Policy and Information Update

POLICY AND INFORMATION UPDATE

Wednesday, 22 June 2011 Issue 01 2011/12

Performance Improvement Unit

www.eppingforestdc.gov.uk/local_democracy/Performance 1. POLICY AND INFORMATION UPDATE

The Policy and Information Update is published on a regular basis, to highlight announcements, publications and consultation documents issued by the Government and other relevant agencies and public bodies, which directly affect the work of the Council. The Update is designed to ensure that relevant matters, which often have corporate as well as service specific implications, are drawn to the

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attention of the appropriate Portfolio Holders, Service Directors and other members and officers.

The Policy and Information Update provides a brief summary of new and emerging issues, and contains links to the full versions of publications and consultation documents etc. The update also provides details of forthcoming events of relevance to the Council’s activities. Whilst Members, Directors and managers may already be aware of issues specific to particular services, functions, responsibilities or interests, the Policy and Information Update is intended to raise corporate awareness of relevant matters and to ensure that nothing of importance to the Council is overlooked.

If members or officers wish to discuss any of the items published in the Policy and Information Update, or require further information or reports on specific issues, they should contact the relevant Service Director in the first instance. Comments or suggestions in respect of the format and content of the Update can be made to the Performance Improvement Unit at [email protected]

PART A - NEWS

2. GOVERNMENT PLANS RELEASE OF PUBLIC LAND TO BUILD 100,000 HOMES (8 JUNE 2011)

Housing Minister Grant Shapps has announced Government plans to release enough public land to build as many as 100,000 new, much-needed homes and support as many as 25,000 jobs by 2015.

The amount of previously-developed land owned by the public sector is more than twice the size of Leicester, and the Minister has confirmed that by this Autumn, every Government department with significant landbanks will publish plans to release thousands of acres of previously-developed land to housebuilders, so they can get on and build the homes the country needs, supporting thousands of jobs and releasing funds to help in the vital work of bringing down the Budget deficit. To make this radical ambition a reality by 2015, the Public Expenditure Committee, a Cabinet Committee chaired by Francis Maude, will go through each department's plans with a fine tooth comb, to make sure every possible site is made available for housebuilding. Alongside this, property specialists from across Government will work with each department and challenge them to release as much land as they can for new homes. Ministers are also encouraging councils to follow the lead set by central Government and make their unused land available for development. Later this year, a new map will be launched to show land and buildings owned by public bodies in each area. A new Community Right to Reclaim Land has been introduced enabling residents to apply to organisations including central Government departments and councils to bring their sites back into use - opening up the books so local people can see for themselves the assets held by central and local Government alike.

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Grant Shapps also outlined his own department's contribution, as the Homes and Communities Agency publishes its plans to release more land for redevelopment. This includes through a radical Build Now, Pay Later deal, which offers a boost to housebuilders who only pay for the land once work has started on the new homes, providing a lifeline to those struggling with cashflow problems, and enabling them to start building straight away. Publicly owned sites such as the following have been, and are being, made available for new housing developments across the country.

Of interest to: Housing Portfolio Holder Director of Housing Director of Planning and Economic Development

3. MINISTERS CUT TRAFFIC SIGNS RED TAPE FOR LOCAL COUNCILS (9 JUNE 2011)

Measures to reduce time-consuming and costly bureaucracy for councils wanting to use 20 mph schemes have been announced today by Regional and Local Transport Minister Norman Baker.

The changes, the first to be announced as part of the Traffic Signs Policy Review, will mean that councils can use signs painted on roads as an alternative to expensive upright signs, cutting street clutter as well as costs. In addition, the Government will reduce the need for councils to use speed humps in 20 mph zones and make it cheaper and easier for councils to put in place variable speed limits outside schools when local residents want these schemes. It remains the decision of local councils whether or not to use 20 mph schemes following robust cost-benefit analysis of any such proposals. In addition, the Department for Transport plans to revise the guidance on speed limits with the aim of increasing flexibility for local authorities. The Department will provide an economic tool to help them to assess the full costs and benefits of any proposed schemes so that they can use measures which are both appropriate and good value for money. The Traffic Signs Policy Review is due to publish its final report later this summer.

