Localism

Jonathan Free

Context National

Economy – Austerity – Public Service reforms Benefits reform/caps – control the public spend Growth Agenda - grow our way out of this Localism – locality act 2012 – new community rights – greater local choice, communities doing

things for themselves NPPF – presumption in favour of growth

County/District In a few years our funding will only meeting the social care bill . Core funding reduced - Less resource – integrated staff across BDC/MSDC close to 40% reduction

in revenue grant Shift to reward based funding NHB – Business Rates, Council Homes rent retained Emerging spatial plan - LDF

Parish/Community Community Rights – NDP - RTC - ACV Shape your own place – in exchange for growth NPPF v NDP – Key factor is the Housing Supply

What do these changes mean for you – opportunity or threat. Certainly things will not remain the same in the LG landscape and that will impact on your communities.

New Community Rights

NDP – Community Spatial Plan – adopted planning policy – determine own area – significant piece of work – own land allocation, building character, level of growth – conformity CS – not to prevent growth

ACV – Asset register – moratorium on sale – 6 months to raise funds and try to purchase.

RTC – LG services you’d like to run instead. Times when able to do this. Trigger procurement round. Some exceptions (stopping a service – middle of a contract)

……What do you want to be?

Do you want to - Stay as you are? Do you have an appetite for growth? Are you concerned about NPPF and

presumption in favour of sustainable development (5 year housing supply)

Are you concerned about the potential erosion of community facilities (pubs, shops, community centre, etc)?

Localism – not a blank sheet of paper Already visible within corporate priorities of BDC and

MSDC

Building on a base of Community Led Planning and building community capacity through Community Funding and Grant Support

Developing a place based approach to further this, understand and build upon Community Assets.

Community Funding Support

Approximates MSDC/BDC combined - £920K £110 capital £280 revenue – BDC £240 capital £247 revenue £24 minor £22 discretionary

Neighbourhood Planning High levels of interest in rural areas (6 applications 10

other communities debating if appropriate for them) Is NDP – the right tool? Need to understand local

motivations/needs. Village design statement, village plan, etc.

Planning and Communities joint support.

Challenge and Issues Relationships and historic mistrust Working alongside the VCS or SALC? Risks ref applications (NPPF)

Right to Bid Assets of Community Value 15 enquiries – 10 of which are pubs/former pubs, 4 listed

so far. 5 of which are a more general discussion about a range

of community assets.

Challenge and Issues Definition of ‘community value’ and clear criteria critical

to prevent risk of legal challenge Period of recent community use Groups meeting the criteria Expressions of interest has potential to be divisive No guarantee of community acquisition.

Right to Challenge

None received in Suffolk, consistent with national picture Informal route taken in preference to formal process

Challenge and Issues How will decisions be made if challenged on joint

services? Potential to open the door for larger organisations to bid

Questions?