Localism

Localism receives Royal Assent

On Tuesday the 15th of November the long debated Localism Bill received Royal Assent.  Most aspects of the Act will come into effect in April 2012.

Despite all of the press headlines what does the Act really mean to us as individuals or more importantly how do we become empowered as community groups?

The main premise of the Act is to take control over decisions that affect our day to day lives out of the hands of Central government and empower communities to take local decisions in partnership with Local Authorities and Parish and Town Councils.

The Act also introduces some important new rights for communities:

• The Right to challenge (how money is spent for services)
• Community right to bid (for assets of community value)
• Community right to build (assets for the benefit of the community such as homes, shops, playgrounds, village halls etc.)

In time detailed regulations will be provided that will give guidance on how all of these Rights can be taken up.

The introduction of Neighbourhood Planning represents a fundamental shift in the way planning decisions are made and provides much greater power at community level to influence local planning decisions.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead have long been exponents of Localism and have divided its parishes into 5 key clusters and 2 town areas (Windsor and Maidenhead.) for the purposes of producing Neighbourhood Plans.

The Borough has been very successful in obtaining ‘front runner’ funding for its Neighbourhood Planning Groups:

• Bray (see their plan website at: http://brayplan.com )
• Ascot and the Sunnings (see their plan website at http://ascotandthesunnings.wordpress.com )
• Hurley & the Walthams
• Cookham & Bisham
• Old Windsor, Horton and Wraysbury

If you are a resident of any of these areas do get involved in your Neighbourhood plan, more involvement will make for better and more inclusive plans.

The Government has provided funding to the following organisations to provide support services to communities wishing to initiate neighbourhood plans:

• The Prince’s Foundation www.princes-foundation.org.uk
• Locality www.Locality.org.uk
• RTPI/Planning Aid www.rtpi.org.uk
• NALC/CPRE www.cpre.org.uk or www.nalc.gov.uk

CCB will continue to monitor the changes brought about through Localism and will be running updated training and information workshops for community groups.  Keep an eye on our website for more information www.actionforall.org.uk/CCB/neighbourhoodplanning