Perhaps also look a little closer to home, Mr Swire, and let us know your views on EDDC’s secret meetings, curtailment of public speaking and its refusal to allow the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to investigate the role of the East Devon Business Forum in the Local Plan.
THEN criticise others.
The National Planning Policy Framework has “failed to make a significant impact” on the percentage of planning permissions granted by local authorities in the two years since its introduction, according to new research.
Analysis of more than 1.7m planning applications and 16,000 appeals over four years by planning consultancy Turley shows approvals and rejections have remained broadly the same at 80 per cent and 20 per cent. There has, however, been a significant increase in the success of some types of planning appeals, with rates for public inquiries climbing by as much as 50 per cent since the introduction of the NPPF. There has only been a modest increase in successful appeals by hearing and no change in those through written representations.
Rob Peters, executive director at Turley, said: “There are a range of factors that can influence planning outcomes and the decision to approve or refuse applications is not solely related to national policy. However, it is a reasonable assumption that the combination of less guidance and a strong presumption in favour of sustainable development would result in more planning applications being approved. This has not been the case.”
He added that the variations in the success of different forms of planning appeals could be partly explained by “the failure of local authorities to formulate and adopt local plans to the timescale envisaged in the NPPF”. “To date, the Planning Inspectorate reports that just 14.6 per cent of development plans have been found sound and adopted since the NPPF was published,” Peters said.
“Given the importance of having an up-to-date local plan, especially one that deals with an area’s objectively assessed housing needs and the duty to cooperate with adjoining authorities, it is perhaps not surprising that major residential schemes are enjoying greater success at appeal.”
http://www.localgovernmentexecutive.co.uk/news/nppf-has-little-impact-planning-approvals
So, one has to ask, what was the NPPF actually FOR and how come it has made a very significant impact in East Devon yet not elsewhere.
Now, that reminds us – the East Devon Business Forum Task and Finish Group …
Where will Economic Development Manager and former Hon Sec of the East Devon Business Forum be decanted to one wonders?
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/value_of_it_contracts_placed_wit#incoming-532767
A couple of snippets to make you grimace, laugh or cry – or possible all three:
The mechanisms for maintaining and reviewing the effectiveness of the system of internal control throughout the year include.
Cabinet is responsible for considering overall financial and performance management and receives comprehensive budget monitoring reports on a monthly basis and council service performance reports.
Overview & Scrutiny Committee holds the Cabinet Committee to account.
Overview and Scrutiny hold the Cabinet to account – pull the other one. Anyone remember the East Devon Business Forum Business Task and Finish Group … Overview and Scrutiny? Happily toothless tiger.
Page 68
Risk: [That] Council services are not delivered where and how customers need them . Services do not consult effectively to ensure service delivery meets customer demand and the expectations of all our communities that we will deliver services in line with the Equality Act 2010.
This risk has been removed as it falls under other risks within the register and forms part of our Open for Business and flexible working projects.
Anyone been consulted about the move to Skypark and its effect on those people who will not be able to get there. Hubs? What happens if you can’t get to a “hub” on the day or time that it comes to your nearest town or village (and nearest towns and villages are NOT the same as accessible personally or by public transport).
http://planninglawblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/more-pain-for-struggling-planning.html
If this well-respected planning lawyer thinks we are in a mess, we probably are!
And the post gives a definitive answer to how long the maximum time is to process planning applucations and it isn’t eight weeks – the reason the EDDC DMC has used several times recently (including some for former EDBF members with big developments).
The O&S Committee seem to have forgotten the still simmering issue of EDDC’s close connections with the old East Devon Business Forum (now vaporised), which Chief Executive Mark Williams famously described as a “joint body” with his Council.
But the CEO, who shares his task with South Somerset District Council, is busy with this other joint body …See the item 12 EDDC/SSDC joint Working Initiatives, on tonight’s agenda.
12 June 2014, 6.30 p.m. Knowle – Overview and Scrutiny meeting Agenda HERE.
EDBF … TAFF … EDBF … TAFF …EDBF … TAFF ……EDBF … TAFF ……EDBF … TAFF ……EDBF … TAFF ……EDBF … TAFF …
Get the message?
6.30 p.m Knowle
Agenda HERE.
…to include an agenda item of the next O and S committee in June on the “Business Task and Finish Forum” investigating the creation, running and administration of the East Devon Business Forum and its effect on planning and the Local Plan debacle. You know, the one you kicked into the long grass for as long as possible.
Oh, and where is Mr Harrison – EDDC Economic Development Officer – these days? Since his job as Hon Sec of EDBF finished he seems to have gone totally silent when, in the past, he had such a lot to say about individual developments, particularly those of EDBF members.
And just when “economic development” is an even hotter topic.
What exactly are we paying (and paying handsomly) this person to do?
Agenda HERE
Extract:
Business Space Review – As part of the redevelopment of the Council’s Heathpark site, the East Devon Business Centre will be vacated. In preparation for this, Cabinet agreed in April to review.
Its approach to the provision of business space and support across the district.
Lead members for business and officers have carried out a tender exercise and interviewed four different consultancies. The chosen company, Carter Jonas, will begin their work shortly, gathering evidence over the next few months and report back their findings and recommendations by September 2014 at the latest.
This is what the Parliamentary Standards Committee said about disgraced ex-MP Patrick Mercer who took cash for questions as published in the Daily Telegraph:
The investigation found Mr Mercer was ‘willing to use his parliamentary position for his own gain’ and readily signed an agreement for consultancy services but failed to register it or declare his interest when tabling relevant parliamentary questions
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2617840/Ex-Tory-MP-Patrick-Mercer-tried-abuse-hie-position-gain-worst-case-seen-Commons-watchdog.html#ixzz30aIX9098
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and in The Guardian:
They reached this conclusion after finding he allowed payment to influence his actions in parliamentary proceedings, failed to declare his interests on appropriate occasions, failed to recognise that his actions were not in accordance with his expressed views on acceptable behaviour, repeatedly denigrated fellow MPs both individually and collectively, and used racially offensive language.
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/may/01/patrick-mercer-tory-mp-worst-ever-breaches-rules
Tread carefully and do not make the mistakes of your predecessor …
http://eastdevon.gov.uk/communications_and_consultation.htm?newsid=1076
… and who represents the National Farmers Union (past representative Disgraced Ex-Councillor Graham Brown, now airbrushed out of history at EDDC).
… and who represents local developers …
… and who represents EDDC!
East Devon Watch 