier, Deputy Council Leader - “We may have to revise this as a local plan because it will have to take into account the regional spatial strategy. Everyone has heard the announcement by the Lib Cons, or whatever you call them, that they have already abolished the regional spatial strategy.”
Cllr Richard Bell - “It is a long-term plan, and some of its assumptions on housing numbers come from the Regional Spatial Strategy which is probably going to be torn up by the new Government. We need a good ‘bottom up’ debate on where we see ourselves going in planning and economic development. Teesdale has an opportunity here to say how it sees itself in the future: as a dormitory for the rest of the county, or as a sustainable working economy.
The Council is considering revising its housing targets in light of the Secretary of State’s letter almost three weeks ago.
Cllr Alan Napier, Deputy Council Leader - “We may have to revise this as a local plan because it will have to take into account the regional spatial strategy. Everyone has heard the announcement by the Lib Cons, or whatever you call them, that they have already abolished the regional spatial strategy.”
Cllr Richard Bell - “It is a long-term plan, and some of its assumptions on housing numbers come from the Regional Spatial Strategy which is probably going to be torn up by the new Government. We need a good ‘bottom up’ debate on where we see ourselves going in planning and economic development. Teesdale has an opportunity here to say how it sees itself in the future: as a dormitory for the rest of the county, or as a sustainable working economy.
Monday 14 June 2010
RDAs next for the chop
The coalition has announced its intention to scrap all nine regional development agencies. The move is expected to save up to £2.3 billion a year.
Eric Pickles announced that all nine RDAs will go as part of Coalition plans to streamline government and find big efficiency savings.
Eric Pickles announced that all nine RDAs will go as part of Coalition plans to streamline government and find big efficiency savings.
Pickles letter 'not legally enforceable'
A letter from communities secretary Eric Pickles advising councils that they can disregard regional housing targets is not legally enforceable, according to a leading planning barrister.
Peter Village QC has already provided formal advice to three major housebuilders - including Persimmon - that the minister's letter would not stand up in court. The letter was recently cited by Cotswold District Council in its rejection of an application for 300 homes by housebuilder Cala Homes.
Village said that the Pickles letter was flawed because it effectively assumes that the regional spatial strategies do not exist and will be abolished, but this is a matter that Parliament has yet to decide.
Watch this space for Ministerial reation to the news.........
Peter Village QC has already provided formal advice to three major housebuilders - including Persimmon - that the minister's letter would not stand up in court. The letter was recently cited by Cotswold District Council in its rejection of an application for 300 homes by housebuilder Cala Homes.
Village said that the Pickles letter was flawed because it effectively assumes that the regional spatial strategies do not exist and will be abolished, but this is a matter that Parliament has yet to decide.
Watch this space for Ministerial reation to the news.........
HMR ring-fence ditched
The ring-fence has been removed from £236 million of housing market renewal funding as part of the Government’s drive for towards devolved decision-making powers.
See http://www.regen.net/news/ByDiscipline/Housing/1009511/Pickles-removes-HMR-ring-fence/ for details details
See http://www.regen.net/news/ByDiscipline/Housing/1009511/Pickles-removes-HMR-ring-fence/ for details details
PickleWatch
Derbyshire Dales
The Council has been advised by Government Office for the East Midlands that:
“The Government is expected to confirm in follow up advice that local planning authorities should continue to bring forward Development Plan Documents and to plan for housing growth, and though it will be for local authorities to assess how much growth is necessary in their areas they should continue to recognise that such growth needs to be assessed across housing market areas.”
The Council has been advised by Government Office for the East Midlands that:
“The Government is expected to confirm in follow up advice that local planning authorities should continue to bring forward Development Plan Documents and to plan for housing growth, and though it will be for local authorities to assess how much growth is necessary in their areas they should continue to recognise that such growth needs to be assessed across housing market areas.”
Friday 11 June 2010
PickleWatch
Ipswich Borough Council
The Council has adjourned its core strategy Pre-Hearing meeting scheduled for the 15th June in light of Eric Pickles’ letter to Councils. The Council will await further clarification from Ministers as to the restructuring of the planning process before proceeding further with its core strategy formulation.
The Council has adjourned its core strategy Pre-Hearing meeting scheduled for the 15th June in light of Eric Pickles’ letter to Councils. The Council will await further clarification from Ministers as to the restructuring of the planning process before proceeding further with its core strategy formulation.
PickleWatch
St Edmundsbury
The Council has elected to enter a second period of consultation on the District’s core strategy following Eric Pickle’s letter. A decision will is expected from the local planning inspector in July or August.
