Agenda item
"TALKBACK"
To receive updates from parish representatives on organisations they represent which might be of interest to other members of the Forum.
Minutes:
Mr Cliff Bacon
1. My nameis Cliff Bacon andI representClipshamParish Meetingandthe LSP EnvironmentalThemeGroup
2. I wishtosay afew wordsabouttherecentlyadoptedRutlandCorporatePlan andrelatedsubjects.
3. TheadoptedCorporatePlan which was publishedaroundthe 20th
September,havingbeen approvedby Cabinetandfull Council,is ahighlevel documentwhichsetsthe scenefor thecouncil’s aims from now to 2020. Itis very heavilyweighted towardstheintentionof encouragingpopulation growth andeconomicdevelopmentin thatperiodon ascalewhichhas notso far beenexperiencedinRutland.Sadly, theintentiontoprotectournatural andhistoric environmentandoursmaller villagesfrom theimpactsof developmentis almostcompletelyabsentfrom theplan.
4. TheEnvironmentalThemeGroupdid submita consultationresponsein Julybut unfortunatelythatinputwasalmostcompletelydisregarded.
5. Thepurposeof myTalk Backis:
- Firstly to encourageyou pleaseto goontoRCCwebsiteandreadthe adoptedCorporatePlan,22 pages,fairly easyreading.Then,consideryour ownviewson the relative weightgivento growthand developmentcomparedwiththeweightgivento protectionofour existingsmallercommunities,theirenvironmentandtheirheritage assets.If theapparent absenceof intentto protectthe environmentworriesyou, pleasecommunicatethatclearlyto your wardmember councillorandI suggestyoumakesurethattheLeaderseesyour communication,as well
- Secondly,theRutlandLocalPlan iscurrently underreview andthe
outcomeis crucial to the preservationofRutland’s environmentor to its transition intoa developmentzone.An “Issues andOptions Consultation” waspublished inNovember2015and consultation closed on 12th January2016.Manyof yourvillagesmay have respondedwithinput.Wedid.Theprocessis thatthe Councilwill considerall comments beforepreparingthe next“PreferredOptions” versionof theLocal Plan.This wasdue to comeoutinSeptember/October2016buthas beendelayed andthereis noanswerthatI can findas towhenthePreferredOptionsversionwillbe published.Once thepreferredoptionsare published,I wouldguesstheywillbe very difficultto getchanged.I encourageyou to findouthow youcan becomemuchmore involvedin theintermediateconsultationprocess ofthe LocalPlan, beforethe publicationof thePreferredOptions
version.Thismay providean opportunityfor youto influencethe outcome beforeitis toolate.Pleasemay Iencourageyou tolookinto this,becausetherisk is high inmy opinion,thatRutlandis goingto becomea growthanddevelopmentzoneinthe nearfutureunlessthe villagesstepin withsomevery clearviews onlookingaftertheirvery special environment.
- Finally,I wantto mention thesituationonthe ConservationOfficer
whois responsiblefor theprotectionof listedbuildings andstructures(of whichthereareabout1600in ourCounty)and concerningwhicha questionwasasked at thelast PCForum.We havehada fulltime conservationofficerinRutlandfor thepast 35yearsto mypersonal knowledge.With1600conservationbuildingsit maybe considered likelythatatanyonetimesome 10%ofthem areundergoingstructural repairs.Youmay thinkthat 160listedbuildingsunderrepairneeds someindependentprofessionalmonitoringby aConservationOfficer to makesure thejobsarebeingdone accordingtoplanningconditions. Iam ledtounderstandthatsinceourfull time conservationofficer lefthis postanarrangementhas beenmade withSouthKestevenDistrict Councilto maketheir conservationofficer availableto Rutlandfor one dayper week.Wouldyoupleaseconsiderwhetheryou thinkthis is sufficientto protectourheritagebuildings, andif youdon’tthinkso, please mayI suggestthatyou againletyourWardMemberknow,in clear termswhatyou think,andthatthisis reportedto theLeader. Thankyou.
Capping
Concerns were raised regarding parishes being at serious risk of capping from the 1st of April next year, being limited to 3%; with parish and town council income coming only through the precept. The precept would be impacted on by the withdrawal of the Parish Council Support Grant. RCC would provide a written response with guidance to all parishes.
Below is the written response, received following the Forum.
Finance consultation
The Government is now considering responses in relation to its consultation on the local government finance settlement for 17-18. Parishes will recall that there were various proposals that could impact directly on them. The proposals included:
- extending the referendum principles to larger, higher spending town and parish councils – at the level quoted £75.46 Band D and £500,000 (total precept), it would appear not to apply to any of our parishes for now
- extending the proposal to cover all parishes – clearly this could apply to Rutland parishes. The Government itself recognised the issues of proportionality, practicality and cost that could be raised by such a step and we suspect that little support would be received for this proposal.
The Government also said parishes will not be in the category to which the referendum principles applies where there has been a transfer of responsibilities, and where various conditions are satisfied. In effect, a transfer of responsibilities resulting in the 2% limit being exceeded (for the precept to cover the agreed cost of duties transferring) in itself would not trigger a referendum.
We now await to see the Governments final proposals which are not expected until mid-December.
If parishes have questions on these issues then our view is that they should seek advice from the Leicestershire and Rutland Association of Local Councils (tel 0116 235 3800,email admin@leicestershireandrutlandalc.gov.uk)