(a)

the Localism Act received Royal Assent on 15 November 2011;

(b)

the Act consists of the following sections:

• Part 1 – Local Government
• Part 2 – EU Financial Sanctions
• Part 3 – EU Financial Sanctions (Wales)
• Part 4 – Non-Domestic Rates
• Part 5 – Community Empowerment
• Part 6 – Planning Reforms
• Part 7 – Housing
• Part 8 – London
• Part 9 – Compensation for Compulsory Acquisition
• Part 10 – General

(c)

in terms of part I ‘Local Government’ the general power of competence has been introduced sooner than anticipated;

(d)

there were provisions for council’s to choose which method of governance it wished to adopt; either executive, committee system or prescribed arrangements;

(e)

the Standards Board for England had been abolished;

(f)

there were new requirements for codes of practice of which the seven Nolan principles of public life were embedded;

(g)

with regards to part 2 ‘EU Financial Sanctions’ Power for Central Government to pass on EU fines and other sanctions to local government (S48).

(h)

Part 4 ‘Non Domestic Rates’ allowed for greater flexibility to local authorities to grant discretionary relief from business rates where reasonable to do so; this was coming into force April 2012;

(i)

Part 5 ‘Community Empowerment’ allowed for provisions such as council tax referendums, community right to challenge, lists of assets of community value and land of community value; all provisions to come into force in April 2012;

(j)

the demise of the Regional Spatial Strategy would have a minimal impact on Plymouth as the Council’s Core Strategy promoted high level of growth;

(k)

a new Neighbourhood Planning regime has been created and that this would involve the need for Neighbourhood Forums to be created;

(l)

local communities would have a greater say on local developments;

(m)

Section 143 – financial considerations are now a material planning consideration; this enabled Planning Committee to ask what was the New Homes Bonus of the project and what is the likely Community Infrastructure Levy?

(n)

there was to be a major reform of the housing allocation policy;

(o)

Ward Councillors would have the opportunity to play a more proactive role in the planning application process;

(p)

specific powers were introduced 2007?? Is this date correct? Needs checking to allow council’s to impose fines with regards to rubbish collection; that power has been revoked. The power to charge for non-compliance with domestic waste recycling and refuse disposal has been repealed;

(q)

the panel would be provided with a copy of the community information pack when it was ready to be circulated to local community groups;

(r)

the Planning Committee had the opportunity to take into consideration how much weight financial issues should apply to each application; the Assistant Director for Planning Services agreed to provide this response in writing to the panel;

(s)

Council’s were able to go to court if they could demonstrate deliberate concealment of development;

(t)

the Planning Committee was currently able to consider the density of development and efficient use of urban land;

(u)

the responsibility for lists of community value was yet to be established;

(v)

due to changes brought about by the Localism Act Planning Services needed to be  reconfigured to meet new customer needs; a restructure of the service would take place shortly;