Of interest to: Safer, Greener and Highways Portfolio Holder Director of Environment and Street Scene

4. MORE SUPPORT FOR VOLUNTARY AND COMMUNITY GROUPS CAMPAIGNING TO SAVE LOCAL ASSETS (9 JUNE 2011)

Planning Minister Greg Clark has outlined more support for voluntary and community groups campaigning to save much-loved local assets such as historic pubs, seaside piers or precious market halls, under threat when their owners refuse to sell.

A compulsory purchase order by a council and future development as a community asset can often be the ideal solution, but community groups with viable, fully

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financed schemes can feel shut out of the process, left without a voice in shaping local plans, as councils do not have to engage with them or acknowledge their contribution. In revised guidance, Greg Clark calls on local authorities to take seriously all viable requests from voluntary and community groups put to them for the compulsory purchase of a threatened community asset.

The Right to Buy, being introduced through the Localism Bill, will give people a foot in the door when assets come up for sale. But some groups can't wait that long and are living in communities blighted by abandoned buildings and derelict sites spoiling the look, feel and safety of their area. Communities often have good ideas for making better use of these buildings or assets but are thwarted by negligent owners interested only in rising land prices. The revised guidance could help them to take action quickly. If communities want to bring a valued local asset back to use, for example turning a boarded up building into a community centre, they can contact their council and ask them to use a compulsory purchase order to buy the asset. Mr. Clark is urging councils to give greater attention to applications from voluntary and community groups who know their area and often have innovative ideas to make the best of local assets. That doesn't mean special treatment or an automatic green light, but it might mean that communities know that their hard work and enthusiasm will not simply be met by a blank face or stuck at the bottom of a never ending in-tray. Under the new guidance, local authorities would also have to respond formally, outlining the reasons behind their decisions. This will shine the light of transparency on council decisions about assets in their local area. The revised guidance builds on the proposed new 'social responsibility' deal for councils, announced by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles, which asks them to give them greater support to voluntary and community groups and treat them with the full respect they deserve.

http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/1918885.pdf

Of interest to: Planning and Technology Portfolio Holder Director of Planning and Economic Development Director of Corporate Support Services

5. GOVERNMENT SUPPORT REMAINS IN PLACE TO HELP PEOPLE STAY IN THEIR HOMES (9 JUNE 2011)

Housing Minister Grant Shapps has said that a wide range of support is available to support people threatened with homelessness, in particular struggling homeowners. It is imperative that people seek help and advice as early as possible. It comes as new figures out today show that 11,350 households were accepted as owed a main homelessness duty in the first three months of the year. Mr. Shapps said that, whilst it was good news that the number remained at historically low levels and those households in temporary accommodation continued to fall, tackling homelessness remains a Government priority. That is why deliberate steps were taken at the Spending Review to protect the £400m homelessness grant to support local authorities and the voluntary sector, enabling them to support vulnerable individuals and families. Those seeking advice can visit the Directgov website, speak to the

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charity Shelter, call the National Debtline or visit their local Citizens Advice Bureau or local authority. The government has continued support for the National Homelessness Advice Service that ensures front-line advice workers have the support they need to tackle homelessness effectively, and is committed to removing the restrictions on local authorities to give them greater flexibility in prioritising housing stock in their area. Proposals in the Localism Bill, currently before Parliament, will allow them to better serve families with a temporary housing need by offering them a place in the private sector which with a minimum tenure of twelve months, would provide a secure footing on which to re-build their finances.

Of interest to: Housing Portfolio Holder Director of Housing

6. SUPPORT FOR TENANTS TO IMPROVE NEIGHBOURHOODS (14 JUNE 2011)

Housing Minister Grant Shapps has launched plans to give tenants greater support to hold their landlords to account.

