South East Forum For Sustainability

Archive for the ‘General’ Category

1)     Local Enterprise Partnerships
a)     Thames Valley Berkshire – Business minister Mark Prisk has had his first meeting with a local enterprise partnership in Reading read about it here
b)     Coast to Capital – Help grow our local economy!
The process for the recruitment to Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership Board is now live. The Coast to Capital Partnership is seeking to recruit a Chairman and seven Business Leaders to the Board.
This is a chance for experienced business people to play a key role in influencing economic development and business growth in this area. We are looking for persuasive and influential business people who can establish the Coast to Capital Partnership as the strategic force in economic development, and who will help forge positive and collaborative relationships with business and trade organisations, the existing Area Partnerships and other significant players, such as higher and further education.
The Coast to Capital Board will comprise of no more than 14 members in total. Five local authority leaders, together with a representative from higher/further education have already been allocated seats on the Board.
Full information on how to apply can be found here: 
Closing date for applying is: midday 21 February 2011.  

2)     Cala Homes
Cala Homes loose latest Court Appeal:
The judgment – in a High Court case brought by CALA Homes – confirms that the intended scrapping of Regional Strategies is a ‘material consideration’ which can be considered by local planning authorities and planning inspectors when making decisions. Read DCLG press release here

3)     Regional Government Offices
Vince Cable is to reinstate 6 Regional Government Offices – location TBA read about it here 

4)     Green Skills
The UK’s green & renewable industries prospects for sustained growth were boosted today as Skills Minister John Hayes announced a new National Skills Academy (NSA) for Environmental Technologies. Click here for more details

5)     Nick Clegg on Economic Growth
0 mentions of Sustainable Development
1 mention of environmental sustainability
9 mentions of economic growth
The main route to cutting carbon seems to be Carbon Capture and Storage (but he was at a CCS storage plant in Rotherham)
Notice here
Speech here

6) Carbon & Energy
a)  WWF launch new renewable report
For comment click here
For the report click here
b) UK emissions
Now they’re down – fall in 2009 (but early estimates suggest have grown again in 2010 click here
Now they’re up – UK must own up to full scale of the problem click here
b) Town halls and Whitehall are developing new partnership arrangements in order to help councils tackle climate change, details here

7) Transport
Threats to bus services widespread
Comment here
Link to Campaign for Better Transports save the buses campaign here

Localism
a) Impact Assessments of the Bill can now be found here
b) Clarifications here and news on possible 2000 neighbourhood plans can be found here
c) Transcript from Public Bill Committee meeting (CPRE, RSPB, TCPA, RTPI all represented) issues covered included role of LEPs need for Sustainable Development, communities plans etc are posted here.

9) Regional Growth Funds
a) First round of bidding has closed and around 450 bids are being assessed details here
b) Comment  the process was mired in difficultly as it was only made clear at the last minute that the Government’s priorities were for projects which would generate “quick wins” of employment in the near future. Covered in
- Birmingham Post - plus editorial here
- The Telegraph
c) Comment from Coast to Capital LEP here 

10) Healthcare
 The NHS Sustainable Development unit have published their Route Map for Sustainable Healthcare, which you can read here

11) Forestry Sell Off
a) Spelman defends moves and fights off parliamentary challenge read about it here:
b) Woodland Trust campaign on the issue  click here to link to Woodland Trust statement and petition:
c)  Click here to link to DEFRA statement and consultation which runs until 21st April 2011
d) Consultation events: Brockenhurst  – March 2nd,  Dorking – March 10th and also a number of less informal ‘drop-in’ events are scheduled. Further information and a list of events throughout England can be found here

12) Events
1)     Build Greener – Free Sustainable Construction Workshop and Exhibition in Ashford, Kent  Mar 17, 2011 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM, Ashford International Hotel, Simone Weil Ave, TN24 8UX Ashford, United Kingdom,
- Event Details: Build Greener: regional exhibition showcasing sustainably sourced and recycled content with construction sector focused workshops and presentations Your opportunity to: Meet suppliers and manufacturers of sustainable construction products…Read more
2) Co-operatives South East Sustainability Conference – 15th March Reading Town Hall further details here  

1) New Thames Crossing

The Government has approved a funding package for a new £32.3 million road bridge between Walton and Shepperton in Surrey

2)     National Framework for Planning

The Government this week launched a consultation on its proposed new single national policy framework for planning: .

