POS UPDATE DECEMBER 2007
The Planning Officers Society E-Bulletin for POS Members – December 2007
Click on the heading to go straight to what’s new on POS Update this month:
1 Development Plans Latest 2 Development Management Latest 3 Breaking News …. 4 Consultation Latest 5 Brief Updates: online planning service self-assessment tool --- planning applications close to large scale petrol storage facilities --- LGA’s Independent Climate Change Commission --- 6 Society Matters 7 Forthcoming Events 8 Correspondence 9 And Finally …..
1 DEVELOPMENT PLANS LATEST
Spatial Plans in Practice: Supporting the Reform of Local Planning The findings of this CLG research project are available here. These SPIP events will take place on the 7 January 2008 in Leeds, 8th January 2008 in Birmingham and the 17th January 2008 in Bristol. “The researcher’s ideas on best practice are taking shape and we would like to test and develop these ideas with those who make plans before including them in the final project report. Thee sessions are taking place where the team will share views, ideas and experience. The sessions will explore what is critical in making good sound plans. “If you feel able to contribute, sign up and come along. The sessions are free and are being held 10am – 4.30pm. E-mail the organizer for more information or ring 0117 938950 ------
Survey of Delays to LDFs The POS straw poll of delays to LDFs has provided some useful pointers used in recent discussion with DCLG: Evidence Gathering – too onerous; be more flexible and locally based Revisit tests of soundness - too demanding; not all “evidence” can be at hand at all times Co-ordinated guidance – one set De-jargonise – go back to “Local Plan” – re-engage the public Skills/resources – inconsistent advice GO/PINS Inspection report – if this wasn’t binding could this help make plans sound LPA’s now so wary they are not progressing; stop moving the goalposts; all snakes and very few ladders The full results can be seen by clicking here. A survey of All LPAs will not now take place.
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LDF Collaboration Seminar This seminar will take place on the 10th January 2008 in Birmingham. PAS and the IDeA have been working with a number of groups of local planning authorities to assist in the development of collaborative approaches to delivering planning services. From this, PAS is developing hints, tips and guidance to assist other LPA’s to work together to deliver effective spatial solutions for their communities. Find out more …
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Issued by the Planning Officers Society 21 December 2007 page 1 of 12 Find out more about the Housing and Planning Delivery Grant and have your say on PPS12. Book your place now for Implementing your LDF, a series of regional seminars, including presentations and workshops in January and February 2008. Click here for Implementing your LDF seminars
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Find out how some local authorities are engaging with communities when producing local development frameworks and making planning decisions, in this case study. Click here for the Getting engaged case study
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PAS is holding an event in January for local planning authority officers and members working collaboratively on LDF preparation to help share experiences, test emerging PAS guidance and develop a community of practice in this area. Click here for the LDF collaboration seminars
2 DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT LATEST
The Development Management Practice Project has considered whether to produce a guidance note on handling major planning applications as the 5th in its series of guidance notes. However following discussions on key factors and in view of their inclusion in the recent guidance provided by ATLAS on "Planning for large scale development” (which provides advice on all aspects of handling major planning applications). The Project commends the ATLAS advice and will not be producing duplicate guidance on this subject. The ATLAS guidance (click here) is recommended to those seeking advice or considering how to handle major applications."
The Development Management Practice Project is sponsored by the Planning Officers Society, and is run on its behalf by POS Enterprises and Trevor Roberts Associates. The local authorities involved in the project are Arun, Ashford, Barnsley, Bournemouth, Broadland, Caradon, Chiltern, Hambleton, Hampshire, Lichfield, Portsmouth, Redcar & Cleveland, Richmond, Suffolk, Swindon, and Wycombe. The project is running in the first instance for a year from April 2007 to March 2008. Finalised guidance is published on the POS web site (click here) and circulated direct to Society members.
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Since September 2004, local authorities have been concentrating their efforts on producing spatial plans. The first batch of Core Strategies has been adopted and others are on the way, so local authorities should prepare to put their forthcoming spatial plans into practice through Development Management.
A paper has been prepared by POS Enterprises aimed at giving initial guidance on the emerging practice of Development Management to an audience drawn principally from planning staff and managers in local authorities. Project work with eight local authorities during the next twelve months will provide practical experience for inclusion in an updated and improved version of this guidance to be published in November 2008.