The Minister has argued that new locally-run tenant panels will put power back into the hands of residents, helping them to build the Big Society in their neighbourhoods. Mr. Shapps has announced plans for a £535,000 training programme, to give tenants the confidence and skills they need to sit on tenant panels to represent their neighbours and resolve local disputes such as making sure repairs are made efficiently, and that complaints against anti-social behaviour are dealt with quickly. Mr. Shapps has launched a mini-competition for charities and benevolent societies to bid to offer the training, which is expected to deliver at least 1,500 social tenants trained to sit on tenant panels; eight different training courses covering a range of subjects, including tenant panels, influencing landlords, and sharing information and learning; and opportunities for interested tenants to work towards accredited qualifications, which could help them onto new career paths. This training comes on top of plans for tenants to benefit from support and help from their landlords, who will be expected to work with them to set up tenant panels, and make a wide variety of information available so their performance can be properly scrutinised and assessed.

Of interest to: Housing Portfolio Holder Director of Housing 7. NEW GREEN REVOLUTION NEEDED TO CUT CARBON EMISSIONS FROM EXISTING BUILDINGS (14 JUNE 2011)

Andrew Stunell has insisted that carbon reduction measures must be taken to "green-up" the country's existing housing stock to reduce its carbon footprint and save households considerable sums of money on their energy bills.

Speaking at the Policy Exchange, the Minister said that around three quarters of the housing stock that will exist in 2050 has already been built, making it vital to tackle

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emissions from existing buildings, as well as new build properties, to meet the country's tough carbon reduction targets. Buildings account for over 40 per cent of the UK's CO2 emissions, a figure that needs to fall to almost zero by 2050, which is the equivalent to refurbishing a city the size of Cambridge every month. Mr. Stunell said that the Government is putting in place a package of measures to enable a step change in domestic retrofit activity that will cut carbon and stimulate jobs and growth, but that Whitehall alone cannot deliver the necessary improvements. He argued that power must be shifted down to local people, businesses and community groups and empower them to shape their environment and promote local economic growth. The Green Deal which will become available in 2012, will help householders improve the energy efficiency of their homes at no upfront cost. By allowing them to pay for green home improvements over time rather than upfront, through savings in energy bills, it will remove one of the biggest barriers currently faced to retrofitting, being able to afford the initial investment. Feed-in Tariffs are available to support homes in generating their own renewable electricity, and support for renewable heat will be available for homes. Looking to the future, the Government's policy on Zero Carbon means that from 2016, new homes will need to be built to a zero carbon standard (and all non-domestic buildings from 2019).

Of interest to: Housing Portfolio Holder Director of Housing

8. POSITIVE PLANNING: A NEW FOCUS ON DRIVING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (15 JUNE 2011)

A major change to planning policy that will get development back on track and ensure protection for the environment, has been published by Planning Minister Greg Clark.

The new 'presumption in favour of sustainable development' that will get development underway whilst keeping vital environmental protections, is to become the cornerstone of a more streamlined planning system that will cut reams of unwieldy planning policy down to a tightly focused National Planning Policy Framework. The current planning regime is one of the biggest barriers to providing the homes people want and the businesses local economies need. Developers are also hindered by a planning system that can be slow, costly and gives them no certainty. The presumption will be a key tool in helping to turn this situation round.

The presumption champions the right sort of development at the right level by placing a greater emphasis on councils having a Local Plan in place. Through the plan, local communities will have a say in the sort of development they want and need in their areas. These plans will set out the opportunities for local development and form the basis for planning decisions. The presumption will help with the country's economic recovery by ensuring proposals in line with Local Plans get approval without delay. It will mean:

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 Communities and councils have a strong incentive to keep their plans up-to- date, and to plan positively for sustainable development. Without an up-to-date plan, decisions will be made according to national policy;  Sustainable development can get underway faster. Proposals will be approved without delay if they are in accordance with Local Plans;  Developers have more certainty about what will be allowed and where. This will encourage them to bring forward more proposals and reduce the number of planning appeals; and  Development will not be allowed if it is clearly in conflict with the environmental and other safeguards in the National Planning Policy Framework.

Of interest to: Planning and Technology Portfolio Holder Director of Planning and Economic Development

9. MINISTER CALLS ON COUNCILS TO GET READY FOR PROPOSED NEW POWERS TO HELP HOMELESS FAMILIES (15 JUNE 2011)

Housing Minister Grant Shapps has called on councils to start forging closer links with landlords and letting agents in their area so they can better support families at risk of homelessness.

