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Boost the rural economy
BUSINESS leaders have urged the new
government to take early action to prioritise the
rural economy.
Ministers could provide a much needed boost to the rural
economy during their first 100 days in office, said the Country
Land and Business Association (CLA). MPs should take
decisive action on rural broadband and reform how land is
acquired for major infrastructure projects.
The CLA is pressing ministers to act through the legislative
programme announced in the Queens Speech on 27 May and
the Budget Statement on 8 July.
The first 100 days
CLA president Henry Robinson said: "The Conservative
election campaign set expectations for action during the 'first
100 days' of government and rural businesses will be looking
for them to deliver.”
3 immediate priorities –
including a Universal Service Obligation for
Broadband.
"Too many people living and working in the countryside still
suffer from poor or non-existent broadband connection," he
said. "It is time for ministers to impose a Universal Service
Obligation of at least 10Mbps per second on network
providers for all rural homes and businesses. "Ministers must
end the competitive disadvantage faced by rural businesses."
The second priority is a compulsory purchase regime that
delivered major infrastructure while being fair to homeowners
and landowners. "We have seen good progress in the
past year towards much-needed reform of the out-dated
compulsory purchase system for major infrastructure
projects.It is now time to deliver and end the terrible
uncertainty and years of business stagnation that rural firms
and families currently suffer.
"Any policy or project announcements related to infrastructure
like HS2 must have a commitment to compulsory
purchase reform at their heart."
The CLA also wants an end to what it describes as
discrimination against unincorporated family
businesses. Many family businesses are sole traders or
partnerships and have not benefited from corporation tax
cuts, said Mr Robinson. "As the chancellor plans to bring
forward a law to guarantee no increases in income tax,
national insurance and VAT, he must not forget the
discrimination faced by family businesses that have not
benefited from corporation tax cuts.
"He must work with us to identify incentives through income
and property tax reliefs that promote growth amongst these
vital entrepreneurial enterprises."
Article from Rural Services Network
www.rsnonline.org.uk
Key appointments in the new Conservative cabinet include:
Greg Clark, Secretary of State for Communities and Local
John Whittingdale, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and
Sport
Sajid Javid as Business Secretary
Amber Rudd as Energy and Climate Change Secretary.
It remains to be seen what changes there will be made to
Government policies in relation to planning and we anticipate more
advocates for protection of the Green Belt; Eric Pickles had shown
some respect for Green Belt and AONB land in recent appeal
decisions. It is unlikely that there will be any change in the priority
given to new house building. Climate change and the environment
were not treated as high priorities by any of the political parties in
the pre-election arguments.
Planning appeal delays
The Planning Inspectorate has confirmed that staff shortages at the
organisation have led to delays of up to 10 weeks to validate
planning and householder appeals. For some inquiry categories this
means decisions may take 12 months or thereabouts.
The admission of problems has been posted on the Planning Portal.
The post says: “We apologise for the delay and are taking measures
to address this. We would like to thank you for your understanding
and patience during this period.
“When your appeal has been confirmed as valid we will then issue a
start date letter giving details of the timetable for the appeal.”
According the latest appeal handling times published by PINS, the
worst affected categories appear to involve enforcement appeal
inquires, listed building/conservation area consent appeals
considered by written representations and appeals involving lawful
development certificates.
PINS advised it was recruiting more staff to deal with the growing
backlog.
Funding for rural historic building conservation
Natural England, the department for Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs, and the Forestry Commission have announced that grants
of up to 80% of the cost of conservation works to historic buildings
in the countryside will be available under the Countryside
Stewardship scheme. The funding will be available for works to:
Non- residential buildings built with traditional materials
Ornamental or architecturally designed buildings
“Transitional buildings” that show the introduction of
modern materials, but are otherwise in traditional
materials, style and function
Buildings of historic significance
Unconverted historic buildings used in ways for which they
were not originally designed.
Planning Portal recommends apps for planners
The Government’s Planning Portal has issued updated advice about
smartphone and tablet apps useful for planners. The new list
includes a recently issued Pocket Guide to Planning.