The guidance is set out in four parts, followed by three technical annexes and a summary annex as follows: What does Development Management mean? What is Development Management based upon? How will it operate in practice? What are the benefits? To read the initial guidance click here.
Issued by the Planning Officers Society 21 December 2007 page 2 of 12 ------
Appeal Costs
Leonora Rozee, Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Policy at PINS, has recently issued further advice to Planning Inspectors on appeal costs. To read the "Costs" article >>
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All schemes with an agreed timetable between a council and developer should be excluded from the 13-week target for major projects, the government has decided. For more details of the Government’s response to the consultation on planning performance agreements click here.
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The government has announced that it will push ahead with proposals to provide permitted development rights for householder microgeneration planning applications. To find out more click here.
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If you missed out on the last round of the PAS Section 106 workshops, here’s a chance to sign up for a new workshops in January. Registration is open now on the PAS website: Section 106 workshop
------A new UWE course has been launched in Development Management and Planning Practice sponsored by Communities and Local Government and is referred to in the Planning White Paper (2007, paragraph 8.62). It's purpose is to develop the skills of those working in a development control environment, but who may not have a planning qualification or degree (the Royal Town Planning Institute RTPI Accreditation Panel are sitting in December 2007 to consider the course as a route to technical membership of the RTPI). On completion of the course students would then have the opportunity to transfer onto a further course to gain full RTPI membership.
It is a three year part time foundation degree studied largely by distance (on-line) learning, supported by 6 contact days per year. The students can choose whether they attend these sessions at either UWE (Bristol), Sheffield Hallam University, or Westminster University (London). This should be attractive for employers as they don't have to release their staff on a one-day-per-week basis as they would normally for traditional part time courses. It should also help with staff retention and improving individual's job satisfaction.
For more details click on the icon below:
Development Management Course Leaflet.pdf
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The Home Secretary launched a new crime strategy recently - which amongst other things made clear that 'design against crime' (DAC) will be significant part of that strategy. A web link to the strategy is attached - it is a long document - but the DAC part starts on page 33 - situational crime prevention and is only a couple of pages long! To find out more go to: www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/crime-strategy-07/
Issued by the Planning Officers Society 21 December 2007 page 3 of 12 A separate more detailed design against crime strategy will sit below the main crime strategy and it is that document that the Home Office is working on developing at the moment.
In preparing the DAC strategy and work programme the Home Office is seeking to talk to POS about whether/ how we should be looking to increase awareness of design against crime issues in the training of planners in their continuing professional development. They are also keen to explore how/if the current 'levers' - e.g. section 17 responsibilities under the Crime and Disorder Act, design and access statements, the Code for Sustainable Homes etc are working.
If you are interested in obtaining further details contact Phil Kirby.
3 BREAKING NEWS ………
…the LGA has published it’s concerns with the Planning Reform Bill There are genuine concerns about new arrangements for projects of national significance undermining local democracy. In the light of the acknowledged complexities and delays in the current approach, the LGA is prepared to work with these proposals, provided the legislation guarantees councils a legally entrenched status at each stage of the new process The work of the new Infrastructure Planning Commission needs to be clearly limited to a handful of nationally significant projects and the LGA will lobby hard to ensure: o That major infrastructure projects are clearly defined and limited o Those councils affected are given special status in the planning application process – with extra weight given to them in consultation o Decisions on projects falling outside this criteria but currently subject to national approval are fully devolved to councils The bill must take the opportunity hand power to local councillors, giving them the final say on minor planning appeals.
Positive moves for councils: Faster progress in plan-making is needed. We support the general move to streamline the LDFs process and agree with the proposals for simplification. The Community Infrastructure Levy (Planning Charge) approach set out shows that Government has listened to councils. As an alternative to a centrally collected Planning Gain Supplement this builds on the success councils have made of Section 106. Provisions for Local Member Review Bodies are essential for ensuring that councils rather remote Planning Inspectorates are, in future, able to take ownership of minor planning appeals.
Whilst POS has contributed to this review it does not necessarily agree with all of the stances adopted by the LGA.