Proposals in the Localism Bill will mean that rather than having the uncertainty of long waits in temporary accommodation, homeless families can be instead helped to find a suitable, safe and secure home in the private rented sector. Speaking to the LGA Homelessness Roundtable, Mr. Shapps said that councils must continue to find ways to help those declared to be statutorily homeless, and that proposed new powers will allow councils to make better use of the private sector. Currently, where a family has been accepted as owed the main homelessness duty, they can wait for an offer of social housing. If this is not immediately available, they are accommodated in expensive temporary accommodation.

Mr. Shapps said that by working with their local landlords and letting agents now, councils can forge links ready for when the proposed new powers come into force early next year, and get more homeless families out of temporary accommodation and back on a stable footing faster. Councils would be able to use private sector accommodation where they are satisfied that it is suitable for the family's needs and is available for at least twelve months. Mr. Shapps said not only will this help those declared statutorily homeless, it will also free up social homes for those who need it most , ending the 'scandal' of 1.75 million people on social housing waiting lists. Of interest to: Housing Portfolio Holder Director of Housing

10. ELECTORAL COMMISSION CALLS ON GOVERNMENT TO CONSIDER CENTRAL CO-ORDINATION AT ELECTIONS (15 JUN 2011)

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Jenny Watson, Chair of the Electoral Commission and Chief Counting Officer at the recent referendums on the Parliamentary Voting System, has proposed that consideration should be given to introducing greater central coordination of elections, learning from the structure that was in place at the referendum.

The administration of the referendum was significantly different than that at elections, with the Commission taking on a central oversight role and the Chief Counting Officer able to direct returning officers and monitor their performance ahead of polling day to achieve best practice. In contrast UK parliamentary general elections are administered locally by returning officers, with no national coordination. The Commission’s role is limited to offering guidance. Ms Watson made the recommendation in a speech to the Constitution Unit reflecting on the referendum experience, and set out ideas for how the administration of elections and referendums can be improved to deliver the best possible service to voters. She argued that the central coordinating role taken on by the Electoral Commission and the Chief Counting Officer’s power of direction for the referendum delivered significant benefits for voters. The Commission is currently collecting information from voters, campaigners, parties and electoral administrators on the lessons from the 5 May 2011 polls and will publish a full report in October 2011.

Of interest to: Support Services Portfolio Holder Assistant to the Chief Executive

11. THE A, B, C OF 'CAN DO' COUNCILS PROTECTING SERVICES (16 JUNE 2011)

Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles has praised three 'can do' councils who are acting to protect frontline services and local council tax payers.

The nation faces an unprecedented financial situation and every part of the public sector, including local government, which accounts for a quarter of all public expenditure, has a part to play. Many local authorities are showing they can protect frontline services without raising Council Tax. Councils' revenue spending is still just under £53 billion this year. Mr. Pickles said he was putting councils in the driving seat to use their new freedoms to ask big questions about how services are run and offer the best possible value to the taxpayer. He added that the best would not deliver the same old services in the same way, and many councils are showing the way across the country.

Adur Council in Sussex were the first local authority to set up a partnership working scheme by sharing services and a single Chief Executive and management team. The Council has made procurement savings of £2 million and revenue savings of over £3 million to date, lowering base budgets by 25% or £2.5 million whilst protecting services. This included over £1 million through sharing services. Adur's spending power for 2011/12 is just over £10 million. In 2009/10 the Council started saving £652,000 a year from sharing refuse and recycling, street cleansing, financial services, legal and democratic services, corporate services, and customer services.

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Last year further savings of £350,000 a year were made by extending this arrangement to planning, parks, ICT, building surveying, and environmental health.

Bury Council has taken steps to reduce blue badge fraud. A recent check found that 67.8% of blue badges issued by the Council, belonged to persons found to be deceased. The Council introduced a new permit application procedure aiming to be more consistent, fair and timely for the customer, which will cut down on fraudulent abuse and save taxpayers at least £4,000 a year. People will only be able to apply online or by phone but they must collect their permits in person. The Council will validate personal information with benefits records to ensure people are entitled to claim, but will not change a person's entitlement to a blue badge. Mr Pickles recently published a 10 point blueprint devised by experts at the national fraud authority to tackle £2 billion fraudulent practices being inflicted on local government.