Cllr Ian Poole – “All the comments will go back to the Inspector and they will consider all those before writing his final report and submitting that to us ... His report is binding to the council and if he says ‘I think something should be changed' then the council has to take note of that and change it. It will take legislation to rescind a government document like [regional spatial strategies]”
Taunton Deane
The Council has confirmed that as a result of Pickles’ announcement its new housing target is likely to be 14,000 for Taunton with a further 3,000 for the rest of the Deane – figures previously adopted by the authority in 2005. Before the announcement on scrapping RSS’s, the housing target for the District had set out 18,000 new homes for Taunton and 3,000 for Wellington by 2026.
The Council’s core strategy remains under scrutiny, and In the short term two sites are set to be earmarked for 300 homes each – Nerrols in Taunton and at Cades Farm in Wellington.
The Council has elected to enter a second period of consultation on the District’s core strategy following Eric Pickle’s letter. A decision will is expected from the local planning inspector in July or August.
Cllr Ian Poole – “All the comments will go back to the Inspector and they will consider all those before writing his final report and submitting that to us ... His report is binding to the council and if he says ‘I think something should be changed' then the council has to take note of that and change it. It will take legislation to rescind a government document like [regional spatial strategies]”
Taunton Deane
The Council has confirmed that as a result of Pickles’ announcement its new housing target is likely to be 14,000 for Taunton with a further 3,000 for the rest of the Deane – figures previously adopted by the authority in 2005. Before the announcement on scrapping RSS’s, the housing target for the District had set out 18,000 new homes for Taunton and 3,000 for Wellington by 2026.
The Council’s core strategy remains under scrutiny, and In the short term two sites are set to be earmarked for 300 homes each – Nerrols in Taunton and at Cades Farm in Wellington.
PickleWatch
Broadland, Greater Norwich
Fresh questions were raised about the fate of growth schemes earmarked for Norfolk as Councillors rejected a proposal to build a green business park on the edge of Norwich because of uncertainties over government planning policies.
Cllr Tony Adams - "Everything we are considering is based on the previous government's ideas, or lack of them ... We have already had one letter from Eric Pickles about the regional strategy being thrown out of the window. Anything that they put forward would be very dangerous at this stage until things become clear.”
Fresh questions were raised about the fate of growth schemes earmarked for Norfolk as Councillors rejected a proposal to build a green business park on the edge of Norwich because of uncertainties over government planning policies.
Cllr Tony Adams - "Everything we are considering is based on the previous government's ideas, or lack of them ... We have already had one letter from Eric Pickles about the regional strategy being thrown out of the window. Anything that they put forward would be very dangerous at this stage until things become clear.”
Thursday 10 June 2010
PickleWatch
Wiltshire
Wiltshire County Council is reportedly moving towards cutting the home-building target in the region in response to Eric Pickles’ letter.
John Brady, Cabinet Member - “We are told new guidelines about what will replace core strategies will be worked on during the summer Parliamentary recess. In the meantime we are seeking clarification from Eric Pickles, the Communities Secretary.
“Our planning team is talking to developers to remind them there are still a number of sites available to develop that were allocated in the old Salisbury District Council’s local plan. There is land at Archers Gate, for example, or Old Sarum.
“But in future, the vision is that these things will be driven from the bottom up and not the top down ... A lot of the figures for projected economic growth were produced in the boom times, and the climate has changed. I personally think they were too optimistic and there is every likelihood the housing figures will be reduced. It was a lot to expect south Wiltshire to take.”
Wiltshire County Council is reportedly moving towards cutting the home-building target in the region in response to Eric Pickles’ letter.
John Brady, Cabinet Member - “We are told new guidelines about what will replace core strategies will be worked on during the summer Parliamentary recess. In the meantime we are seeking clarification from Eric Pickles, the Communities Secretary.
“Our planning team is talking to developers to remind them there are still a number of sites available to develop that were allocated in the old Salisbury District Council’s local plan. There is land at Archers Gate, for example, or Old Sarum.
“But in future, the vision is that these things will be driven from the bottom up and not the top down ... A lot of the figures for projected economic growth were produced in the boom times, and the climate has changed. I personally think they were too optimistic and there is every likelihood the housing figures will be reduced. It was a lot to expect south Wiltshire to take.”
PickleWatch
Wealden District Council
Cllr Roy Galley, Planning Committee Chair - "We are delighted with [the announcement regional spatial strategies will be scrapped] from the Secretary of State as we have very strongly been opposed to the South East Plan figure of 11,000 houses that were required to be developed within Wealden. This Council has consistently expressed its objections to such a figure as being unsustainable within a district which has such a high number of environmental constraints and limited infrastructure capacity.