The consultation can be found by clicking here and  suggestions should be sent to: planningframework@communities.gsi.gov.uk by 28^th February

Further details can be found on the Planning Portal website

3)     Eco Towns

An application for the Bicester Eco Town planning has been received

4)     SSSIs

SSSIs showing improvements, in particular: In the South East – 28,500 hectares of land in the New Forest (98.6 per cent of the total SSSI area) is now in favourable or recovering condition. This is Europe’s largest area of lowland heath and provides a home to Dartford warblers, nightjars, smooth snakes and numerous bat species. And – Conservation volunteers have helped restore 2.4 hectares of Hogley Bog (100% of the SSSI area), a tiny area of wetland near the centre of Oxford, providing a home for rare plants like the grass of Parnassus and the tiny creeping bog pimpernel.  

5)     Climate Week

This will take place during the week of 21-27th March 2011 check the website for details of activities 

6)     HS2

Tree Planting to muffle noise

7)     Natural Environment White Paper

Grass Roots Engagement encouraged to shape the Natural Environment White Paper – deadline 31^st January 2011

 The Greening Campaign in Alton has been going since around 2008. Here’s an update of progress amd activity from the group. More can be found on their website or by attending their AGM

The project to eradicate the single use carrier bag, continued apace with shops in the town being urged to promote bag reuse to their customers.

In 2010 Alton’s first ever Home Energy Day was a runaway success with over a 100 people gaining expert advice on keeping their houses warm and fuel efficient and finding out how they can earn money by generating their own energy at home. The Home Energy group has also helped dozens of families plan to insulate and energy proof their homes through their free personalised home surveys and is set to do many more over the coming year.

 Alongside its popular annual seed and seedling swaps the Alton Local Food Initiative (ALFI) got dug in with its plots and planters project throughout the town, involving many volunteers in rejuvenating and transforming grass verges and disused areas into productive vegetable plots.  Volunteers received special recognition in the prestigious Britain in Bloom competition in the Summer for their inspired work.

ALFI also started a garden share scheme in which local residents who want to grow their own, but have no space, were introduced to home owners with garden to spare. The results have been pleasure all round.

 At the tail end of 2010 ALFI launched its new Community Farm, a one acre plot just off the Selborne Road, which is now being turned over to vegetable and fruit production by an enthusiastic group of local people, concerned about food miles.  Volunteers have launched a ’sponsor a little sod’ campaign to raise money to buy seeds and tools.

 If you’d like to get involved in any of the projects above, or help ’sponsor a little sod’,  please do come to the AGM.

1)     CALA HOMES JUDGEMENT NEWS

a)     The lawyers behind the successful legal challenge to the scrapping of regional strategies (RS) have commenced proceedings against the government’s insistence that the ruling changes little.  Click here to link to article.
b)    Planning Inspectorate (PINS) staff are screening cases to identifying those which could be affected by last week’s CALA Homes ruling. Click here to link to article.
c)     Letter sent to Chief Planning officers post CALA homes judgement click here to link to letter

2)     SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION
a)     Rules designed to improve the environmental performance of new homes are to be toughened, the Government has announced. Click here to link to article
b)    Ten housing schemes from across the country have won a Building for Life award. (2 in SE – Water Colour, Redhill, Surrey, Linden Homes South East, John Thompson and Partners, Reigate and Banstead Borough Council and Cometa, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, Aston Homes, Richard Clark Chartered Architects, Wycombe District Council) . Click here to link to article.
For information the Building for Life criteria can be found here  