4 CONSULTATIONS LATEST
The latest Government consultations include:
Housing and Planning Delivery Grant Consultation “The Housing and Planning Delivery Grant is a new £500m fund to incentivise improved housing delivery, including more effective planning, to better address local needs. This consultation details how the Government proposes to allocate this funding over the next three years.” This consultation closes on the 17th January 2008. Find out more …
Issued by the Planning Officers Society 21 December 2007 page 4 of 12 Planning Reform Bill. The main proposals are to establish the Infrastructure Planning Commission and make provision about its functions; to make provision about, and about matters ancillary to, the authorisation of projects for the development of nationally significant infrastructure; to make provision about town and country planning; to make provision about the imposition of a Community Infrastructure Levy; and for connected purposes. To find out more click here.
The initial observations of the Society can be found by clicking here. To make comments contact David Wood or Stuart Hylton.
Streamlining Local Development Frameworks. The main areas of proposed change include: Consultation arrangements Revisions to the procedure of plan making - final representations on the plan to be made before it is submitted to the independent Inspector Changes to the way Supplementary Planning Documents are produced Changes to PPS12 Access the consultation document here
Planning Policy Statement 4: Planning for Sustainable Economic Development. The new PPS on Planning for Sustainable Economic Development sets out how planning bodies should, in the wider context of delivering sustainable development, positively plan for sustainable economic growth and respond to the challenges of the global economy, in their plan policies and planning decisions. Closing date 17th March. For details click here.
Climate Change Bill. The main elements of the Bill will: Make the Government’s 2050 target of at least 60% reduction in CO2 emissions legally-binding, with real progress by 2020; Introduce a new system of 5-year carbon budgets; Establish a new independent Committee on Climate Change to advise the Government on the optimum trajectory to the 2050 target; and Require Government to assess the risks from climate change in the UK and set out a sustainable programme of adaptation. Click here for more information on the Bill …
Energy Bill. The main elements of the Bill are: Offshore gas supply infrastructure – strengthening the regulatory framework to enable private sector investment in gas supply projects. This would help maintain reliable supplies of gas, given expected projections that the UK will rely on imports to meet up to 80% of demand by 2020; Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) – creating a regulatory framework to enable private sector investment in CCS projects. CCS has the potential to reduce the carbon emissions from fossil fuel power stations by up to 90%; Renewables – strengthening the Renewables Obligation to drive greater and more rapid deployment of renewables in the UK; and Nuclear waste and decommissioning financing (on a contingent basis subject to the current consultation) – If it is decided that it is in the public interest to allow private sector investment in new nuclear power stations, the bill would create a framework that will help protect the taxpayer by requiring owners or operators of a new nuclear power station to make financial provisions to cover the full decommissioning costs and their full share of waste management costs.” Click here for more information on the Bill
Heritage Protection Draft Bill. The Draft Bill would reform and unify the terrestrial and marine heritage protection systems in England and Wales, and the marine heritage protection system in Northern Ireland.
Issued by the Planning Officers Society 21 December 2007 page 5 of 12 Click here for more information on the Bill …
POS recent responses:
English Heritage CSR click here
Transfer of Appeals click here
Planning Charge click here
5 BRIEF UPDATES
PAS has launched an online planning service self-assessment tool based on the Planning Service Benchmark. This free tool is designed to help local planning authorities analyse their processes and performance, and aid continuous improvement. Click here for the online self assessment tool
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The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published the results of its consultation that will shape its future policy on the advice given to Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) when they consider planning applications close to large scale petrol storage facilities.
This public consultation, held from February to May 2007, followed the explosion and fire at the Buncefield fuel storage depot in December 2005. The results of the consultation can be viewed at www.hse.gov.uk/consult/condocs/cd211.htm
The majority of responses to the consultation supported increasing the size of consultation distances (CDs) (within which HSE provides advice on planning applications to LPAs) around these depots. There was also strong support for HSE giving more restrictive advice on the types of development that should be built in the immediate vicinity around them. HSE has therefore decided to go ahead with this option (Option 4 in the Consultation Document).
HSE emphasises however that this is an interim solution – albeit not a short term one – until research provides more information on the mechanism of the vapour cloud explosion which took place at Buncefield. When that is better understood it may be appropriate to review again the land use planning advice policy around such sites.