Cornwall Council, a new unitary and one of the largest in the country, is showing quick action can make a real difference to tighter finances. Within a week of the Comprehensive Spending review, the Council had agreed £170 million of savings over four years with £9 out of every £10 coming from efficiencies including senior management, properties and duplication. Services to vulnerable people and essential services that affect everyone were prioritised for protection. Up to £10 million of the savings were identified from the pay bill. This included a Chief Executive pay cut and an elected Members vote to reduce allowances by 23%. On procurement the Council also streamlined waste collection contracts from six don to one contract cutting a £25 million cost by £3 million and providing a better service. The settlement saw the Council's spending power reduced by 3.26% in 2011/12.

Of interest to: All Members

12. NEW POWERS WILL PUT FAITH GROUPS AT THE CENTRE OF THEIR COMMUNITIES (16 JUNE 2011)

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has urged faith groups to make use of new powers in the Government's Localism Bill, to end their reliance on the goodwill of local authorities alone, and strengthen their arm in playing an active and visible role in society.

Speaking to the Cinnamon Network, a faith-based charities group, the Secretary of State outlined the Government's continued financial support and commitment to faith groups. He acknowledged that faith groups, often engaged in vital work within communities, can face barriers in terms of securing funding from local authorities and endless unnecessary red tape. Mr. Pickles argued that a misplaced suspicion of faith groups risks society missing out on opportunities to make the most of their enthusiasm and expertise, whilst health and safety zealots pushing rules and red tape beyond the realms of taking care of people makes it unnecessarily hard for people to play their part. He used the speech to outline how this Government is committed to giving faith groups new powers and freedoms to act in their communities, from the running of public services to taking over much-loved local

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assets. He also pledged to help to overcome red tape and petty regulation that stands in the way of getting further involved in local life.

Of interest to: Leisure and Wellbeing Portfolio Holder Acting Chief Executive

13. SHINING A LIGHT ON COUNCIL SPENDING COULD SAVE UP TO £450 PER HOUSEHOLD (17 JUNE 2011)

Councils could save £10 billion every year if they improve the way they buy, source and pay for goods and services, new research reveals.

An analysis of council spending data by procurement experts Opera Solutions, has revealed that greater transparency coupled with improved analysis, is the key to unlocking massive savings by driving down costs. The report gives the highest estimate yet of potential savings that could be achieved if councils secure better value for the £50 billion of public money they spend on procurement every year. The £10 billion figure is equal to £452 per household every year and equivalent to the salaries of almost half a million bin men or 650,000 dinner ladies. Opera looked at spending on energy, mobile phone and legal services across three separate local authorities. The bill for these services totalled £13.6 million pounds. By consolidating that spend in order to boost buying power and get better prices, Opera estimated the three councils could shave a collective £1.44 million off their bills, a 10% reduction. The report argues that local government, by adopting new processes and making better use of spending analysis, could replicate these kind of savings across a wide range of back office functions, with no impact on quality of service and reduce spending by up to £10 billion a year. Even if only half of those savings were achieved, local government could still realise significant reductions in spending. The report recommends that councils:

 Make better use of data - greater transparency of council spending data has made it much easier to identify incorrect payments, eliminate duplicate spending and fraud, reduce multiple suppliers and spot where different prices are being paid for similar services. The report argues that the next stage in driving out waste must be making more intelligent use of this information, compare spending within and across different councils to find opportunities to drive down costs;

 Bulk buy - at the moment spending is fragmented both within and across councils. By joining forces with neighbouring authorities councils can drive down overheads and secure significantly better economies of scale; and

 Shop around - to secure better prices increase competition between suppliers, negotiate harder on contracts and end over-reliance on a small number of vendors to provide a large numbers of services.

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The report does highlight that some councils are showing the way, saving money by revisiting contracts, reducing overheads and increasing efficiency, and draws particular attention to the successful work of the Essex Procurement Agency.

Of interest to: Leader Cabinet Management Board

14. NEW SCHEME FOR FIRST-TIME BUYERS (20 JUNE 2011)

Housing Minister Grant Shapps has encouraged aspiring first-time buyers across the country, to come forward for new Government help to get a foot on the property ladder.

