Political Bulletin

Week commencing 27th July 2010

Development, Planning and Property News

• Policy continues to emanate from DCLG
  
  With the Parliamentary recess upon us and a Localism and Decentralisation Bill expected upon the MPs’ return, policy initiatives continue to emanate piecemeal from DCLG via Ministerial speeches and announcements.
  
  Communiqué will round up most announcements in the DCLG section below and send out a special bulletin in the event of significant proposals coming to light.
  
  

Department for Communities and Local Government

• Clark outlines Decentralisation plans
  
  DCLG minister Greg Clark said that the UK has become one of the most centralised countries in the democratic world "not just in respect of the balance of power between central and local government, but also in the disempowerment of the professions in the public sector; and in the way that voluntary organisations have been pushed out of the provision of public services."
  
  He proposes a "right to know", "the Right of Challenge" and "turning Government on its head" as guiding principles. More details are available on request from Communiqué.
  




• Grant Shapps announces boost for Zero Carbon delivery
  
  Grant Shapps has outlined plans which aim to give more control to developers and local authorities in meeting 2016 "Zero Carbon" targets.
  
  Included is the creation of a community energy fund, first proposed by the UK Green Building Council, that will see developers contributing to renewable energy projects in the local area, rather than designing bespoke solutions for each development.
  
  Shapps said: "This is about meeting tough environmental standards, but not dictating how every home should be built.
  
  "Councils and developers together are in the best position to decide how best to meet these standards, so we’re giving them the flexibility and a range of options to do this."
  
  The government also confirmed the Zero Carbon Hub would receive £600,000 of funding to help it define a realistic benchmark for carbon emissions in building regulations.
  
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The House of Commons

• No News
  
  Parliament is suspended from today (July 27th) until September 6th 2010. The MPs still work in their constituency offices, handling casework and focusing on local matters.
  
  Although they return on the 6th September they are off again on the 16th September 2010 for a recess intended to accommodate the Party conferences.
  
  They will return properly on 11th October 2010.

The House of Lords

• No News
  
  Parliament is suspended from today (July 27th) until September 6th 2010. The MPs still work in their constituency offices, handling casework and focusing on local matters.
  
  Although they return on the 6th September they are off again on the 16th September 2010 for a recess intended to accommodate the Party conferences.
  
  They will return properly on 11th October 2010.

London Mayor and Assembly

• Boris: Two years to go
  
  London Mayor Boris Johnson held a press conference at St Pancras Station in London to mark the final countdown to the 2012 Olympic games.
  
  Building works on the Olympic site are said to be on time and under-budget, with 700 seats being installed in the Olympic stadium every day and dry-run events penciled in for next year.
  
  Speaking as the final call for the Eurostar to Paris was announced, Boris said "If anyone is thinking of travelling to France right now I think that they should hold on a minute."