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Civic Voice Live - 29 June 2010
Posted: 28 June 2010 06:51 PM   [ Ignore ]
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The second live discussion will be held here 1pm on Tuesday 29 June for one hour.  Join the Forum and discuss with Tony Burton and other civic society volunteers the priorities for Civic Voice’s campaign on the planning system.  A radical overhaul of planning laws and policies is promised by the Coalition Government – where should Civic Voice focus its effort?  And don’t forget to vote in Civic Voice’s poll on priorities for planning reform at http://www.civicvoice.org.uk

It only takes a minute to register to share your views if you follow these instructions

On http://www.civicvoice.org.uk click Join Forum (foot of page)
Click Register (top of page)
Fill in the member registration
You will be sent an email (to the email address you registered with) containing a link to activate your account.
Click the link and your account will be activated
You can now participate in the discussion

 
 
Posted: 29 June 2010 08:14 AM   [ Ignore ]   [ # 1 ]
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Anyone wanting a refresher on the Government’s lilkely proposals for the planning system should have a look at the Conservative’s Green Paper - Open Source Planning - which is available here http://www.conservatives.com/news/news_stories/2010/02/new_homes_and_jobs_through_open_source_planning.aspx

 
 
Posted: 29 June 2010 09:16 AM   [ Ignore ]   [ # 2 ]
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I am instinctively in favour of the underlying concept of localised planning control but worry that it will prove extremely expensive to run at a time when local authorities are cutting back on staff. We try and help the local authority as much as possible, but we know they will face severe cuts, so all well and good giving more control, but if you do not have the man power to deliver ......

 
 
Posted: 29 June 2010 11:59 AM   [ Ignore ]   [ # 3 ]
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Welcome to this second Civic Voice Live - major reforms to the planning system are being promised by the Coalition Government.  What do you think the priorities should be for the civic movement?

 
 
Posted: 29 June 2010 11:59 AM   [ Ignore ]   [ # 4 ]
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What do people think to the new the Infrastructure Planning Commission which has power to approve major infrastructure projects is being abolished. Can I ask if anyone knows what the future holds for the Planning inspectorate.

 
 
Posted: 29 June 2010 12:02 PM   [ Ignore ]   [ # 5 ]
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The Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) has certainly been a bone of contention.  It looks as though most of its work will be merged into the Planning Inspectorate and the final decision on major projects will now be made by the Secretary of State and not the IPC.

I met the Planning Inspectorate last week - it continues but is looking at how it needs to reform itself in view of the Government’s commitment to localis and more effective community involvement

 
 
Posted: 29 June 2010 12:06 PM   [ Ignore ]   [ # 6 ]
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Can you explain what is meant by third party refusal? It looks like something our group may support.

 
 
Posted: 29 June 2010 12:12 PM   [ Ignore ]   [ # 7 ]
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Currently, the only person who can appeal against a planning decision is the applicant when the proposal is refused.  If an application is granted by a local authority there is no redress, however perverse the decision.  This means that developments that run wholly contrary to the adopted development plan for the area can, for example, be approved without any effective scrutiny. 

This imbalance has been a concern for years and there is strong support to introduce a third party right of appeal - meaning a right to appeal against the grant of planning permission in some instances.  A general right of appeal against any planning permission is likely to be unworkable and so it is usually only considered appropriate in cases where the development run contrary to an agreed plan or permission is being granted by a local authority to itself. 

The issue is proving popular in Civic Voice’s poll - where it is the leading priority identified for planning reform.  There is more discussion in another thread on the Forum, which includes a link to a report on the issue some 10 years ago which comprehensively runs through the issues.

Do people agree this is a priority?  Have you got examples we might be able to use in our lobbying?

 
 
Posted: 29 June 2010 12:14 PM   [ Ignore ]   [ # 8 ]
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By the sounds of it, yes, it is an issue. Can I ask if you are doing a policy on it that we can share with the town council.. How will you change the law on it.

 
 
Posted: 29 June 2010 12:16 PM   [ Ignore ]   [ # 9 ]
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HW expresses concern at cost of more local decision making.  The Royal Town Planning Institute in the 1990’s studied this and found in the examples available that costs were extremely low when decisions were made at Parish Council or Community levels.  The Local planning Authority provided the adviser to attend meetings but as the others attending are voluntary so the usual administrative committee costs and attendance allowances were not necessary.

 
 
Posted: 29 June 2010 12:18 PM   [ Ignore ]   [ # 10 ]
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The Consrvative’s Open Source Planning green paper includes reference to proposals for a right to appeal against planning consent and this may well be a good focus for lobbying.  It would expect to be included in a Localism Bill that would be issued in draft in late 2010.  The report from 2002 might be the best thing to share.  It can be downloaded here - scroll down to see the report

http://www.cpre.org.uk/library/results/?campaign=&format;=&keyword;=&month=0&offer=false&orderby=title&page=32&topic=0&type;=&year=0

 
 
Posted: 29 June 2010 12:18 PM   [ Ignore ]   [ # 11 ]
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Dear Davidt, I think you are referring to third parties (e.g neighbours or Civic Socities) being able to appeal against a planning decision with the possibility of it being changed. At moment ONLY APPLICANTS/ DEVELOPERS have this right. If objectors can have this right of appeal it will balance the unfair system we have at present, raise the general standards of the decisions, improve what happens in planning committee meetings and may reduce back room deals and corruption.

In my opinion (as you can see form my previous posts) and from 25 years hard experience fighting unsatisfactory local developments I think it is a priority and Holy Grail for all Civic Socities. If Civic Voice can help bring this about it would be magnificant achievement which hope you will all support.

 
 
Posted: 29 June 2010 12:20 PM   [ Ignore ]   [ # 12 ]
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That’s helpful evidence from Peter Spawforth - the information, expertise and experience provided by those who know most about the area is so often provided free because local volunteers really care about the future of their area.  How can we make the most of this while not taking on the job of the local planning authority?

 
 
Posted: 29 June 2010 12:27 PM   [ Ignore ]   [ # 13 ]
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What is the Civic Voice policy on REgional Spatial Strategies and the existence of Regional Development Agencies. Will you be offereing guidance on how civic societies can shape the new local partnerships. Regional Associations were developed by the Civic Trust in response to regional goverment and devolution so I think you need to consider following this example.

 
 
Posted: 29 June 2010 12:32 PM   [ Ignore ]   [ # 14 ]
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We are keen to hear your views on how to make the most of the situation now being created in which Regional Spatial Strategies and Regional Development Agencies have been abolished, plan making devolved and local economic parterships encouraged in some parts of the country.  Civic Voice is here to reflect the views of civic societies in shaping the new arrangements. 

It is already clear that there is little love for regional arrangement in most quarters and many civic societies have welcomed the Government’s announcement.  The regional tier has felt too remote and unaccountable for both planning and economic development.  This is also being reflected in changes to the way civic societies cluster together with more emphasis on local clusters and some regional groupings questioning their own future

 
 
Posted: 29 June 2010 12:37 PM   [ Ignore ]   [ # 15 ]
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Third party Appeals in some limited form could give the same opportunities to those directly affected as does a Judicial Review to the Developers and Investors who can afford this expensive route of challenging a Local Planning Authority decision.  There is nothing to be gained from blocking up the planning system with more administration but where there is a question of probity or openness from a Council, especially regarding their own development, then this form of challenge could be effective. Avenues such as the Ombudsman may prove that wrong has been done but only after the event.

 
 
   
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