Localism and parish councils how its working James Kingston - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Localism and parish councils – how it’s working James Kingston Department for Communities and Local Government james.kingston@communities.gis.gov.uk 18 July 2014

The political vision “ ... We know that the best ideas come from the ground up, not the top down. When you give people and communities more power over their lives, more power to come together and work together to make ” life better – great things happen David Cameron, Prime Minister “ Local residents, volunteers , charities, community groups and the rest are what make a neighbourhood, define it, give it life and purpose… neighbourhoods are where local democracy begins. They are the building blocks of society. People feel rooted in their neighbourhood. They are proud of it. It’s where they have the most immediate ties, the closest loyalties. It’s where they are ” most ready to get involved. Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government

New powers for the problems you face

Parish survey respondents…  57% are doing neighbourhood planning or actively considering it  36% taking action on assets and right to bid  31% working on taking on services from local authorities including through right to challenge

Growth in neighbourhood planning… 10 plans passed into law,  8 passed referendum, 11 passed examination 48 submitted for  examination 98 areas have published  draft plans for pre- submission consultation Over 1000 areas have  applied for designation Figures cumulative

Neighbourhood planning: a flexible tool Thame, Oxfordshire: 53 policies Tattenhall, Cheshire: 6 policies

Examples of neighbourhood plan policies Exeter St James preventing conversion of houses to multiple occupation once a certain threshold is Upper Eden reached allows single dwellings in rural areas, where the local plan would only allow them where Lynton & there are at least 3 existing Lynmouth ones. Prevents new housing intended for use as a second home

Neighbourhood CIL  addressing demands of development  28 areas charging the levy  around 75 more councils have progressed work on CIL  paid to parish

Right to Challenge – Advice4renters  community housing advice agency  Concerned about reduction in specialist tenancy relations service  Expression of interest proposed that the council contract out

Right to bid

Right to bid – the Ivy House pub  £250,000 from the DCLG Assets support programme helped secure…  £500,000 from Architectural Heritage Fund  Community share issue raise over £ 140,000 Pub reopened in  August .

Right to bid – Stanwick Parish Council Stanwick Parish Council, Northamptonshire  Nominated land in time to have it pulled from auction  Purchased from reserves

 Putting the community at the heart of decision making  123 neighbourhoods  No one ‘right’ way– but some key elements

Our Place – Ilfracombe Small coastal town, population: 12,500   deprivation and social isolation.  Before: silos, duplication, gaps Aim to allow the community to have control   Focus: health and wellbeing, skills and employment prospects Outcome:New model – One Ilfracombe .   Local management of devolved budget from North Devon Council

Support expert support  organisations  enquiry service, advice , case studies http://mycommunityrights.org.uk £61m of grant  support 15

Repeal of the two signatories rule

Changes to Audit arrangements

Extension of the Sustainable Communities Act to parish and town councils

Creating new parish councils

7 parishes 4 grant New parish Queen’s Park Crewe Badgers Mount created, 2013- funded created Chadwick End present Hunsbury Hunsbury West Shearsby Petition Parish 3 3 grant submitted; CGR communities funded triggered/under Council way Sutton Coldfield Atherton Fenton campaigns 4 2 grant progress Petition communities funded opened Penrith Kidderminster London Fields Guiseley 92 communities Grimsby/Cleethorpes Aldershot Weymouth AshfordTaunton Walton Swale Rickmansworth Plumstead Paston on the road to a 21 12 grant Campaign live Charlton Barton Wolvercote parish council communities funded Berry Hill Mytchett Swindon Town Houghton-le-Spring Barking Reach Macclesfield Bingley PenkhullTopshamSpalding Grantham BostonSt Margaret’s BedfordCrook/Durham City Consett/Chester-le- StreetWelwyn Garden CityBaldockSloughLangleyKingswayStainlandHooleParkgateBurtonLeigh Community 65 ShardEndSpitalfieldsSlathwaiteWeddingtonThurrockNortonFolgateTyldesleyWaterloovilleExeterStJames exploring the HighWycombeRoehamptonWestGreenwichWalpoleKetteringOulton BroadLowestoftLonglevens communities HempsteadMatsonMarketHarboroughHullHadleighOsleston&ThurzastonAshIlkestonErewashWhitehaven issue YarmouthBedminster&SouthsaleBansteadKingswood&TadworthOttershawWeybridgeGreatBarr DarwinGreenRoseHillStalybridgeOrdsallScunthorpeBexhillLincolnLutonNewhallPooleCompstallHuthwaite

What do you want to do?