Oral Answers to Questions

Mike Wood Excerpts

Monday 9th November 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mr Jones]

In many ways the hon. Gentleman’s party is following the lead from our party and the Localism Act 2011. The hon. Gentleman needs to consider that community rights in England are not centrally driven or managed from the centre. We should recognise and balance the rights of the local community with the rights of property owners and individuals. We do not want red tape which affects businesses and creates additional burdens on local authorities and taxpayers. That is what the hon. Gentleman’s proposal would create.

[Mike Wood (Dudley South) (Con)]

What advice would the Minister give to planning authorities that do not treat the presence of community pubs on the register of assets of community value as a material consideration when planning applications are considered?

[Mr Jones]

Local authorities should certainly take into account community rights and the listing of pubs as assets of community value when they make planning decisions in their local area.