Look at pages 7, 8, 11 and 14 for example …
Click to access transformation-strategy.pdf
Privatise, reduce democratic input to committees, boot out small businesses from the Honiton Business Centre but keep our own nests nice and cosy.
Daily Archives: 18 Feb 2016
Choose your planning application processor: a recipe for corruption?
“Councils to compete to process planning applications under new proposals
Councils will compete to process planning applications and offer fast-track application services under new government proposals set out today.
The proposals will allow the government to pilot a scheme in a number of areas where planning applications can be made either to the local authority or to another ‘approved provider’.
Councils would also be able to offer a fast-track application service similar to a fast-track passport application, either through competition pilots or devolution deals.
Communities secretary Greg Clark MP said: “Council planning departments play a vital role in getting local housebuilding off the ground, but for too long they have had no incentive to get things done quickly or better, resulting in drawn out applications and local frustration.”
Other proposals include increasing planning fees by a proportionate amount which is linked to inflation and performance, separating decision-making on ‘in principle’ issues such as location from technical issues, and increasing rights to support the development of free schools.
The proposals, which relate to the Housing and Planning Bill, are open for consultation until 15 April.”
Owl can imagine planning consultants jockeying for the business – but “they won’t come cheap”.
The privatisation of public spaces – a fast-growing threat
” … Our parks are in the midst of a funding crisis which will almost certainly see the commercial world take another step inside our public space. Despite the widely recognised benefits that parks provide – in terms of health and wellbeing, social cohesion and biodiversity, as well as protection against flooding and defence against pollution – there is no national body to protect them and no statutory requirement for councils to pay for them.
Local authorities have subsequently announced huge cuts to park budgets – 50% in Liverpool, and more than 60% in Newcastle. Others seek alternative sources of funding that threaten the integrity of public space, like Go Ape or Winter Wonderland. These range from the mildly irritating – the Chinook helicopter that hovered over my nearest park filming James Bond for several hours in the middle of the night last summer – to the potentially devastating, such as in Bexley, where the council is selling off at least four of its open spaces.
More will follow. Our parks are in the midst of a funding crisis which will almost certainly see the commercial world take another step inside our public space. Despite the widely recognised benefits that parks provide – in terms of health and wellbeing, social cohesion and biodiversity, as well as protection against flooding and defence against pollution – there is no national body to protect them and no statutory requirement for councils to pay for them.
Local authorities have subsequently announced huge cuts to park budgets – 50% in Liverpool, and more than 60% in Newcastle. Others seek alternative sources of funding that threaten the integrity of public space, like Go Ape or Winter Wonderland. These range from the mildly irritating – the Chinook helicopter that hovered over my nearest park filming James Bond for several hours in the middle of the night last summer – to the potentially devastating, such as in Bexley, where the council is selling off at least four of its open spaces. …”
Austerity not working
“The OECD has called for its rich-country members to ease up on austerity and collectively agree to spend more on infrastructure projects to boost flagging growth.
The Paris-based Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development expressed concern about the state of the global economy as it cut growth forecasts made three months ago and warned that low interest rates and money creation by central banks were no longer enough for a lasting recovery.
Marking the latest stage in its shift away from support for austerity, the OECD criticised the over-reliance on monetary policy – low interest rates and the money-creation process known as quantitative easing – and urged that countries adopt a more balanced approach.
The OECD has in the past supported the deficit-reduction programme taken by the UK chancellor, George Osborne, but believes Britain should now join with other countries in spending more on public investment.
“A stronger collective policy response is needed to strengthen demand,” the OECD said in its interim economic outlook, which reduced growth estimates for every member of the G7 group of leading industrial nations – the US, the UK, Germany, Japan, Italy, France and Canada.
“Monetary policy cannot work alone. Fiscal policy is now contractionary in many major economies. Structural reform momentum has slowed.”
Attempt to very quietly close public footpaths in Colyton to aid development
From a correspondent:
“A group of landowners, Stubbings Group, are trying to close Footpath 8 Northleigh, 3 Farway, 6 Colyton and 10 Southleigh.
Colyton Parish Council have supported the closure contrary to an appeal by a former councillor September 2014.
The last proposal to agree the closures was dominated by Andrew Parr, proposed by Bob Collier and seconded by Colin Pady – all members of the Feoffees. The Stubbins Group have 4 members of the Hurford family – one of which was also a Feoffee for many many years.
There was going to be a public appeal in February 2015 in Northleigh but now it is going to be judged on paperwork only and submissions. The Ramblers have put in a large document.
The East Devon Way has had to go on road from the original route because of this and Devon County Council have 2 new bridges sitting in a depot because the land owners will not allow access over their land to erect them until this legal battle is decided.
However, if anyone wants to challenge the closure and make a comment it has to be in by Monday 22nd February 2015, which has not been publicised by Colyton Parish Council.
Chairman Andrew Parr told this correspondent following a meeting on Wednesday that it was too late to submit an appeal but this is not correct.
If you want to lodge your comments they must be there before Monday 22nd to:
Planning Inspectorate, Helen Sparks, Rights of Way section, Room 3/25, Hawk Wing, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol BS1 6PN
OR email:helen.sparks@pins.gsi.gov.uk
which if done any now from now over the weekend would get there.”
District council wins appeal at Planning court which overules Inspector’s decision
“A district council has won a Planning Court appeal after an inspector granted outline permission for a 103-dwelling development.
Wealden District Council had refused to grant Knight Developments permission for the site at Steel Cross, north of Crowborough in East Sussex.
However on 16 July 2015 a planning inspector upheld the company’s appeal.
The council then applied under section 288 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 for that decision to be quashed.
In Wealden District Council v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government & Anor [2016] EWHC 247 (Admin) the council advanced three grounds in the Planning Court. These related to:
i) Nitrogen deposition (through the additional traffic generated). The Inspector had erred in law when concluding that the proposals would have no significant effect on the Ashdown Forest Special Area of Conservation (SAC), pursuant to section 61 of the Habitats Regulations, in particular:
a) in finding that contributions to SAMMS (Strategic Access Management and Monitoring Strategy) would mitigate any such effect; or
b) by failing to have regard to evidence that proposed contributions to heathland management could not effectively mitigate any such effect.
ii) NPPF 116 & alternative sites. The Inspector had erred in his consideration of National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) 116 when concluding that there were no alternative sites to meet the need for the proposed development, by failing to take into account relevant evidence or acting unreasonably.
iii) Inadequate reasons. The Inspector’s reasons for his findings on grounds (i) and (ii) above had fallen below the required standard.
Both defendants – the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and Knight Developments – submitted that the inspector’s decision did not disclose any error of law.” …
For remainder of summary see:
http://localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=26035:district-council-wins-planning-court-appeal-over-permission-for-103-dwelling-scheme&catid=63&Itemid=31
East Devon Watch 