Councillor Galley has confirmed that he will be writing to the Secretary of State to request more details as soon as possible and the Council awaits with interest the further announcements promised in Eric Pickles' letter.
"It will take some time to carefully consider the implications of this statement but we will do this as quickly as possible ... Most importantly we welcome the opportunity it appears to offer in allowing us to develop a long term plan for Wealden which more clearly meets the needs and aspirations of our local communities."
Cllr Roy Galley, Planning Committee Chair - "We are delighted with [the announcement regional spatial strategies will be scrapped] from the Secretary of State as we have very strongly been opposed to the South East Plan figure of 11,000 houses that were required to be developed within Wealden. This Council has consistently expressed its objections to such a figure as being unsustainable within a district which has such a high number of environmental constraints and limited infrastructure capacity.
Councillor Galley has confirmed that he will be writing to the Secretary of State to request more details as soon as possible and the Council awaits with interest the further announcements promised in Eric Pickles' letter.
"It will take some time to carefully consider the implications of this statement but we will do this as quickly as possible ... Most importantly we welcome the opportunity it appears to offer in allowing us to develop a long term plan for Wealden which more clearly meets the needs and aspirations of our local communities."
Tuesday 8 June 2010
The new transparency agenda for local government
Eric Pickles set out his agenda for transparency in local government this week with a letter to councils urging them to publish all expenses over £500. The move follows the proposition of pay cuts for senior positions of public service and the publication of the COINS database last week – detailing annual government spending at a national level.
Commenting on the most recent diktat handed down to council bosses, the Communities Secretary said:
"Getting council business out in the open will revolutionise local government. Local people should be able to hold politicians and public bodies to account over how their hard earned cash is being spent and decisions made on their behalf. They can only do that effectively if they have the information they need at their fingertips.
"The public should be able to see where their money goes and what it delivers. The swift and simple changes we are calling for today will unleash an army of armchair auditors and quite rightly make those charged with doling out the pennies stop and think twice about whether they are getting value for money.
"Throwing open the council books will open the door to new businesses and encourage greater innovation and entrepreneurism. Organisations that might have been effectively locked out before, including voluntary sector and small business, will be in a much stronger position to pitch for contracts and bring new ideas and solutions to the table."
Commenting on the most recent diktat handed down to council bosses, the Communities Secretary said:
"Getting council business out in the open will revolutionise local government. Local people should be able to hold politicians and public bodies to account over how their hard earned cash is being spent and decisions made on their behalf. They can only do that effectively if they have the information they need at their fingertips.
"The public should be able to see where their money goes and what it delivers. The swift and simple changes we are calling for today will unleash an army of armchair auditors and quite rightly make those charged with doling out the pennies stop and think twice about whether they are getting value for money.
"Throwing open the council books will open the door to new businesses and encourage greater innovation and entrepreneurism. Organisations that might have been effectively locked out before, including voluntary sector and small business, will be in a much stronger position to pitch for contracts and bring new ideas and solutions to the table."
PickleWatch
Epping Forest
Di Collins, Council Leader - "This is great news. It means the end for the deeply unpopular Government Directive that effectively forced the Council and our residents into one of the most prolonged, expensive and bureaucratic consultations our residents have ever had to endure.
"It was disliked by everyone including our local Gypsy and Travelling community and it will be a great relief for everyone to know we will now see the back of it. I applaud Eric Pickles for his swift action."
Peterborough
Marco Cereste, Council Leader - "I welcome the coalition Government's proposals for the reform of the planning system, and in particular the decision to abolish the Regional Spatial Strategy and return decision making on planning matters to the city council and our local communities ...
Once there is greater clarity about the Government's proposals for a new planning system we will review our future growth allocations to ensure that we plan properly for the natural growth of our city and the investment that we need”
Di Collins, Council Leader - "This is great news. It means the end for the deeply unpopular Government Directive that effectively forced the Council and our residents into one of the most prolonged, expensive and bureaucratic consultations our residents have ever had to endure.
"It was disliked by everyone including our local Gypsy and Travelling community and it will be a great relief for everyone to know we will now see the back of it. I applaud Eric Pickles for his swift action."
Peterborough
Marco Cereste, Council Leader - "I welcome the coalition Government's proposals for the reform of the planning system, and in particular the decision to abolish the Regional Spatial Strategy and return decision making on planning matters to the city council and our local communities ...
