Localism and Neighbourhood

Planning

David Buxton

Department for Communities and Local Government

Decentralisation and localism at the heart of the coalition

“We believe that if you decentralise power, you get better results and

better value for money. So…an unprecedented redistribution

of power and control from thecentral to the local, from politicians and the bureaucracy to individuals,

families and neighbourhoods.”(Conservative manifesto)

“Liberal Democrats believe localpeople know best about how thingsshould be done in their area. We

will radically decentralise politics sothat local people have the powers

and the funding to deliver what theywant for their communities.”(Liberal Democrat manifesto)

“… a radical redistribution of power away from Westminster and Whitehall to councils, communities and homes across the nation...

…we want people to call the shots over the decisions that affect their lives.”

“…create a Big Society matched by big citizens… to completely recast the relationship between people and the state: citizens empowered; individual opportunity extended; communities coming together to make lives better.”

(The Coalition Programme for Government)

Definitions

Is the ethos…Doing everything at the lowest possible level and only involving central government if absolutely necessary

Is what we do…Giving away power to individuals, professionals, communities and local institutions

Is what we’re trying to achieve…A society where people, neighbourhoods and communities have more power and responsibility and use it to create better services and outcomes.

Localism

Decentralisation

Big Society

From BIG GOVERNMENT To BIG SOCIETY

State

CitizensCivic

institutions

CitizensCivic

institutions

State

Decentralisation

What does this mean for government?

The Big Society vision

PrinciplesValuesFreedomFrameworks that support social responsibility and civil liberties

FairnessThose who cannot, we always help

ResponsibilityThose who can, do

Social actionWhat people can do

for each other

Community empowerment

How people can help themselves

Public service reformWhat the state can

do for people

A Big Society

matched by Big Citizens

“The Big Society is about a huge culture change where people, in their everyday lives….feel both

free and powerful enough to help themselves and their own communities” David Cameron, 19 July

Methods

Decentralisation Transparency Providing finance

•Making it easier for citizens to take over public buildings so they have the SPACE to come together and share ideas

• Helping communities to raise their own FUNDS and increase capacity, particularly in deprived neighbourhoods

•Freeing up LOCAL INSTITUTIONS from unnecessary burdens and control and enabling them to support grassroots action

• Enabling citizens to see how money is being spent in their neighbourhood, providing INFORMATION AND INFLUENCE to set priorities, participate in key decisions and co-design services

What’s Govt’s role in making it happen?

The challenge for any government is how to help communities to help themselves – to support rather

than stifle grassroots community action

Why decentralisation?

People and communities have greater control over the services in their locality

Diversity in local approaches releases innovation in public services – speed and resilience

People can hold local services and institutions to account more effectively than Whitehall

Front line professionals respond to local preferences, with fewer constraints from the centre

So that:

The 6 components of Decentralisation

Big Government

Big Society

Localism Bill: Exemplification of Components

Remove bureaucraticburdensStandards BoardLocal Govt structuresAbolish Reg. Strategies

Empower communitiesGPCCommunity AssetsLocal referendumsN’hood Plans

Break open monopoliesRight to ChallengeHomeswap

Make public bodies transparentLocal Govt pay accountability

Remove BureaucraticBurdensElected MayorsFreedom of councillors to represent constituentsAbolish IPC

Control of public spendingCouncil tax referendumsBusiness rate supplementsBusiness rate discounts

For the Big Society to flourish, people need power. New rights will help them reclaim that power

• Right to buy (save) – helping communities save local facilities and services threatened with closure

• Right to Challenge – giving communities the right to bid to take over local state-run services

• Right to Build – allowing communities to decide where to create new homes, shops, businesses and facilities where they want them and where they are needed

Localism Bill – new rights

Give neighbourhoods far more ability to determine the shape of the places in which people live.

• Empower communities to take control of their areas.

• Community ownership of the process.

• Inspire innovation and creativity in communities.

• Restore the idea that development can be a force for good, rather than something to be resisted at all costs.

• Community right to build – exploring ways of enabling small scale community development.

Basic Principles: Planning at neighbourhood level

Neighbourhood Planning -Opportunities

Business Park - Covered by development order for commercial development. Gives full planning permission for compliant development

Victorian Suburb - Covered by development order for householders (extensions, etc) and infill development - no application required for compliant development.

Town Centre Shopping Area - Covered by development order for shop fronts and certain types of change of use. No application required for compliant development.

Conservation Area - Neighbourhood plan sets out detailed town policies – planning applications required and policies taken into account

Proposed Housing 1 and 2 - Covered by development order for new housing. Gives outline permission – proposed development needs approval for landscaping and design

Proposed Housing 3 - Covered by development order for new housing. No planning application required for compliant development.

No conditions applied.

Country Park -Neighbourhood plan sets out policies which envisage no development.

Areas Unspecified - Neighbourhood plan does not set out any policies or permissions. Planning applications are determined based on Strategic Plan policies and national policy

Business Park

Proposed Housing 1

Proposed Housing 2

Proposed Housing 3

Country Park

Town Centre Shopping

Area

Conservation Area

Victorian Suburb

Barchester Town

MORE INVOLVEMENT > MORE LOCAL CONTROL > MORE DEVELOPMENT

Neighbourhood Planning - Safeguards

•Regard to national policy (e.g. NPPF) and guidance

•General conformity with ‘strategic policies’ in local plan

•Compatible with EU obligations

•Compatible with human rights requirements

•Working within Limits – the “basic conditions”

How is the Neighbourhood Plan prepared ?

Plan prepared by local communities with council providing support and advice

Examined by independent examiner considering fit with local development plan, national policy and alignment with other neighbouring plans –

leading to non-binding report

Extensive community engagement

Neighbourhood Plan Adopted by local authority

Process instigated by parish council or Neighbourhood Forum

Referendum seeking adoption. Simple majority in favour to progress to adoption

Proceed to referendum

Legal Compliance

Neighbourhood plans must comply with a number of EU Directives (e.g. Environmental Impact Assessment, Habitats Directive) and ECHR.

Local Authority Support

Local Authorities must provide support and advice to parishes or forums preparing a plan.

Referendum

Referendum area can be wider than neighbourhood – if proposals impact on others