Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Greg Clark and Tony Baldry(11 years, 10 months ago)
Commons ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Greg Clark
My hon. Friend is absolutely right: that is one of the reasons why we were determined to reverse, and then to cancel, the fuel tax increase proposed by the Labour party. As for the rural scheme that he mentioned, we are having conversations with the European Commission in order to establish whether we can proceed with it.
Sir Tony Baldry (Banbury) (Con)
10. What steps he is taking to reduce the cost of living.
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Greg Clark and Tony Baldry
Sir Tony Baldry (Banbury) (Con)
T7. Will my right hon. Friend consider working with Cherwell district council, myself and others to make Bicester a garden city?
The Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Greg Clark)
First, I congratulate my hon. Friend on his knighthood, which is thoroughly deserved. We have heard that being a dame accords a Member no special privilege, but my hon. Friend commands the respect of the House uniformly.
I am very happy to work with my hon. Friend. The difference between this Government and the previous Government is that such things are entirely up to the local authority, but we will do everything that we can to help that fragrant corner of Oxfordshire become a garden city.
National Planning Policy Framework
Debate between Greg Clark and Tony Baldry
Greg Clark
It will do so by enshrining the local plan as the key decision-making document. Getting rid of the regional strategies and the 1,000-plus pages of national guidance will make it clearer than ever that decisions taken in accordance with the local plan will prevail.
Tony Baldry (Banbury) (Con)
Will my right hon. Friend confirm that local authorities and the Planning Inspectorate, when considering whether a local authority has an adequate five-year housing supply, will take into account where planning permissions have been granted but where houses have not started to be constructed?
Greg Clark
Yes. I pay tribute to my hon. Friend for raising this issue. That has found expression in the framework.
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Greg Clark and Tony Baldry(12 years, 9 months ago)
Commons ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text
Tony Baldry (Banbury) (Con)
T3. Will my right hon. Friend instruct the Planning Inspectorate that in considering whether a local authority has made adequate provision for housing over a five-year period it should take into account all the extant granted permissions for housing that a local authority has given, irrespective of whether construction work on such housing has started?
The Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Greg Clark)
My hon. Friend makes an excellent point. We want to strengthen the sovereignty of local plans and it seems to me that if councils have done their bit by granting planning permission, that ought to be taken into account by the Planning Inspectorate. I will certainly make sure that that point is reflected in the new framework on which we are consulting.
National Planning Policy Framework
Debate between Greg Clark and Tony Baldry
Greg Clark
I want to make some progress, as I want Members to able to contribute to the debate. Let me deal with a couple of important issues that have been raised about the definition of sustainability.
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Greg Clark and Tony Baldry
Tony Baldry (Banbury) (Con)
17. What timetable he has set for the ending of regional spatial strategies.
The Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Greg Clark)
As I said in my answer a few moments ago, we and, I think, many people in the country regard regional spatial strategies as undemocratic, bypassing local authorities. They are based on artificial regional boundaries and, by imposing on local people, have increased antagonism towards development. In other words, they have not worked.
Tony Baldry
Regional spatial strategies were a stick that was used to beat local authorities, but what will my right hon. and hon. Friends do on incentives? Do Ministers on the Treasury Bench still intend to allow those local authorities that encourage housing applications and grant planning applications for housing to retain the council tax receipts in respect of that new housing for a period, thus giving local councillors and authorities an incentive to bring forward housing schemes and new housing?