Parliamentary Bulletin May 2008

1. THE PLANNING REFORM BILL 2007

MPs have extracted concessions from the Government on the proposal for an independent planning commission to take decisions on major infrastructure developments such as wind farms and power stations. Citing the example of the expert panel which advised on the location of casinos, MPs argued that an independent panel would be seen as unaccountable. Any decisions which it took would be subject to objection and therefore likely to suffer extensive delay. The precise nature of the concessions will be laid before Parliament in early June.

2. COMPETITION COMMISSION REVIEW OF PLANNING POLICY FOR RETAIL DEVELOPMENTS.

In response to a written question DCLG revealed that their officials attended two hearings with the Commission to discuss the Government's planning policy, the operation of the planning system in England and its programme of reforms to inform the preparation of the Commission's final report on its UK groceries market investigation.

3. LAND REGISTRATION RULES 2008

The House of Lords today approved the Land Registration (Network Access) Rules 2008.The are part of the creation of a system of electronic conveyancing in England and Wales. The draft rules have been modified to address concerns about provisions for the limitation and exclusion of liability. In addition, a scheme will be set up by the Land Registry to pay ex gratia payments to people who suffer loss as a result of problems with the network caused by the Land Registry. With this in place the electronic conveyancing scheme will be introduced in stages and piloted on a voluntary basis.

Liberal Democrat Shadow Attorney General, Lord Thomas of Gresford expressed concern that a simple problem with a neighbour about who was responsible for fence would have to be dealt with through a lawyer. He also wondered if the new system would reduce the cost of registering land.

The minister explained that the capital and development costs would total between £270 million and £310 million and the Government would keep a "careful eye" on the costs of the Land Registry.

4. GREENER HOMES FOR THE FUTURE?

THE HOUSE OF COMMONS ENVIRONMENTAL AUDIT COMMITTEE (EAC) has announced that it will be holding its final evidence session on 'Greener homes for the future?' an environmental analysis of the Government's house-building plans, on Tuesday June 3 2008.

5. CHARGES IMPOSED ON HOUSEHOLDS FOR LAYING NEW DRIVES

Communities and Local Government Minister John Healey announced that the planning permission route would be used to tackle the large amount of water run off witnessed during recent floods. Guidance will be issued to households on how drives could be laid without negative consequences for water run off.

6. DESIGNATION OF FURTHER GROWTH POINTS

A second round of the growth point programme was announced in the Housing Green Paper in July 2007. Since then 30 expressions of interest for additional growth points have been submitted and are currently being assessed.

7. Planning Skills Enquiry

The Communities and Local Government Committee took evidence as part of its inquiry 'Planning Skills'. There is a severe capacity problem with regards to planning courses. MPs referred to the Government's evidence to the Committee which identified under investment in tackling labour shortages. The Minister observed that the number of planning graduates had increased and suggested that local authorities had to take responsibility for the value they placed upon planning within their community. The Minister revealed that the Government’s planning delivery grant would supply £605 million over five years.

8. DCLG CONSULTATIONS

The Building Act 1984, The Building Regulations 2000. Proposals for amending Part G (Hygiene) of the Building Regulations and Approved Document G.

This consultation paper sets out and seeks views on changes to the requirements of Part G (Hygiene) of schedule 1 of the Building Regulations in England and Wales and Approved intended to update and improve compliance with the Building Regulations and legislation.

Alongside the consultation paper the department published Impact Assessments of amending Part G (Hygiene) of the Building Regulations and the revision to Approved Document G (see link on the right) covering the key proposals. Views must be submitted by 5 August 2008

"Politics is the art of choosing between the disastrous and the unpalatable."
John Galbraith

Baroness Liz Barker
Meeting Place Communications 2008