Learning summaries

A report from beacon learning exchange events: Putting planning at the heart of your community

Introduction

As a major part of their dissemination activities, the four beacon authorities jointly hosted two learning exchanges in York and in London.

These events were supported by the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA), the theme sponsor WWF-UK, the Planning and Advisory Service (PAS) and the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG).

The main objectives of the events were:

What are the government’s key messages on planning?
What skills do local authorities need to meet the new requirements?
How have the beacons addressed some of these issues and what lessons have they learnt?

The programme aimed to:

share learning and best practice
provide links to resources and information on best practice
preate networking opportunities
forge relationships for further mentoring and development work.

Each of the beacons identified their area of specialism and developed workshops based on the following themes:

Ashford: Embracing growth
Basingstoke and Deane: Working with Local Strategic Partnerships (LSPs) – the benefits
Hambleton: Delivering community aspirations through the Local Development Framework (LDF)
Woking: Tackling climate change at the local level

The programme also included keynote speakers from CLG and PAS, exhibitions, a feedback and question and answer session.

Attendance at the events was restricted to encourage maximum interaction within the workshops. In total 99 different authorities and organisations were represented with 163 delegates attending.

It is intended to help stakeholders identify where additional action and support for local authorities may be required.

Main issues highlighted by delegates

Delegates at each workshop highlighted different theme-related issues summarised below.

Embracing Growth, Ashford Borough Council

The Planning Bill is not robust enough in terms of requirements for good consultation, especially on regional level.
The plan for effective community involvement and consultation requires the development of skills needed to encourage public buy-in.
Guidance is needed on when and how consultation takes place.
Establishing political buy-in throughout the stages of the LDF is an issue.
What examples are there of good practice in keeping landowners in the private sector involved, especially when it comes to formal examination of the LDF?
Concern was expressed at higher density place-making in urban areas and how this affects transport. The current infrastructure is not keeping up with growth.
The Community Infrastructure Levy will bring about opportunities but raises challenges.

Working with LSPs – the benefits, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council

Some districts have found that it can be challenging to work within the two-tier structure. Political differences between the tiers, and differing timescales and priorities for activities, can make working together much more difficult.
How can we get counties to take the economic potential of districts seriously?
Should there be a standardised approach to LSPs?
Elected members need to have a greater understanding of the role of LSPs and their own potential role within them.
Local authorities need to work with their LSPs in developing LDF Core Strategies as well as Delivery and Implementation Plans.
Should planning matters be a sub group of the LSP or should all planning matters be part of the main agenda and board?
Should the links between the Community Strategy and LDF be spatial or based on themes?
How can we make Community Strategies spatial?

Delivering community aspirations through the LDF, Hambleton District Council

Concern was raised about the timing of information from Government.
The ambitious government targets on planning could be a real threat to the planning profession. There is a risk that planning could be seen as a blockage in the system (based on time taken to start the LDF process).
Recent government guidance on housing and changing government office priorities may distract attention away from the LDF.
How can local authorities achieve corporate and political buy-in for the Core Strategy?
There is a need to ensure that all members feel empowered by the engagement process.
Effective partnership working is essential.]
There is a need to look at funding for Parish Plans as these are a useful building block to the Area Action Plan and subsequently the Community Plan.
Guidance is needed on how to identify ‘communities’.
Training needs to include developers.
Issues were raised about the lack of alignment between Local Area Agreements (LAAs) and the Community Planning and LDF process in a two-tier system.

Tackling Climate Change at a Local Level, Woking Borough Council

There was scepticism about getting developers and key stakeholders on board to achieve high standards of carbon reduction and sustainability.
The public need to be more fully engaged to support the issue.
Delivering sustainable housing whilst delivering affordable housing is a concern.
More leadership and political will is needed to ensure climate change is planned, integrated and strategic rather than considered a supplementary issue that is often uncoordinated, fragmented and reactive.
Government should utilise tools such as the building regulations to ensure high standards are incorporated in developments and PAS to develop Officers’ skills. More knowledge, skills and resources were generally deemed to be required.
What is the right definition for ‘climate neutral development’? There should be one definition and guidance on how far carbon neutrality should be extended.
There are differing views about whether to demand renewable energy or reduce carbon emission targets.
There needs to be a unified sub-regional approach with clear policies to maximise impact and effectiveness and avoid duplication or wasted effort. It should allow for the sharing of knowledge, expertise, models and frameworks and best practice policies that have come through the LDF process.
Case studies should be provided for reference and guidance particularly in relation to appeal decisions and what can be learnt from them.
There is a need for clearer regulations and mandatory targets – a single unitary standard.
A robust monitoring system or network should be implemented to ensure that standards are being met and delivered.
There are too many agencies and they should be reduced.

Common themes and issues

The learning exchanges sought to share learning and views between all of those involved and it is important that this is communicated.

The following cross-cutting issues were common to all the workshops:

Effective and creative consultation with communities and partners.
Political, corporate and officer buy-in.
How to make the LDF process work.
Information from the Government.
Upskilling of staff.
Unified policy and support provision.

Presentations from the events

Or contact the Beacons individually

Conseq