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In Coventry the Core
Strategy Examination
was completed last December.
The report from the inspector was
received by the City Council in early May, at which time they had
a two week period to inspect the report for factual errors. The
report has now been published.
In the Inspector's
Report the go ahead is given for building on Greenbelt
land in Keresley.
On 25th May councillor John Mutton,
now leader of the council, made a public statement, as reported
in the Coventry Telegraph (see
report), to the effect that he would ensure that the council
scrap all plans to build on Greenbelt and Greenfield sites. At the
same time they received the final report for adoption and publication.
We now await the decision of the
council and John Mutton as to how and when they will proceed. The
next council meeting is at 2pm on 22nd June. However the Agenda
make no mention of the Core Strategy. It would seem that they have
three options:
1) Vote not to adopt the Core Strategy
and continue with the current Local Development Plan
2) Vote to adopt the Core Strategy and refer the matter to the Secretary
of State to rovoke it.
3) Delay making any decision until future government plans become
clearer as to the options
It is believed that a white paper
for a Decentralisation and Localism
Bill (see below) will be published for consultation during
July outlining the.government plans.
It is also to be hoped that John
Mutton wil also have some influence in the
Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire
Sub-Regional Forum,
the body where housing numbers were discussed, now that he is the
lead member for Coventry as detailed in the minutes
of the May council meeting.
On 27th May, Eric Pickles - Secretary
of State for Communities and Local Government,
sent a letter
to all local councils regarding the ABOLITION
OF REGIONAL STRATEGIES.
This was reported in the Coventry Telegraph on 3rd June (see
report).
Before the election the Conservative
party issued a "Green
Paper" entitled Open
Source Planning. This paper lays out the proposals for abolishing
the Regional Spatial Strategy,
this is the document which imposed the building of 33,500 houses
around Coventry, and returning power to local councils to decide
for themselves on local needs. In the Queen's Speech a Bill named
the Decentralisation and Localism Bill
was mentioned. The Downing Street website at Number10.gov.uk
outlines the content proposed for the Bill. In the government document
The Coalition - our Programme for Government, Section
4 outlines their intent.
On 21st June Joan Wally, MP for
Stoke-on Trent North, asked for a timetable for the Decentralisation
and Localism Bill, Greg Clark (Minister of State (Decentralisation)
gave a reply
but without providing any specific dates. It is believed that a
document for consultation we be available in July.
Whilst the statement by John Mutton
and the letter from Eric Pickles was welcomed by Coventry residents,
a Central TV report broadcast
on 4th June showed that they are waiting to see the commitment by
the council to scrap all plans to build on Greenbelt and Greenfield
sites acted upon.
This was followed up by a report in the Coventry Telegraph (see
report) on 8th June.
An interim report covering the
City Centre (Matter 5) was sent to the council on 11th February
and, after being checked for factual errors, placed on the City
Council website on 15th February.
The following documents may be viewed :
Letter to council
Fact
check letter
Interim
Report
Nuneaton and
Bedworth district council currently have no such statement
following the letter from Eric Pickles.
They now expect to publish their "Core Strategy - Preferred
Options" document for
consultation in May 2011
Submission: October 2011
Hearing: December 2011
Adoption: July 2012
This will be based upon the results from the consultation document
Core
Strategy Issues & Options published in early 2009.
Nuneaton
and Bedworth district council also presented two videos
on You Tube.
Core
Strategy - Part 1
Core
Strategy - Part 2
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