Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly has unveiled major reforms of the country’s planning system to make it fit to tackle new challenges in the 21st century - speeding up the system alongside improved community consultation.

The Government also pledged a new commitment to protect the green belt. The White Paper makes clear previously developed brown field land must remain the clear priority for housing development with our parks and green spaces protected.

The simplifying of the local planning system for householders will allow councils to focus on strategic priorities such as more homes for future generations and tackling climate change.

See our Reports section for full details.

Lewes Community Partnership has arranged a public meeting at Pelham House on Wednesday 23rd May 2007, 7.30 - 9.30 pm. This will take the form of a short presentation covering events so far and possible options for the future, followed by an Open Space structure in which all present can contribute to the direction and the next step for this initiative.

Read the full story on our Local Economy Initiatives page.

£1 buildings sale scheme considered

Closed-down pubs and schools, redundant police stations or leisure centres could be sold off for as little as £1 to community groups to allow them to be revived as facilities for local people.

Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly says she wants to promote "a new era of civic pride" by handing control of the management and ownership of key assets to local communities.

Councils will be given a new responsibility to identify unused property which could benefit the community, and a £30 million fund will support 20 pilot projects across the country to increase the transfer of assets.

The initiative - using money first announced in March - comes shortly after Tony Blair's expected successor as prime minister, Gordon Brown, called for more community involvement in local decision-making.

Ms Kelly was speaking on the publication of a report by Lewisham Council chief executive Barry Quirk, which argues that transferring public assets to communities not only leads to more responsive services but also promotes strong communities with a confident civic spirit.

Local authorities have powers to sell or lease assets at below market prices, compulsorily purchase derelict property or require landowners to clean up sites that are adversely affecting the local neighbourhood.

But the Quirk Report finds these powers are not often used and calls for a "major culture shift" in local authorities to help promote more active citizenship and give people a greater part in running in local services.

Speaking at the report's launch in Sheffield on Tuesday, Ms Kelly is expected to say: "When local government is more open to communities being part of the solution... this is not just good because it makes people feel better - although it does. It also works.

"The evidence from the last 10 years is clear: when we get it right, if you give local people more power, you'll get a better result.

"Better services, greater satisfaction with the neighbourhood, and greater satisfaction with the local authority."

source: The London Paper

To read the Quirk Report in full click on  CommunityManagementandOwnershipofAssets.pdf