3)     HS2
A campaign group advised by law firm SJ Berwin has called on the government to pursue a lawful consultation on the High Speed 2 rail link. Click  here to link to article

 4)     NEW PLANNING REGIME
 a)     DCLG Business Plan outlines timetable for delivery of new planning regime. Click here to link to article.
b)    A coalition of conservationists is demanding government planning reforms protect and restore wildlife habitats and landscapes. Click here to link to article.
c)     National Policy Statements – DEFRA has launched a consultation into the national policy statement (NPS) for waste water. Click here to link to article and  the consultation can be found here. There is also a consultation, click here, in advance of the Water White Paper (closes 30^th November)

 5)     NATIONAL PARK GOVERNANCE
Government calls for local debate on National Park governance (new consultation) click here

 6)     LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY
Transparency and openness in Local Government finance. Councils are starting to make information available to the public via their websites on income and expenditure. Brighton & Hove allows you to see all payments for the current financial year over £500 via its transparency website. Past sets of accounts are also available. Overall expenditure and analysis by carbon emissions for B&H and other councils (mainly in the South East) is shown on the Spotlight on Spend website

Cala Homes has won it’s High Court Battle over the abolition of the South East Plan (full ruling can be read here). However the full implications of this are up for debate.

DCLG has been firm in announcing that does not change anything and points out in their statement (read it in full here) that the legislation to formally abolish regional planning will be introduced in the Localism Bill. This is due to start its passage through parliament before Christmas.

However, it is possible DCLG are being rather too hasty in dismissing the ruling due to the claim that the decision to abolish the plan needed consideration under the  terms of the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) directive.

It should also be borne in mind that the Localism Bill will take around a year to pass on to the statute book so this debate could run for a while. 

SEFS will be keeping a close watch on developments and will keep you informed, but if you need guidance for up and coming public inquiries then check the Planning Inspectorate website for information being given to Planning Inspectors.

Following abolition of the RSS, councils are reviewing the targets for housing provision. Amongst others Waverley Borough Council has got stuck in straight away with a new consultation (which closes on 13^th October) asking the public how many houses should be built. Option 2 (just build within settlements) of three options is deemed by local campaigners to be the clear favourite to win although on any analysis it doesn’t deliver enough houses.
Milton Keynes is definitely planning to reduce the amount of housing to be provided via its core strategy as a result of the revocation of the South East Plan. The council has agreed a series of changes that will not only remove references to the Plan but will also see their housing provision figures cut by nearly one third. The proposed changes will be produced shortly for consultation until mid November.

The National Housing Federation has commissioned a report into the issue across the county and identified definate drops in the following south eastern areas:

With the following councils planning to significantly reduce housing targets:

If your council is reviewing its housing provision please do keep us informed by emailing alison.walters@foe.co.uk

Packed full of news please click here

A for a little bit of irreverence  on the demise of 10 years hard work watch Lords of the Plans on You Tube.

SEFS was delighted to use the National Trust Offices at Queen Anne’s Gate in London for its 2010 General Meeting. Members engaged in the discussion on current state of regional activities and the future of regional level work. There were also interesting presentations from Rob Jarman of the National Trust on their Carbon Reduction programme, Rachel Stancliffe of Campaign for Greener Healthcare on NHS Forest (NHS Forest Presentation- short) and Bettina Lange from Campaign for Better Transport on the goverment’s programme – Delivering a Sustainable Transport System.

The minutes can be found here

Eric Pickles today announced that Regional Spatial Strategies will be revoked with immediate effect. Councils will now be responsible for deciding whether or not to keep their existing housing targets or develop new plans. Local Developement Frameworks and Planning Documents will continue as is though there may be a need to revise or review them to remove references to Regional Policy.

CPRE amongst others has voiced it’s concern over the cutting of RSS and the void this leaves in the cross boarder planning for things like transport, waste, minerals, green infrastructure.

Click here for the full RSS revocation letter and guidance covering, issues related to LDFs, transport, housing, waste and minerals planning.