Policy Statements and Initiatives

CLG: Communities & Local Government Secretary of State, Eric Pickles, took pre-emptive action to prevent unauthorised development over the recent bank holiday weekend. Mr Pickles wrote to all Local Authority Chief Planners to warn them to be on alert & ready for action if any significant planning applications were submitted before the bank holiday.
 
In the past some people have used extended weekends to put in last minute applications to their council on the Friday.  They then spend the extended weekend illegally developing the land, for example cutting down protected trees or laying concrete driveways.  These developments are often at quite an advanced stage by the time council planning officers return after the holiday and are able to call a temporary halt on activity.
Press release ~ Guidance on managing anti-social behaviour related to Gypsies and Travellers ~ Gypsies, Travellers & Travelling Showpeople - Government’s policy for reducing levels of unauthorised camping ~ Directgov: Gypsies and Travellers ~ Unauthorised developments ~ Unauthorised encampments ~ The Road Ahead: Final Report of the Independent Task Group on Site Provision and Enforcement for Gypsies and Travellers ~ Local Authority Gypsy and Traveller Network ~ Gypsy & Traveller Accommodation Needs Assessment ~ Your Rights: Rights of Gypsies and travellers ~ EHRC: Gypsies and Travellers - simple solutions for living together ~ Community Legal Advice: Travellers Rights ~ HCA: Gypsy & Traveller site grant
 
BIS: Business Secretary Vince Cable has announced an action plan to bring an end to the excessive regulation that is stifling business growth

The ‘Forward Regulatory Programme’ published in March 2010 by the Better Regulation Executive identified 200 new regulations that departments were planning to bring in between May 2010 and April 2011 (with a cost of over £5bn) and over 20 new regulations beyond April 2011 with individual costs of over £50m and total costs of about £19bn.
Press release ~ BRE: Forward Regulatory Programme
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