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Policy Statements and Initiatives
WAG: An independent report (Towards a Welsh Planning Act: Ensuring the Planning System Delivers) setting out how the planning system in Wales could be improved has been published by the Welsh Government. The report will be debated in Plenary on 25 September 2012.
The Welsh Government has also published 2 related reports:
* Public attitudes towards the planning system in Wales
* A new approach to managing development in Wales
WAG: A Welsh Government campaign is being launched this week to encourage more companies & organisations across Wales to introduce Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) principles into their day-to-day operations in order to deliver sustainable business, community and environmental benefits.
The launch coincides with the publication of the Welsh Government CSR framework document setting out the Government’s commitment to embed the principles into its decision making & operational processes. Anchor companies across Wales will be holding a series of half day events this autumn in partnership with the Welsh Government to take the message to local businesses, third sector organisations and students.
DWP: More people suffering from cancer will get the unconditional help they need under new proposals published last week. The changes will mean hundreds more people a year who are awaiting, receiving, or recovering from any form of chemotherapy or radiotherapy for cancer will be placed in the Support Group for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), where they will get the long term support they need while unable to work.
The simpler process will mean all types of cancer treatment are seen as having the potential to be equally as debilitating, rather than the current rules which distinguish between different forms of treatment.
DfT: Earlier this year the Department for Transport launched a consultation paper setting out options for how they should devolve funding & prioritisation of local major transport schemes following this Spending Review period. A Ministerial statement has now been published.
ScotGov: Planning Minister Derek Mackay has updated parliament on progress towards planning reform, and outlined a major review of Scottish Planning Policy and the programme for delivery of Scotland’s third National Planning Framework.
He has also announced a programme of engagement on the National Planning Framework (NPF)– which will set priorities for national development over the next 20 to 30 years – as well as a review of Scottish Planning Policy, to spell out how that vision will be delivered.
HMT: The Government’s plans to ‘transform the powers & levers available to local leaders to deliver growth and jobs in their communities’ were confirmed recently with the signature of agreements by leaders of the 8 cities. The city deals are expected to create up to 175,000 new jobs and 37,000 new apprentices across the 8 areas which include; Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle, Nottingham & Sheffield.