The new advice policy will apply only to around the 50-60 large-scale petrol storage depots, which HSE has identified as being operationally/physically similar to Buncefield. It will come into effect in the summer of 2008. Until then, where planning applications come forward, HSE will continue to provide LPAs with cautious advice.
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The LGA’s Independent Climate Change Commission published a new report on 5 December. The Commission's report is the first authoritative investigation into how well councils are doing in their duty to help reduce the effects of, and combat, global warming. The report critically evaluates local government's track record on climate change; and makes recommendations for local government, central government and other stakeholders on how the local government response must be improved. To see the report click on the icon below:
climate change report - web.pdf
Issued by the Planning Officers Society 21 December 2007 page 6 of 12 6 SOCIETY MATTERS
To view the Minerals & Waste Committee held on 14 September 2007 click here.
To see the notes of Spatial Planning & Policy Committee held on 28th September click here
To see the notes of the SE Region meeting on 12th October at Crawley click here
To see the notes of the POS meeting with the Minister on 23rd October click here.
To see the notes of the Cabinet held at the RTPI on 5th October click here and on the 16th November click here.
To access the POSE Ltd Board decisions of 16th November click here
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President’s Report
A happy Christmas to you all from me.
I expect, like me, you are ready for a bit of a break over the festive season but you know that the New Year will bring more frenzied activity as we try and respond to the current plethora of consultation documents on everything from the Planning Bill (see 4 above) to Post Office closures.
But it is important to recognise that we have had a role in some of these issues already and it is rewarding to see that issues we have raised and suggestions that we have put forward being carried into this current round of “new thinking”. One example of this has been the emphasis on the importance of place shaping to local councils and the urge to link this to future performance measures for councils.
The Society’s committees continue to work hard on your behalf to ensure that the POS voice is heard and I remind you all that you can become more involved in this either regionally, or by supporting the committee directly. Remember this support does not necessarily mean going to committees; in this ICT environment we now inhabit, some “virtual” support is valued too. Some of you may have noticed that we are trying to firm up links between members and the committees and this is because we want to ensure that the expertise we know we have within the society is best utilised.
Since the October update we have had our meeting with the Minister, which went very well. An occasion for us to promote planning as a good thing and reassure the government that the system needs fine tuning not abandoning. There was agreement that this should be an annual event.
I have also attended a multi-agency meeting to review progress on the new LDF system to which I took your views. Thank you to those who found the time to comment, everything submitted was summarised for the meeting and a full copy of all comments given to DCLG and PINS. I know it was short notice, but those who found time can be assured their comments were heard.
I have also had ongoing meetings with DCLG on changes and look forward to meeting Paul Hudson’s successor. My congratulations and thanks to Paul already relayed.
Phil Kirby and I attended a PAS challenge event to help shape the role and areas of activity for them over the next 3 years. I am also currently involved in the judging for the planning consultancy of the year award.
I have given a couple of presentations regionally including one to the RIBA, who received my assertion that planning (or rather “people who plan”) were at the heart of place shaping quite
Issued by the Planning Officers Society 21 December 2007 page 7 of 12 well; but when it came to it were still mainly concerned with why DC officers ask for applications to be withdrawn as the eight week target date approaches. I assured them we didn’t do this!
Finally we have had one Cabinet at which we continued the current debate about the POS/POSe relationship; appointed a “client officer” (Mike Holmes from Bournemouth) and agreed to have some independent advice about the future formal structure of the Society. We have also had the POS seminar/lunch which was excellent. Excellent speakers on the eco- design topic and thought provoking stuff too. If you missed this one do try and come to one next November as it represents excellent value for money as a training event and is an opportunity to network.
Talking of which, let me remind you that my own event is taking shape for April 17/18 and is an opportunity to come and see some planning in the president’s patch. We are a Beacon Council and now have two sound DPD’s so we must be doing something right. Come and see and I promise the right mix of professional development and networking opportunities.
To end, I began with Christmas greetings; let me end with New Year’s good wishes.