The Minister launched the new FirstBuy scheme, specifically designed to help those struggling to buy their first home due to the need for large deposits. He confirmed that over 100 housebuilders will take part by offering their new-build homes to first- time buyers. Through FirstBuy, the Government and housebuilders together will offer a 20% equity loan, which alongside a 5% deposit from the buyer, will enable them to take out a 75% mortgage on the rest of the property. Loans will be repaid on resale of the property, with the Government's share available for reinvestment in more affordable housing. The first homes are expected to come on stream in September this year. FirstBuy will help over 10,000 first time buyers in England over the next two years, with up to £500 million being available across the UK. Because the scheme is only available on new-build properties, it will also offer a much-needed shot in the arm to the housing market and the construction industry - supporting thousands of jobs.

Of interest to: Housing Portfolio Holder Director of Housing

15. SHAKING UP THE 'COMPUTER SAYS NO' TOWN HALL CULTURE (21 JUNE 2011)

Local Government Minister Grant Shapps and Decentralisation Minister Greg Clark have called on a new generation of councillors to shake up their town halls in the interests of the people they serve, and help banish the 'computer says no' culture that exists in some councils. The Government is slashing red tape and putting councillors and communities in control of their local areas. But the Ministers argued they want to go further and faster which is why they met a group of current and former young and high flying councillors to hear their new and fresh perspective on their role in local government, and how they have shaken things up in their boroughs and made a difference in their community. The Ministers argued that for too long, central Government's iron grip on councils and a risk-averse culture among some town hall officials has thwarted the ambitions of community champions for far too long and put the brakes on plans that

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could have made a real difference to people's quality of life. The Ministers asked the group what more Government can do to give them the flexibility they need to get on with the jobs they were elected to do. Ideas included removing the barriers to younger people becoming councillors, such as help with childcare, and looking at the times at which council meetings are held; encouraging greater transparency, for example by filming council meetings and making this online; and sharing data among local organisations including councils, the police and health authorities to improve local services. Mr. Shapps wants to see more talented people join this army of community champions and, along with Greg Clark, pledged to make it easier for this new generation by tearing up even more red tape and giving them more powers that will place them centre stage in their communities with more clout than ever before to get things done on a range of issues.

Of interest to: All Members

PART B - PUBLICATIONS

16. HOMES AND COMMUNITIES AGENCY NEWS (8 JUNE 2011)

This is the 8 June 2011 edition of the newsletter from the Homes and Communities Agency.

http://info.homesandcommunities.co.uk/newsletter?jaction=getNewsletterHTML&coo kie=33377BA96F8459CC6E3329594D9C96E4&session.manager=&cam_id=2199&s ession.application=

Of interest to: Housing Portfolio Holder Director of Housing

17. HOMES AND COMMUNITIES AGENCY PUBLISHES DEVELOPMENT AND LAND DISPOSAL STRATEGY (8 JUNE 2011)

The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has published its first development and land disposal strategy, as part of a wider Government drive announced by the Housing Minister to bring forward more surplus public sector land for the creation of new homes, employment opportunities and community facilities. Recognising that land is key to promoting economic growth, housing delivery and community activity, the HCA has published a strategy that sets out the Agency’s approach to accelerating its land disposal. The document summarises the HCA’s landholdings, explains the principles for making disposal decisions and sets out an indicative pipeline of sites that have been identified for disposal over the next two years. The strategy explains that the HCA’s key aims will be: transparency about its sites and disposal principles; not to hold onto land longer than necessary; make sure land is disposed to support local plans and ambitions; and land is transferred to end

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users as quickly as possible. The Agency will also aim to carry out disposals on terms such as a deferred payment model (Build Now, Pay Later) that promote development, economic activity and growth.

http://www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/sites/default/files/our- work/hca_development_and_land_disposal_strategy.pdf

Of interest to: Housing Portfolio Holder Director of Housing Director of Planning and Economic Development

18. MILLIONS SAVED THROUGH FRAUD TASKFORCE PILOTS (8 JUNE 2011)

Francis Maude has announced a set of pilots testing fresh and innovative approaches to tackling the £21 billion of annual fraud in the public sector and signalling the end of the ‘pay first, check later’ culture.