Once there is greater clarity about the Government's proposals for a new planning system we will review our future growth allocations to ensure that we plan properly for the natural growth of our city and the investment that we need”
Friday 4 June 2010
PickleWatch
Since Mr Pickle’s letter started hitting Council doormats on the 27th May, pre-emptive moves to cut core strategies and abandon the doomed RSS planning process have been seen up and down the country.
We’ll be keeping track of developments and keeping you abreast of the situation throughout - but for now - here are the Council’s who have been quickest off the mark:
East Herts District Council
Cllr Peter Ruffles - “We’ve long needed smaller component parts in planning and better small part liaison and agreement. Playing with big jigsaw puzzle pieces is simplistic. Regional government is remote from the living levels of people... Mr Pickles may have taken an intelligent step towards better local government.”
Cotswolds District Council
Cllr Sue Jepson – “"Local decision-making will be more prominent and local communication and concerns will be listened to. Before we were very restricted because the numbers were set to us by central Government."
Warwick
Cllr John Hammon – “We're extremely relieved that we are not expected to completely ruin and overdevelop our area, because the infrastructure can't take it. Now we have to decide what we can do. We require somethig to keep our district in some sort of order."
- South Oxfordshire, West Oxfordshire and Canterbury have all singalled their approval of the plans previously
- South Oxfordshire have gone as far as removing the core strategy from the Council’s Cabinet agenda.
We’ll be keeping track of developments and keeping you abreast of the situation throughout - but for now - here are the Council’s who have been quickest off the mark:
East Herts District Council
Cllr Peter Ruffles - “We’ve long needed smaller component parts in planning and better small part liaison and agreement. Playing with big jigsaw puzzle pieces is simplistic. Regional government is remote from the living levels of people... Mr Pickles may have taken an intelligent step towards better local government.”
Cotswolds District Council
Cllr Sue Jepson – “"Local decision-making will be more prominent and local communication and concerns will be listened to. Before we were very restricted because the numbers were set to us by central Government."
Warwick
Cllr John Hammon – “We're extremely relieved that we are not expected to completely ruin and overdevelop our area, because the infrastructure can't take it. Now we have to decide what we can do. We require somethig to keep our district in some sort of order."
- South Oxfordshire, West Oxfordshire and Canterbury have all singalled their approval of the plans previously
- South Oxfordshire have gone as far as removing the core strategy from the Council’s Cabinet agenda.
Thursday 3 June 2010
TCPAs "Future of Planning"
The TCPA have today published a new document which has been born following a series of roundtable debates earlier this year. It is entitled "Future of Planning" and they are hoping it will act as a guide to the coalitions planning reforms.
It seems our friends at the TCPA are at least as - if not more - concerned than the rest of us about our new Governments planned upheaval of the planning system, with their chief planner, Dr Hugh Ellis, going so far as to say he was "profoundly concerned" over the government’s proposal to abolish regional planning.
I have attached a link to the full document and let's hope that our friend in Westminster take heed of the industry's concerns and warnings!
Future of Planning by TCPA
It seems our friends at the TCPA are at least as - if not more - concerned than the rest of us about our new Governments planned upheaval of the planning system, with their chief planner, Dr Hugh Ellis, going so far as to say he was "profoundly concerned" over the government’s proposal to abolish regional planning.
I have attached a link to the full document and let's hope that our friend in Westminster take heed of the industry's concerns and warnings!
Future of Planning by TCPA
Wednesday 2 June 2010
Regional Spatial Strategies in a Pickle
The attached letter from Eric Pickles is simple and to the point: the abolition of RSSs.
Already two Tory councils are either withdrawing or about to withdraw their core strategies.
South Oxfordshire council will remove the core strategy from the agenda of its cabinet meeting this week.
West Oxfordshire said it will "be reviewing its position in relation to the core strategy and is awaiting further information and guidance from government."
This effectively leaves a political planning vacuum and we are really in uncharted territory. We have to see what emerges from the department in the coming weeks and months.
Curtin&Co will be monitoring this situation closely and posting regular updates on this blogspot under our 'PickleWatch' program.
View Eric Pickles letter
Already two Tory councils are either withdrawing or about to withdraw their core strategies.
South Oxfordshire council will remove the core strategy from the agenda of its cabinet meeting this week.
West Oxfordshire said it will "be reviewing its position in relation to the core strategy and is awaiting further information and guidance from government."
This effectively leaves a political planning vacuum and we are really in uncharted territory. We have to see what emerges from the department in the coming weeks and months.
Curtin&Co will be monitoring this situation closely and posting regular updates on this blogspot under our 'PickleWatch' program.
View Eric Pickles letter
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