Local government will be key to a raft of new Bills going through Parliament, the Queen's Speech revealed this week. The Government outlined its legislative programme, including Bills on transport, planning, social care, regulatory reform and housing. Speaking to the CBI last week, local government minister, John Healey, outlined some of the proposals for the Planning Reform Bill. He claimed Parliament and the public should both have a greater role in planning, but councils should have more autonomy to handle smaller decisions (see The MJ, 1 November). Lib Dem shadow secretary, Andrew Stunell, said there was ‘a real risk' the Planning Reform Bill would lead to a bulldozing of local opinion in a bogus quest for faster decisions. He said: ‘The Bill should give local communities the powers they need to tackle climate change and mitigate the changes we've already seen, such as the terrible floods this summer.' The Housing and Regeneration Bill creates a single body for housing and regeneration and creates more social housing. LGA environment board chair, Paul Bettison, agreed affordable housing was a priority, but claimed councils should set their own targets based on local and regional need. ‘National targets will not deliver the right homes in the right places,' he said.
