Political Bulletin

Week commencing 12th July 2010

Total development activity down 2.8% in June

The Savills development activity survey registered a sharp drop in public sector office development, down 30%, and public sector new build, down 19.6%.

However, the slack was largely taken up by continuing growth in the private sector.

Scotland consults over planning reforms

The Scottish government has launched a consultation into the future of planning.

'Resourcing a High Quality Planning System' looks at planning fees and ways of funding government agencies involved in planning.

Proposals include charging for pre-application discussions, meaning developers would have to pay for advice from planning teams before submitting an application.

The consultation runs until 15 October 2010.

Clark announces 45-point decentralisation plan.

DCLG Decentralisation Minister Greg Clark has announced his plans to "…work to empower people, not to keep Whitehall in power."

He added "Councils are no longer going to be strangled by prescribed one-size-fits diktats on the one hand and smothered by regional bureaucracy on the other."

The DCLG is to follow what Clark calls a "45 step plan" over 18 months.

You can see the plan, which includes milestones and timescales here.

What's On

Tuesday 213th July, Westminster Hall debate Housing benefit introduced by Meg Hillier.

Thursday 15th July- Oral Questions, Communities and Local Government.

What's On

Local Government Bill- Committee of the whole House introduced by DCLG minister Baroness Hanham.

Assembly to question Boris regeneration budget cutter.

The man charged with cutting City Hall’s police, fire, regeneration and transport expenditure will appear in front of the London Assembly tomorrow from 10AM.

Nicholas Griffin is looking at ways to cut costs across Transport for London (TfL); the London Development Agency (LDA); the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority (LFEPA); and the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA).