New Planning Law

 It is well known that there has always been a tension between national and local government with regard to power sharing and local autonomy versus national government hegemony.  Planning has often been at the forefront of this tug of war.  

Earlier in the week it seems that national government took the matter of planning at step further into its own hands by ruling that in future national planning policy will trump local planning policy.  Parish councils and local councils will be placed in a much weaker position as a result, and more so if their neighbourhood and local plans are out of date - ie more than 5 years old, or contrary to National Planning Policy.  Also in future, planning policy will be decided by national government - the Minister's decision on planning matters will be binding.   In planning circles it is well known that Ministers frequently change their minds so policy could be decided on a whim in the future.  It also means that Parliament will not necessarily be consulted if the Minister so wishes.  And whilst local councils might be able to add to any new/revised  planning policy they will not be able to contradict it .  Again planners regard this to be the biggest step away from local control regarding planning matters in 70 years.    

The HS2 land no longer required, which the Government now effectively owns, will be the land most desirable to developers.  More than 300 acres of local parish farm land in and around Wrinehill could be vulnerable.

Unfortunately these rules re National Government Management of policy were placed towards the end of the government's recent consultative document on the proposed changes to the National Government Policy framework.  (ie in chapters 9-12) circulated to local councils for consultation.  Betley Parish council commented, it seems, up to Chapter 8. 

The rationale for this change, it is said, is to speed up the planning process and to ensure that the government's estimated number of houses to be built (and projects implemented) will be realised.  Whilst that might happen, the downside it that democracy and particularly local democracy could be considerably eroded in the process.

      

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Poppies and Cut-outs

  People might have noticed the poppies and the cut out metal figures placed in the village for Armistice Day in November.   It was suggested by Councillor Owen that metal figures be purchased and   placed on the Village Green. Poppies would be displayed through the parish on lamp posts etc. These were paid for from the Parish Council Funds (£350 for the cutouts plus 20 plastic poppies at £5 each).   At the November meeting I asked if there was a reason that no poppies had been placed in Wrinehill since the account had been paid from Parish Council funds.   I did not receive a satisfactory answer but I was accused of making a ‘complaint’ (the only person not to praise the display, it seems).   But it was not a ‘complaint’ only a question based on an observation. The upshot is that an email was sent to all Members of the Council   suggesting that as a result poppies and cut out figures would be purchased -3 sets of figures and 40 more poppies).  ...
Read more

Clarification

 It has been noted in the Minutes of the meeting held on 27 June 2024 Minute 5 a statement made about this blog 'by a member of the parish council'- 'that  any comments submitted to the author of the blog which questioned the factual accuracy of the contents of its reports were ignored and not published'.  This is an assumption (yet another) not a fact.   It also seems to be yet another example of attempts to undermine the integrity of the blog (and its author). The blog, it has been noted, presents another view point which often differs from the 'standard'/'official' view presented via the Minutes particularly, where statements are made and treated as if they were universal truths rather than just  'a view' of a group of people. It needs to be pointed out here, therefore, that all comments received are read and considered, even though they come from a very small pool of anonymous, in the main, individuals, some with obvious agendas and with mali...
Read more

Business as Usual?

 At the last meeting of the Parish Council in February,  the Chair directed Councillor Head to report back on the issue of the S106  agreement monies for the former Wrinehill garage site.  The contribution of £11,500 has been deposited with the Borough Council.  Residents feel that this money should be spent primarily in Wrinehill, given that the S 106 proceeds of the last two developments were not.  (£45,000 the Commuted sum for the Bluebell development went to Knutton, also a sum (not known) from the Saw Mill development  was allocated for Laudy Croft, but it is not known if that happened, we are told). It is unclear why a councillor for Betley village is reporting on this matter unless ....  It had been mooted way back that the S106 money should be spent on resurfacing the Village Hall  car park.   Needed it is true but the Village Hall could raise funds from other sources not to mention its own reserves, which are not insubstant...
Read more