The Queen’s Speech on 25 May 2010 announced the Government’s Decentralism and Localism Bill, which is intended to devolve more power to local authorities and to give local communities control over housing and planning decisions.

Some key elements of the Bill are plans:
•    to abolish Regional Spatial Strategies, the tier between central and local government for planning policy
•    to give decision-making powers on housing and planning to local councils
•    to abolish the Infrastructure Planning Commission, to be replaced with a system that provides a fast-track process for major infrastructure projects
•    to abolish the Standards Board, the independent body that oversees the investigation of complaints about elected members of local authorities
•    to give councils a general power of competence
•    to require public bodies to publish online the job titles of every member of staff and the salaries and expenses of senior officials
•    to provide greater financial autonomy to local government and to community groups
•    to allow the creation of new trusts that would make it simpler for communities to provide housing

Greg Clark, Minister for Decentralisation, said: ‘We have an optimistic vision that supports people to work in the interests of their communities, rather than telling them what to do. When you decentralise power you unlock creativity and dynamism that gets better results, better services and better value for money.’

However, the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) has expressed concern over the swift abolition of major parts of the planning system without a viable alternative in place, saying that it could place economic recovery at risk. The RTPI calls for for strategic-level planning that coordinates development and infrastructure between different areas, provides a wide range of environmental policies, and ensures that the needs of the wider than local community are properly addressed.

Ann Skippers, president of the RTPI, said: ‘Moves towards giving local communities more power are welcome; but we feel there is a real danger in hastily abolishing regional planning.’

The Campaign to Protect Rural England has urged the Government to consult widely on its proposed changes to the planning regime. Its Head of Campaigns, Ben Stafford, said: ‘There must be a full process of consultation before the new Bill appears this autumn. A draft Bill would give MPs and others the chance to make sure that the final proposals are strong and effective.’

For the full story, visit the Planning Portal website
www.planningportal.gov.uk/england/government/news/archive/2010/may2010/2010_05_week_3/270510_1

For further details on the Decentralisation and Localism Bill, visit the Number 10 website
http://tinyurl.com/decentralisation-localism