Archived decisions

Contact: Paddy Hillary Ext. 7391

1. Summary

1.1 This report summarises the key proposals put forward in the statement by the
Deputy Prime Minister on 5 February in publishing `Sustainable
Communities: Building for the Future' also known as the Communities Plan.

1.2 The Communities Plan makes a range of proposals which cover the changes to the planning system, tackling housing shortages in the south and revitalising communities in the north and midlands and sets out a wide ranging agenda aimed at ensuring that decent, affordable homes are genuinely available for all within reach of work leisure and social facilities: objectives that have been at the heart of local government concern for many years.

1.3 The proposals are far reaching for services provided in the Hampshire area. Accordingly, a more detailed report is being prepared for Members to consider at their March meeting.

2. Introduction

2.1 The Deputy Prime Minister announced his proposals for a `Communities Plan' in July 2002. The statement on 5 February 2003 includes the publication of the full details of the long term action plan, which is not a White Paper, and the spending allocations intended to achieve delivery.

2.2 The plan is described as a `step change' in the Governments policies for

building sustainable communities and presents a comprehensive programme of action to take these policies forward. The document also includes a series of `daughter' documents concentrating on regional plans including one for the South East.

2.3 The plan covers a wide range of proposals including regeneration of deprived areas, increasing housing supply in four growth areas (Thames Gateway, Milton Keynes-south midlands, London-Stansted-Cambridge and Ashford), introducing a regional approach to housing policy, affordable housing for low income households and key workers, support for people to move into home ownership, bringing council homes up to a decent standard, homelessness and action on empty properties, measures to protect the countryside including guarantees on green belt provision, improvements to local parks and green spaces and affordable homes in villages.

2.4 The plan proposes a spend by Government of some £22 billion over three years on these actions plans and establishes a number of new organisations to ensure delivery including Regional Housing Boards, a Home Ownership Taskforce and a new green spaces unit as part of the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE).

2 Key specific proposals

2.1 Decent homes, decent places
This section is primarily aimed at housing authorities covering the position of local authorities as landlords, stock options and funding for improvements to help vulnerable tenants. It also proposes the inclusion of a strategy to improve social housing as part of the wider strategies for neighbourhood renewal and sustainable communities. This section also includes the announcement of the new CABE Space unit to champion high quality planning, design and management of parks and open space and a `liveability fund' of £89m over three years to support local authority led projects to improve these spaces.

2.2 Low demand and abandonment
These proposals are intended to bring back to life those areas where there is low demand for housing and to create more sustainable communities. Partnerships of local authorities and other key stakeholders will develop strategic plans for whole housing markets, linked to pilot projects to tackle housing, environmental health and anti social behaviour and alongside Enterprise Areas which will be established to encourage business and jobs in run down areas.

2.3 A step change in housing supply
This section aims to create conditions in which private house builders will build homes of the right type, address the need for affordable housing for key workers and the homeless and make the best use of existing housing stock. In particular this section cross refers to the proposals in the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Bill and announces the creation of a £300m Challenge Fund to deliver 6,000 more houses in the London and South East area.

2.4 Land, countryside and rural communities
This section aims to protect the countryside and enhance its quality rather than create urban sprawl and to address the housing needs of rural communities. Specific proposals include increased funding and a new role for English Partnerships in remediating and assembling brownfield sites for development; a new Land Restoration Trust to manage, in partnership with local communities, brownfield land that is suitable only for public open space; commitments to include a regional allocation of green belt land and a requirement for regional investment strategies to be rural proofed. Additionally, the target for affordable homes in settlements below 3000 people will be increased to 3500 homes in 2004/6.

2.5 Sustainable growth
This section deals with the Government's plans to deliver a `step change' in the supply of new housing in London and the South East by 2016. London and the growth areas are identified as having the potential to accommodate at least 200,000 homes above levels currently in regional planning guidance. Alongside the specific proposals for the growth areas in the Thames Gateway, Milton Keynes/south midlands, Ashford and London/Stansted/Cambridge there is a commitment to ensure that the built environment in the new and expanded communities is of a high quality and surrounding countryside is protected and enhanced and that the issues of public services and infrastructure are addressed.

2.6 Reforming for delivery
This section looks at the framework of laws, structures and decision making processes that are needed to deliver the action plan and include proposals ranging from additional funding for skills development to support for involvement of local communities in the planning process. Regional Housing Boards will be established with the responsibility of preparing regional housing strategies to develop and implement regional housing policies and provide advice to Ministers on housing investment priorities .

3 Issues for the County Council

3.1 The report to the March meeting of the Cabinet will include a more considered analysis of the implications of the proposals for the County Council. Whilst the recognition of the need for more affordable housing, the additional housing finance for the south east and the acknowledgement of the need to develop communities rather than housing estates are welcome, there are a number of concerns, echoed by the Local Government Association and other bodies such as the Environment Agency, which members need to consider.

3.2 Consideration needs to be given to the impact of these proposals on existing partnership working both at the corporate and strategic level through, for example the Community Safety partnerships, and at the more operational level. In particular, although the document does mention Community Strategies and Local Strategic Partnerships, there is little in the way of clear linkages with this developing work.

3.3 The proposals assume the implementation of changes to the planning system in the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Bill and create a number of new, undemocratically elected bodies to either oversee or to directly deliver the action plan. One clear example of this is the proposal to create Regional Housing Boards. There is little mention of the role of local authorities and there seems considerable scope for duplication and confusion of roles.

3.4 Most of the proposals add targets and funding to existing activities but with no clear explanation of how these additional targets are to be delivered.

4 Conclusion

4.1 Overall there are a number of aspects to the Community Plan which are to be welcomed, but alongside this there are some concerns that need to be addressed. Members will receive a fuller report at their March meeting with a consideration of the implications of the proposals for the County Council and its partners.

Recommendation

That the County Council reserves its view on the Communities Plan until March.

Background Information

Section 100D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB the list excludes:

1. Published works.

2. Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

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