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Options For Change
22.0 INSTITUTIONAL CHANGES
22.1 Planning Commission
Proposal: A standing Planning Commission should be established. It would have executive as well as advisory functions. Amongst other things, it could determine the boundaries of strategic planning areas, take responsibility for PANs, weed out frivolous or vexatious objections to development plans, certify conformity of development plans with national policy, assist in defining what is meant by a 'departure' from a development plan and, generally, assume responsibility for some aspects of performance measurement and appraisal.
Source: RTPI (S).
Present position: There is no such body.
Implementation: An advisory body could be set up without legislation. If it were to be given executive functions, it would need to be established through primary legislation and the legislation would confer the functions.
22.2 National Consultative Group
Proposal: A national users consultative group should be set up as a means of advancing the views of the wider public on planning.
Source: Getting Involved in Planning, Consultation Paper, SEDD, 2001; White Paper, Your place, your people, 2003, paras.54-56.
Present position: There is no such body.
Implementation: Legislation is unnecessary to set up such an advisory body, unless it was thought desirable to give it status.
22.3 Local planning forums
Proposal: Local authorities should establish one or more local planning forums for their areas to promote more active consultation arrangements over planning matters
Source: Getting Involved in Planning, Consultation Paper, SEDD, 2001; White Paper, Your place, your plan, 2003, paras.52-53.
Present position: Local authorities have experimented with a number of different ways to involve members of the public more effectively in planning, including in some cases the use of forums. These have been set up on an entirely voluntary basis.
Implementation: Local planning forums could be set up without legislation, particularly as they are likely to have only consultative and advisory functions. However, recognition in statute would give them status and might help to get them taken seriously. On the other hand, putting forums on a statutory footing could inhibit flexibility in their operation. The relationship between forums, community councils and community planning partnerships will require consideration.
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