Liz Bourne

National Training ManagerAction for Market Towns

Localism Act and Neighbourhood Planning

Localism

Some General Definitions

Decentralisation

Big Society

Is the PHILOSOPHY – shifting power away from centralist control to the local level

Is the PROCESS – giving powers to individuals, professionals, communities, local organisations

Is the END RESULT – people have powers and drive to create better services and outcomes

Government ‘growth’ agenda• National Planning Policy

Framework – presumption in favour of growth

• Government incentives scheme to encourage communities to prepare Neighbourhood Plans

to deliver more housing and economic growth

The Right to Plan

• Neighbourhood Development Plan - to establish general planning policies for the development and use of land in a neighbourhood.

• Neighbourhood Development Order – permit development - in full or in outline – without the need for planning applications. Eg. Home extensions, retail change of use etc

• Community Right to Build Order – permit smaller-scale development on a specific site, without the need for planning permission, eg. Housing/ facilities etc

The Right to Buy – Assets of Community Value

• Nominate “Asset of Community Value” either publicly or privately owned - such as community centres, village shops or open spaces they want to keep or transform.

• Be notified if any asset on the list is being put up for sale

• A “window of opportunity” to prepare a business case and seek funding to compete on the open market to buy and manage that local asset

To keep vital local facilities open, transforming their use, generating income and increasing the self sufficiency of the neighbourhood for the long term benefit of their community.

The Right to Challenge

• New powers to challenge and take over a local service

• Expression of Interest to the local authority ‘challenging’ the way in which a service is currently run

• Procurement exercise is triggered - no guarantee that their bid during the procurement stage will be successful; hence the organisation that ends up running the service may not be the one who originally made the challenge.

To give more power to local people and enable them to play a bigger role in designing and delivering local services as well as improving service delivery generally.

Any questions?