Protect planning permission rights: Having a say when buildings change their use.

LIVING STREETS is organising a national campaign to protect the rights of communities to have a say on any planning applications that might turn our local shops and pubs into something new.

These rights were exercised in Hedon earlier this year when local people and the Town Council objected to proposals to turn an empty shop into a fast-food take away. See Hot food take away sparks controversy.

The Government's new Localism Bill strives to shift power from central government back into the hands of individuals, communities and town halls. Yet without immediate public support the services that you walk to in your neighbourhood may be at risk.

The Bill is reviewing the planning rules for when buildings change their use. Unbelievably - says Living Streets - a bank can be turned into a betting shop or pawnbroker without planning permission or community say so.

Living Streets, a campaigning charity, is asking people take a few moments to support their campaign and write to Eric Pickles, the Communities Secretary, to ensure that radical changes of use to local shops, pubs and services are not passed without planning permission or communities having a say.

Tony Armstrong, Chief Executive of Living Streets, said "The government says it wants the planning system to be firmly rooted in the local community. Empowering neighbourhood forums to have their say on permitted development would be a real step forward towards doing this"

Amendments to the Localism Bill are currently being considered that, if passed, would enable communities to decide locally whether or not to extend planning protection to valued local services, such as pubs, ensuring that planning permission is required for changing their use.

NOTE: Living Streets is a registered charity that is campaigns for the rights of pedestrians. They aim work to create safe, attractive and enjoyable streets, where people want to walk. They want to ensure that every community can enjoy vibrant streets and public spaces.

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Humber bid for Enterprise Zone

THE NEW HUMBER ENTERPRISE PARTNERSHIP set up last month is competing with twenty eight other similar bodies from around the country each bidding for their area to be included as one of the final ten Enterprise Zone locations.

Eleven Enterprise Zones have already been established and benefit from simplified planning rules, super-fast broadband and tax breaks for businesses to promote growth. When established the new Enterprise Zones, according to a press release issued by the Department of Communities and Local Government, can help make the country the best place in Europe to start and grow a business. But the process will be very competitive and Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has said that "only the best will get the go ahead".

The Humber Enterprise Partnership bid to secure Enterprise Zone status will undoubtedly include the proposal by Siemens to open an £80 million wind turbine manufacturing plant on Alexandra Dock. But on a local level there may be some concerns that the Hull part of the Enterprise Zone sites involves developing land immediately North of the village of Paull.

The successful bids will be announced later this year.

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Citizens' right to inspect council finances to be spotlighted

Open book government!?

THE GOVERNMENT is to introduce new transparency rules which will require councils to publicise to the press and public the "little-known rights" to inspect councils' detailed financial accounts, ledgers and records.

This move, announced by the Communities and Local Government Department yesterday, is designed to increase scrutiny of councils' spending decisions by armchair auditors and local investigative journalists.

Every year councils are required to open their accounting records for public inspection and challenge over a set time period. Yet the public often do not realise that these citizens' rights include checking not just the accounts but also "all books, deeds, contracts, bills, vouchers and receipts related to them". These rights allow the public to check any spending under the £500 online transparency thresholds.

Councils will have to publicise these rights and where and when they can be carried out - and where on Council websites the relevant information is.

Eric Pickles MP, DCLG Secretary of State said:

"An open Government is vital for good democracy and that's why councils have to open their ledgers to the public - everyone has a right to know how their taxes are spent. But it's not enough to just publish them quietly, armchair auditors and local journalists need to know exactly where to find that information and these new changes will make sure they are not just out in the open but under the spotlight too."

Read the full press release on the DCLG website.

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Councillors to vote on top officer salaries

LOCALLY ELECTED COUNCILLORS should all have to vote on decisions about whether they want to pay staff salaries over £100,000, according to Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles.

Ministers today signalled their intention to issue new guidance on a salary ceiling at which remuneration decisions should be always brought before a full council vote.

The Government's Localism Bill includes provisions to require councils to put forward statements on pay – including bonuses and annual increases - to elected council members who must approve and publish this information.

"The changes we are introducing will mean that local government jobs will now have to be 'democracy proofed' before mega salaries are paid out. I think the democratically elected members of any council should make sure they have their say on pay and that £100,000 is the place to start that." Local Government Secretary, Eric Pickles.

It has previously taken Freedom of Information requests from journalists, the Tax Payers Alliance or members of the public before the East Riding has released information on top salaries or on the pay of its Chief Executive. See Town Hall Rich List and Top Council Pay.

This new Government initiative will ensure decisions on senior pay are taken by all the democratically elected councillors in the council at an open meeting and will improve transparency and local democratic accountability in how senior pay is set within local government.

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