Transcript Delivering a Combined Business Transformation and

Borough of Poole Council
Localism Act 2011
Cllr Judes Butt
Portfolio Holder for Public Engagement
and Participation
Agenda
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Brief overview of the Localism Act 2011
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Summary 4 Major Areas of the Act
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How it impacts upon our Poole
Communities
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Questions from residents
Localism Act 2011
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483 pages
241 Sections within the Act
25 Schedules of Detailed information/ Appendices
Explanatory notes some 15,000 to date!
Regulations – pages - many thousands!
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Introduced into House of Common 13th Dec 2010
Assented in the House of Lords 15th Nov 2011
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Clarification as to content/delivery this year 2012
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Summary – 4 main heads of interest
1.
New Freedoms and Flexibilities for Local
Government
2.
New Rights and Powers for Communities
3.
Reform of the Planning System
4.
Reform of Social Housing
1. New Freedoms and Flexibilities for Local
Government
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General Power of Competence –
Anything in Law that meets the needs of the population that
is legal and has capacity to be effected.
 Abolition of Standards Board for all England – Complete
Standards Committee in BOP maintained - under new rules
Codes of Conduct remain unchanged
 Predetermination rules amended –
Councillors express preference re: predisposition not
predetermination.
 Openness/Accountability –
Publishing of remuneration paid to highest and lowest paid
staff at BOP
2. New Rights and Powers for
Communities
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Community Right to Challenge Where a properly constituted ‘Community Body’ can express
an interest in providing a service which is currently provided
by BOP.
 Register of Community Assets – nominated by community
Requirement to keep List of Community Assets held/or
maintained by BOP or Private Sector
Right to Bid – on above Asset on sale/disposal
 Local Referendums – Now Council Tax alone
Council Tax set > Government Limits as prescribed –
Automatic Referendum
3. Reform of the Planning System
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To ensure planning system is more democratic/effective
RSS – Regional Spatial Strategy – abolished
Governance – Planning Statutes
Core Strategy/SPD’s/SPG’s/LEP’s/NDP’s/NDO’s
NDP – Neighbourhood Development Plans – NEW
NF’s - Neighbourhood Forums must be;
‘Fit for purpose….represent community, in
economic/environmental terms, reflecting backgrounds of
all those they wish to represent, ……must be relevant and
proportionately representative’.
Planning Development - Developers
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Pre-consultation - prior to Planning Application with local
communities – Statement of Community Engagement
 Enforcement – Prevent abuse of retrospective Applications
to delay enforcement action.
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Section 106 agreements – Abolished –
contribution mitigates impact of development on local
infrastructure
 CIL – New - Community Infrastructure Levy – Widens
how contributions can be utilised – now used for
maintaining/operating – compared to just capital builds
4. Reform of Social Housing System
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HRA – Housing Revenue Account Subsidy – Abolished
Poole Council tenants no longer subsidising Social Housing
Nationally
BOP keeps rents paid in Poole for Poole Housing Stock
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BUT – Cost to buy out of system by Gov £100m
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Tenancy Reform - Flexible Tenancies – By agreement
provide fixed term tenancies – existing tenancies secure
Death – Only spouse/partner succeed tenancy/discretion
Waiting Lists – Council decide own criterion – NEW
What have BOP done thus far re the
Localism Act?
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Cllr Butt PFH – Bill - resp/delivery presentations to all
6 Area Committees/Residents/Community/Voluntary
Groups
Now revisiting re Localism Act and all changes
Members/Officers seminar next week – training
March – Public Meeting
Information/guidance/brainstorming
Senior Management Team – CEO/SD’s/Cabinet
discussed overview journey and impact of White
Paper/Bill/Act
Cabinet - Community Engagement WP - Set structure
as to how Council will meaningfully engage with public
What have BOP done thus far re the
Localism Act?
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Platforms presently Area Committees/SNT’s/Local BOP
groups - will include in time members of the community
Mapping all community/voluntary/residents groups in
BOP Strengths/challenges lie – Groups will self help and
share support.
BOP to facilitate and guide – ‘Hand Up not Hand Out’
No delegated specific ‘Localism Act’ devolved budgets
from Government
All Poole residents are an information resource for BOP
– glean best practice/ effective delivery of the Act
Conclusions
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Massive piece of legislation - much yet to be
interpreted before delivery
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Must do what is right for Poole/locally orientated
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Principle of devolving power (ergo responsibility)
remains manifest
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Community is a resource - about co-operation not
confrontation
Watch this space!
Questions......................