Localism Bill an introduction Derk van der Wardt Community Engagement Team, Leicestershire County Council

Localism Bill aims to introduce: New freedoms and flexibilities for local government New rights and powers for communities and individuals Reform to make the planning system more democratic and effective Reform to ensure that decisions about housing are taken locally

New freedoms and flexibility for local government General power of competence – Local Authorities are free to do anything (providing they don’t break the law) Abolition of the Standards Board regime to oversee the behaviour of Councillors – But to ‘deliberately withhold or misrepresent a personal interest’ becomes a criminal offence Clarifying the rules on predetermination Directly elected mayors – In 12 largest cities – including Leicester

New rights and powers for communities Community right to challenge – Giving voluntary & community groups a right to express an interest in taking over the running of a local service – local authority must then consider Community right to bid – When ‘assets of community value’ come up for sale, community groups will have time to develop a bid Local referendums Right to veto excessive Council Tax rises

Reform to social housing policy Social housing tenure reform – End to ‘lifetime tenancies’ Social housing allocations reform – Only those qualifying for social housing can go on the waiting list Reform of homelessness legislation – Enabling councils the use of private sector rented homes to meet homelessness crisis Reform of council housing finance – Councils can now keep the rent they raise National homeswap scheme Reform of social housing regulation

Reform to the planning system Abolition of regional strategies Duty to cooperate Nationally significant infrastructure projects Requirement to consult communities before submitting very large planning applications Reform the way local plans are made Strengthening enforcement rules Neighbourhood planning Community right to build Reforming the community infrastructure levy

Reform to the planning system (cont.) Neighbourhood planning – Right for communities to draw up a ‘neighbourhood development plan’ (but needs to be within national planning policy and Local Development Framework) – Local planning authorities will be required to give technical advice and support – Neighbourhood planning ‘vanguards’ to test this idea in practice

Reform to the planning system (cont.) Community right to build As part of neighbourhood planning, groups of local people can bring forward small developments Reforming the community infrastructure levy (s106) -Levy can now also be used to ‘maintain’ infrastructure -Some of the money raised to go directly to the neighbourhoods where development takes place

Leicestershire County Council Big Society Scrutiny Panel asked to look at the implications of the proposed Localism Bill for Leicestershire County Council Neighbourhood Planning Vanguard bid supported with Blaby District Council and the parishes in the Blaby South Community Forum Big Society Fund [subject to cabinet decision]

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