REPORT OF THE

Cabinet / Leader

PART II

KATE BARKER REVIEW - INTERIM REPORT

In December 2005, economist Kate Barker was commissioned to review the planning system in England and as part of the initial consultation process, the County Council made a submission in spring 2006. Kate Barker has now published an interim report setting out an initial analysis of the situation and areas to be developed further in the final report. Further comments were invited and accordingly the Cabinet considered a report on 25 September 2006, which highlighted the key points of the interim report and agreed a response on behalf of the County Council.

The response drew on the key areas in which the County Council has particular expertise, either historically or in the context of day-to-day operations. The main thrust of the response can be summarised as:-

Seeking

· the preparation of a definitive and clear national policy framework to ameliorate the problem of lengthy timescales in the planning system and to assist with the efficiency of Public Inquiries which experience shows often spend considerable time debating what Government policy or intentions might be


· the introduction of target times for central Government decision making similar to the regime for Local Planning Authorities, unless there are exceptional circumstances in which case there should be provision for extended deadlines applying to both Government Ministers and planning authorities


· a more balanced approach to the supply and delivery of land for employment purposes so that the planning system can better deliver economic objectives


· the introduction of a "tariff" based system so that developers are aware of precisely what will be required before making a planning application to avoid delays between the application being granted and the start of development because of the need to negotiate the level of developer contributions towards transport and other infrastructure

Believes there is

· a strong case for local authorities as democratically accountable bodies to continue to be the most appropriate forum for making decisions on proposals for the development of land because they are accountable to their electorates, the advice given to them is open to public scrutiny and their meetings are held in public


· potential to streamline the planning system to remove needless bureaucracy and use of expertise and resources that would be better employed on more significant work, bearing in mind the national shortage of professional planners and the demands of the new Local Development Documents system

A copy of the substantive response letter can be obtained upon request from the Democratic Services Unit in the Chief Executive's Department.

T. K. THORNBER, C.B.E.,
Leader.