Local standards still key to making localism work
“The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) is backing moves to amend the Localism Bill to ensure there is a code of conduct that is mandatory for members of all local authorities. NALC has welcomed many of the provisions in the Localism Bill, not least for the greater recognition and new powers for very local (parish and town) councils. However NALC remains concerned about the coalition government’s proposals to abolish the mandatory code of conduct and the impact this would have on local democracy, public trust and confidence in local government and its councillors.If the current proposals in the Bill were to succeed, every local council in
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Putting planning on the front foot
“New powers to give local people unprecedented influence to determine the future of their areas are to be tried out in 36 more Front Runner areas. These areas are among the first to test out neighbourhood planning, a radical new power being introduced in the Localism Bill, which will give local people a real voice in deciding how development will look in their area.For the first time, neighbourhood planning will allow communities to shape their own vision for their community, from deciding the locations of shops, offices and schools to setting standards of design for new housing and protecting green spaces of value to the community. In areas where local people want to see homes and businesses built, neighbourhood planning will allow communities to grant a blanket planning permission for development to go ahead without developers having to make separate applications. The community has the final say on whether a neighbourhood plan comes into force. If more than 50% of people voting in a local referendum support the plan, then the local planning authority must bring it into force. Neighbourhood planning is designed to return power to local people and local businesses on planning decisions, in contrast to the top-down regional strategies being scrapped by the Government.”
Copy Dates for "Resident"
If readers wish to advertise an event or have an article printed in the newsletter the following gives dates by which copy should be received by the editor – Trevor Stansfield, 174 Perry Street CM12 0NX or e-mail Tremar@aol.com:
February issue copy by 15 January, March issue by 15 February, April issue by 15 March, May issue copy by 15 April, June issue by 15 May, July/August issue by 15 June, September issue by 15 August, October issue by 15 September, November issue by 15 October. December/January issue by 15 November, February issue by 15 January.
If an event is to be held before the 10th of the month then, to ensure circulation, the advertisement should be included in the previous month’s issue e.g. an event taking place on 3 May should be advertised in the April issue. Similarly if an event is scheduled for 3 September then the advertisement should appear in the July issue.