The pilots have already delivered immediate savings of £12million in their first few months, and the Cabinet Office Counter Fraud Taskforce has published its interim report ‘Eliminating Public Sector Fraud’. Since its first meeting in December 2010, the taskforce has overseen a series of eight pilots aimed at tackling the cost of fraud against the public sector. The Taskforce’s zero-tolerance approach is driving a step change in how seriously the Government takes fraud. The report includes a set of proposals which the Government will take forward immediately to develop the fight against fraud and build on the success of the pilots. The pilots included using data analytics to screen applications for tax credits before any money was paid and the innovative use of behavioural science’s ‘nudge theory’ to encourage late tax payers to pay on time by sending them text message reminders.

http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/sites/default/files/resources/eliminating-public-sector- fraud_1.pdf

Of interest to: Finance and Economic Development Portfolio Holder Director of Finance and ICT

19. GOVERNMENT REVIEW OF WASTE POLICY IN ENGLAND 2011 (14 JUNE 2011)

This Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs document contains actions and commitments, which set a clear direction towards a zero-waste economy. The actions will form the implementation plan for waste policies in this waste review and for the rest of the current Parliament.

http://www.defra.gov.uk/publications/files/pb13540-waste-policy-review110614.pdf

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Of interest to: Safer, Greener and Highways Portfolio Holder Environment Portfolio Holder Director of Environment and Street Scene

20. PLAIN ENGLISH GUIDE TO THE LOCALISM BILL (15 JUNE 2011)

This Department for Communities and Local Government guide describes the main measures of the Localism Bill under four headings. It is designed to give an overview of the Bill in conjunction with the document ‘Decentralisation and the Localism Bill: An essential guide’. It replaces the version published in January 2011.

http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/localgovernment/pdf/1923416.pdf

Of interest to: All Members All Officers

21. 'INSPIRING COMMUNITIES' GUIDE LAUNCHED TO HELP PEOPLE GET INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES (16 JUNE 2011)

From kick-starting local projects, organising community festivals and engaging local businesses, an 'Inspiring Communities’ toolkit is a new practical guide published by the Department for Communities and Local Government, offering tips for anyone interested in running similar projects. It draws upon real life examples highlighting the experiences and the important and creative contributions made by communities across the country.

The guide contains handy tips and advice, designed to help encourage people of all ages and backgrounds to get further involved in local life and bring lasting improvements to their communities.

http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/communities/pdf/19234911.pdf

Of interest to: Leisure and Wellbeing Portfolio Holder Acting Chief Executive

22. CALL FOR CREATIVE RECYCLING BIDS (17 JUNE 2011)

Innovative local solutions to accelerate recycling rates and reward people for doing the right thing, will be given a ‘Dragon’s Den’ style kick start under plans outlined by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

As announced in the Government’s waste review, Defra will provide up to £2 million over the next three years to help fund the best new local projects that look into fresh ways to help people recycle more and produce less waste. Community groups,

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charities and local authorities can bid for a share of the first £500,000 of funding until 26 July 2011, and Defra will begin advising successful applicants from 16 August. Funding will only be allocated to genuinely innovative projects that reward or recognise individuals or communities, and are tailored to local situations and different collection systems and housing types. Rewards are not limited to financial incentives and could include vouchers, redemption points for local facilities, discounts on goods and services and donations to charities. This could help councils and charities to achieve a win-win situation where people are encouraged to do their bit, less waste is sent to landfill and councils and charities can benefit financially.

http://archive.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/documents/rr-fund-guidance.pdf

Of interest to: Environment Portfolio Holder Director of Environment and Street Scene

23. NEW BURDENS DOCTRINE - GUIDANCE FOR GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS (20 JUNE 2011)

This Department for Communities and Local Government guidance sets out the process that government departments must follow to properly assess all new burdens on local authorities and to ensure they are fully funded by the relevant department. The guidance covers all types of local authority that either raise council tax or set a precept, including parishes. police and fire and rescue authorities.

http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/localgovernment/pdf/1926282.pdf

Of interest to: Leader Cabinet Management Board

PART C - CONSULTATIONS

PART D - EVENTS