REPORT OF THE CABINET/LEADER

PART II

ADAPTING TO THE PROPOSED REFORM OF THE PLANNING SYSTEM

1. The Planning Bill currently before Parliament proposes a fundamental reform of the planning process with the aim of making planning more focused on outcomes, and providing an effective mechanism for helping communities shape their environments. The Bill removes the statutory strategic plan-making functions of County Councils, with the exception of minerals and waste, although Central Government envisages an important role for them in assisting Regional Planning Bodies with the preparation and review of the new Regional Spatial Strategies and in providing advice and information to Districts in preparing the new local development documents. The Government also suggests that through engagement with local strategic partnerships, County Councils may be able to advise on the spatial interrelationships between development and public service provision or infrastructure. These spatial relationships are the new initiative in the proposed local development documents which will now be expected to integrate priorities for development; environmental protection, improvement and management; transport and other infrastructure; and the supply of services to meet the social and economic needs of the community.

2. The Cabinet is convinced that these issues, coupled with the Government's regionalism agenda, make it crucially important that the County Council engages fully with its partners at both the local and regional level to ensure that the role that emerges for it reflects its status both as a service provider and the voice of the community on strategic matters. As an early step the County Council has signalled its intent to influence the role of Hampshire in the South East region by pressing for - and now successfully securing - a seat on the South East England Regional Assembly (SEERA) Regional Planning Committee. In addition, the Cabinet has asked the Executive Member for Environment and the Director of Environment to explore with SEERA and other partners a clear role for Hampshire in the preparation, implementation and monitoring of a South East Regional Spatial Strategy and relevant sub-regional strategies; the Chief Executive and the Director of Environment to work with local regional partners with a view to influencing the emerging secondary legislation associated with the Bill; and the Executive Member for Community Development and Regeneration to explore the opportunities to influence the new spatial planning regime through the community planning process, engaging fully the local strategic partnerships.

3. The Cabinet has asked for reports back, as appropriate, as these important issues begin to crystallise.

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