Policy Statements and Initiatives
PP: The Government has decided to replace its original proposals for a new land tax involving a Planning Gain Supplement (PGS) in favour of a Planning Charge according to the Planning Portal. This will build on the current s106 approach and the tariff formula pioneered in Milton Keynes, planning minister Yvette Cooper told Parliament and the necessary legislation will be included in the forthcoming Planning Reform Bill.
The Minister spelled out some of the principles of the proposed new planning charge arrangements, stressing that that local authorities will be able to apply standard planning charges for all new development in their areas to support infrastructure delivery.
PP press release ~ Further PP press release ~ Planning Portal ~ Pre-Budget Report Chapter 6 'Stronger communities and a better quality of life' (see 6.16) ~ Yvette Cooper's written statement ~ Planning Reform Bill ~ JRF: Delivering affordable housing through Section 106: outputs and outcomes ~ CLG - Planning
DCSF: The Government is backing its pledge to have a Sure Start Children's Centre in every community by 2010, with a further investment of £351m to pay for developing, extending & modifying existing centres in less disadvantaged areas and bring the total number of Children's Centres to 3,500 by 2010 (There are currently 1,500 centres).
The government has also published its response to the July 2007 Public Accounts Committee report on Sure Start Children's Centres, providing information on all the action taken to improve services such as:
* issuing practice guidance on how to engage disadvantaged families
* providing a toolkit on how to engage with excluded groups providing business planning guidance and
* staff training to improve financial management and obtain value for money
By Autumn 2007 1,200 centre managers will have obtained or be working towards the National Professional Qualification in Integrated Centre Leadership (NPQICL), which is recognised as a national qualification for those working in multi-agency, multi-disciplinary environments. In addition, Children's Centre planning guidance will be issued shortly.
Press release ~ Sure Start - Capital buildings & facilities ~ Public Accounts Committee report on Sure Start Children's Centres ~ Press release for Committee report ~ NAO: Sure Start Children’s Centres ~ National Professional Qualification in Integrated Centre Leadership (NPQICL) ~ Family and Parenting Institute (FPI)
