1. West of England Rural Network
www.wern.org.uk
BEING PREPARED TO BENEFIT FROM
THE LOCALISM ACT &
NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNING
AVON LOCAL COUNCILS ASSOCIATION
SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE AREA GROUP
26th January 2012
2. West of England Rural Network
• To support & encourage community-led
action and strong local governance
• To increase the long-term sustainability
of local community life
• To influence policies
and services to
achieve equity for
rural communities
3. West of England Rural Network
• Broadband
• Affordable housing
• Access to Services and Community Transport
• Fuel Poverty and Energy Generation
• Community Planning
• Community Buildings and Assets
• Village Agents
• Social Enterprise Support and Funding
Advice
5. Localism in a Nutshell
• General power of competence
• Abolition of the standards board
• Community right to build
• Community right to challenge
• Community right to bid
• Community right to plan
• Right to veto excessive Council Tax
• Reforming community infrastructure levy
8. National Planning Policy Framework
•Rural affordable housing
•Town centre first
•Viability test and infrastructure
•Relationship with Neighbourhood
Plan
•Sustainable development
9. Sustainable Communities
This country’s rural communities cannot
stand still. Change is inevitable whether
development takes place or not, and the
choices we make today will
shape tomorrow’s character
of the market towns, villages
and hamlets that make up
our countryside.
Matthew Taylor 2008
16. West of England Rural Network
www.wern.org.uk
Chris Head
Director
01275 333701
chris@wern.org.uk
Tunbridge Mill, Tunbridge Road, Chew Magna, BS40 8SP
RuralChris
- Working in South Gloucestershire, Bath & North East Somerset, North Somerset & Bristol- Assisting communities, businesses, social enterprises, civil society organisations and individuals- Working with local authorities, other statutory services and the new West of England Local Enterprise Partnership - Linking with Central Government departments (DEFRA, OCS, DECC and DCLG)- Affiliated to ACRE (Action with Rural Communities in Rural England) and the South West ACRE Network (SWAN)
This Bill will shift power from central government back into the hands of individuals, communities and councils. 207 clauses, 24 schedules and over 400 pages
The provisions relating to councils include:referendums for elected mayors in certain authoritiesThe housing provisions will- abolish the requirement to have a Home Improvement Pack- reform the Housing Revenue Account system- provide for a new form of flexible tenure for social housing tenants- allow local authorities to discharge their duties to homeless people by using private rented accommodation- give local authorities the power to limit who can apply for social housing within their areas- abolish the Tenant Services Authority and provides for a transfer of functions to the Homes and Communities Agency- amend the way in which a social tenant can make a complaint about their landlord- improve the ability of social tenants to move to different areas.The planning and regeneration provisions will- abolish Regional Spatial Strategiesabolish the Infrastructure Planning Commission and return to a position where the Secretary of State takes the final decision on major infrastructure proposals of national importancegive new housing and regeneration powers to the Greater London Authority, while abolishing the London Development Agency.
PUA –primary urban area
Replaces Power of Wellbeing“the legal reassurance and confidence to innovate, and drive down costs to deliver more efficient services”Eligible parish councils – Quality Parish Councils?The Government means ‘community’ in the widest sense: residents, tenants and service users, community and faith groups, localbusinesses, voluntary organisations and social enterprises, parish councils and local partnerships like neighbourhood committeesand forums. Why should a parish council be interested?Parish councillors frequently complain about how difficult it is to get their community involved in the parish council’s business. Major planning proposals, wind farms, waste incinerators and such like are usually pretty effective in filling parish meetings with members of the public anxious to know how they might be affected, but otherwise, it is often said, no-one is interested.PB has been shown to be a great way to get people involved. It canEncourage people to bring forward ideas for their communityFoster a greater understanding of local community issuesGet people involved in their community and in voluntary activityMake sure that what gets done is what the community most wantsHelps the community understand how parish business affects themHelps people see how their council tax is being usedEncourage new people to stand for election as parish councillors
Reforming community infrastructure levyThe CIL is to contribute towards the provision of infrastructure required to support growth All eligible development will be required to pay CIL will not be a matter that can be appealed through the planning system CIL will not be related to the development from which it cameCIL will not have a time limit on its spending. It must be spent on infrastructure and Local Authorities will be under a duty to report how much has been received, how much has been spent and on what, and how much is held.