From my own point of view I want to work on a professional New Year resolution to promote the work of “people who plan” and I propose to do this through all the avenues open to me as President of the POS. For the POS we need to set our targets high; to respond, influence and implement the new Planning Act and related secondary legislation; to promote the importance of planning in all facets of place shaping but most of all to act as facilitators to show that planning is about implementation and outcomes not just process.
Once again a Happy Christmas and New Year to you all.
Steve Quartermain, President 2007/08
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There was no Bulletin in November; and due to budget constraints the number for the remainder of the year will be reduced.
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The POS AGM takes place each year during the RTPI Convention. In 2008 the Convention is taking place in July, thus the current President (Steve Quartermain) will remain in pots until that time.
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Other Forthcoming POS Events include:
Issued by the Planning Officers Society 21 December 2007 page 8 of 12 Date Event Contact 10th Jan POSE Board mailto:andrewwright@posenterpri 2008 ses.co.uk 11 Jan Development Management Committee at mailto:[email protected]. the Olympic Delivery Authority uk regeneration through sport 18th Jan Design & Delivery Committee at GLA, City mailto:[email protected] Hall, London. ov.uk 18th Jan Spatial Planning & Policy Committee mailto:[email protected] special meeting at RTPI, London to v.uk discuss the proposed changes to PPS12 25th Jan Cabinet mailto:david.hackforth@milton- keynes.gov.uk 7th Feb RTPI Awards Ceremony mailto:president@planningofficer s.org.uk 8th Feb Management Committee at the PAS mailto:[email protected] Offices, London k 22nd Feb Spatial Planning & Policy Committee TBC mailto:[email protected] v.uk
7 FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Setting up and Organising Focus Groups: Approaches to maximising community involvement. Thursday 17th January 2008, Hornton Grange at the University of Birmingham Book online here http://www.curs.bham.ac.uk/seminars/index.htm or contact Yvonne Harley 0121 414 4956 email [email protected] for more details £275 for payment with booking or £300 for payment requiring an invoice. The fee includes lunch, refreshments and seminar materials.
Running Focus Groups for Community Involvement Wednesday 20th February 2008, Hornton Grange at the University of Birmingham Book online here http://www.curs.bham.ac.uk/seminars/index.htm or contact Yvonne Harley 0121 414 4956 email [email protected] for more details £275 for payment with booking or £300 for payment requiring an invoice. The fee includes lunch, refreshments and seminar materials.
Collecting, Analysing and Writing Up Qualitative Focus Group Interviews and Other Qualitative Data Wednesday 5th March 2008, Hornton Grange at the University of Birmingham Book online here http://www.curs.bham.ac.uk/seminars/index.htm or contact Yvonne Harley 0121 414 4956 email [email protected] for more details £275 for payment with booking or £300 for payment requiring an invoice. The fee includes lunch, refreshments and seminar materials.
Book all three and receive a 50% discount off the Collecting, Analysing and Writing Up Qualitative Focus Group Interviews and Other Qualitative Data seminar.
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Putting Planning at the Heart of the Community 14 February 2008, at the Regent’s College Conference Centre, London Beacon Authorities’ Learning Exchange The Learning Exchange Events aim to provide opportunities for a sharing of knowledge, experience and ideas. The four beacon authorities – Ashford, Basingstoke and Deane, Hambleton and Woking – will be offering their own areas of
Issued by the Planning Officers Society 21 December 2007 page 9 of 12 expertise, but we also want to learn from you and from our guest presenters; Paul Hudson, Chief Planner for Communities and Local Government and Sarah Richards, Head of the Planning Advisory Service.
The Learning Exchanges will consider: What are the government’s key messages on planning? What skills do Local Authorities need to meet new requirements? How have the Beacons addressed some of these issues and what lessons have they learnt? The Learning Exchange Events will help answer these and other topical questions regarding planning’s contribution to sustainable communities.
The programme will be the same at each event and will include the following four workshops: ‘Embracing Growth’ - Ashford Borough Council ‘Working with LSPs - the Benefits’ - Basingstoke and Deane Council ‘Delivering Community Aspirations within the LDF’ - Hambleton District Council ‘Tackling Climate Change at the Local Level’ – Woking Borough Council.
