§ Mr. Franksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what role he plays in the determination of the procedure, timetable for objectors' evidence, and general organisation for a local plan public inquiry.
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S36 Planning appeals 1984 1985 Number decided Number allowed Percentage allowed Number decided Number allowed Percentage allowed City of London 7 2 29 2 0 0 Barking and Dagenham 6 2 33 12 4 33 Barnet 54 16 30 67 28 42 Bexley 43 14 33 35 13 37 Brent 26 15 58 44 19 43 Bromley 124 39 31 198 78 39 Camden 85 44 52 84 49 58 Croydon 57 18 32 85 34 40 Ealing 44 16 36 59 29 49 Enfield 75 28 37 72 27 38 Greenwich 26 14 54 64 43 67
§ Mr. TraceyThe local planning authority is required by section 13(1) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971 to arrange a public local inquiry to be held for the purpose of considering objections to a local plan which are made in accordance with the relevant Regulations, (The Town and Country Planning (Structure and Local Plans) Regulations 1982 (as amended) (SI 1982 No. 555 and SI 1984 No. 6 and SI 1986 No. 443); and the Town and Country Planning (Local Plans for Greater London) Regulations 1983 (as amended) (SI 1983 No. 1190 and SI 1986 No. 443), unless all objectors indicate in writing that they do not wish to appear. The Inquiry is held by an independent inspector. Procedures which local planning authorities are required to follow are set out in the Regulations. Advice on the procedures is contained in "Local plans: Public local inquiries — a guide to procedure 1984", published by this Department and the Welsh Office.
§ Mr. Franksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what criteria he uses in deciding whether to call in a local plan.
§ Mr. TraceyThe Government's policy on calling in local plans is set out in the memorandum on structure and local plans accompanying DOE circular 22/84. This says that the call-in power will be used in only a limited range of circumstances where central Government intervention is clearly justified. The Secretary of State would not normally consider calling in a local plan until the authority had given notice of their intention to adopt the plan. Particular circumstances in which the exercise of call-in powers might be appropriate are where the plan raises issues of national or regional importance; or where the plan gives rise to substantial controversy, for example, extending beyond the area of the plan-making authority.