This year’s Conservative conference could be described as serious in tone but energetic in nature. Whether the numerous fringe events, speeches and policy announcements will maintain the limelight for a few weeks is doubtful. Indeed the “cat fight” between Justice Minister Kenneth Clarke MP and Home Secretary Theresa May MP seems to have grabbed the main headlines. Who would have thought a cat could maintain ones right to residency in the UK?
The highlight of any conference is the leader’s speech, which is why most were surprised to see so many empty seats in the auditorium, especially for the serving Prime Minister. Much has been made over why this was the case, but it’s clear the nature of conferences are changing; there are many more lobbyists and commercial passes than Conservative activists, and hard times mean the cost of attending in the host cities of Manchester and Birmingham is too high a price to pay for many.
The leader’s speech itself was designed to be a “pick me up” with Cameron playing to traditional Tories stressing that the UK will never join the Euro under his leadership. And what for the liberal Conservatives? Cameron put forward proposals to consult on gay marriage; but the mainstream will be most pleased with the announcement of further council tax freezes.
So what for planning? Greg Clark MP and Eric Pickles MP were watched with close eyes, most notably by the Shire Tories. Indeed the former sent tongues wagging when he didn’t speak at his arranged conference spot on the NPPF, only to appear the following day to set the need for further housing. The Cities Minister played off the notion that 37 is the average age most people will enter the property market, a statistic which will surprise many.
In a fringe event, attended by Greg Clark and Amber Rudd MP, and with a room full of lobbyists and councillors, tough questions were asked of the transitional arrangements between the existing and upcoming planning legislation. Mr Clark confirmed that the NPPF consultation was not finished and seemed to elude that changes were continuing to be made. Quite whether council leaders who don’t have a current local plan feel more secure against pre-emptive applications by developers remains to be seen but there seemed to be a confidence that the Cities Minister was on the right track.
One to watch - Amber Rudd MP has published a document with The Forty Group (forty of the party's MPs with the narrowest of majorities - 18 of them won their seats with margins of less than 1,000), entitled “Planning for Change”. A summary of the state of the current planning system and why Localism is the solution is explained in a 27 page document. A clear and direct MP, the influence of such a document is yet to be seen, but it is certainly an interesting read!
In short, the government is gearing towards investment in infrastructure and housing development; there was no significant wavering at conference by party members despite the challenges. The follow through is now close as the Localism Bill and NPPF shortly come to a head. Hold on!
James Bird -Conservative Consultant, Curtin&Co
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