Fee: £50.00 plus VAT. Contact: The Beacon Team on 0207 296 6589, email; [email protected] or visit the website to book online: www.beacons.idea.gov.uk/planninglearningexchanges
8 CORRESPONDENCE
Three letters this month: first re the Thames Gateway water neutrality study; and second re the Politicians in Planning Association, and last re the 9th World Congress of Metropolis. ------
Dear colleague,
I am delighted to inform you that we have launched a major new study on water neutrality in the Thames Gateway. Please see the attached press notice. We were also very pleased that Gordon Brown referenced the report in his speech to the Thames Gateway Forum.
The study, entitled Towards water neutrality in the Thames Gateway, explores how demand for water in the Thames Gateway may change between now and 2016 and what measures could help the area achieve no overall rise in demand between 2005 and 2016. In other words, to achieve water neutrality. The study found that demand for water in the Thames Gateway could increase by 8 per cent. However, it would be possible to manage demand by making new buildings as water efficient as possible, off-setting the new demand by retrofitting existing homes and buildings, increasing the number of homes that are metered and by introducing variable tariffs.
Full details and links to the summary report and technical reports can accessed from the Environment Agency’s website: http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/waterres/287169/1917628/? version=1&lang=_e
The study was jointly funded by the Environment Agency, Communities and Local Government and the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs and informed by an active steering group consisting of representatives from the funding organisations, water companies and Ofwat.
This study would not have been possible without the help and support of a large number of organisations and individuals to whom we owe much thanks.
Kind regards,
Issued by the Planning Officers Society 21 December 2007 page 10 of 12 Julie Foley Head of Sustainable Development Environment Agency ------
As promised here are the details of the Politicians in Planning Association [click on icon below]. Membership is free and many authorities have ‘nominated’ their Cabinet member for Planning and the Chair of their Development Management Committee, but others are equally welcome
Pipa LR.pdf
Andrew Matheson Network Manager
Royal Town Planning Institute 41 Botolph Lane London EC3R 8DL Direct line: +44(0)1789 763006 Mobile: 07971 375362 Switchboard: +44(0)20 7929 9494
In October 2008, Sydney will host this important international forum – the 9th World Congress of Metropolis. Metropolis is an organisation based in Barcelona which represents 100 of the world’s cities with populations greater than 1 million people. The NSW Government, as the member for Sydney, is the host of the Congress next year.
We are expecting many of the civic leaders from these cities to attend as well as leaders of many other world cities. Over 1000 delegates from both the public and private sector will be in attendance.
Chris Johnson, as the Congress Director, is keen to ensure that we make all relevant stakeholders and interested parties aware of this important event. We would therefore like to promote the forthcoming Congress to your members.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you need more information. You can find details of the Congress at www.metropoliscongress.2008.com
Yours sincerely,
Felicity Nevin Event Coordinator
ICMS Australasia Pty Ltd Level 9, 234 George Street Sydney NSW 2000
(GPO Box 3270, Sydney NSW 2001) AUSTRALIA
T: (+61 2) 9254 5000 F: (+61 2) 9251 3552 E: felicityn @icmsaust.com.au www.icmsaust.com.au
Issued by the Planning Officers Society 21 December 2007 page 11 of 12 9 AND FINALLY ………
….. it’s a cracker!
What is Santa’s favourite pizza? One that’s deep pan, crisp and even.
On which side do turkeys have the most feathers? On the outside.
What kind of paper likes music? (W)rapping paper.
What’s white and goes up? A confused snowflake.
What’s furry and minty? A polo mint.
How do snowmen get around? By icicle.
Who hides in the bakery at Christmas? A mince spy.
Well it is nearly Christmas. Season’s greetings to one and all.
If you have any item of interest that you would like to share with fellow Society members for inclusion in the next Bulletin please send them to John Silvester by phone, fax or email.
John Silvester Publicity Officer & Spokesperson Website & Communications Manager Planning Officers Society POS Enterprises Ltd
Tel/Fax 01252 671304 Mobile 07843 377080 Email [email protected] Website http://www.planningofficers.org.uk
POS Enterprises Ltd is registered in England reference No 5008598; Registered office: 20-22 Bedford Row, London WC1R 4JS
Please consider the environment before printing this email.
Issued by the Planning Officers Society 21 December 2007 page 12 of 12