§ Lord Moynihanasked Her Majesty's Government:
In line with their planning policy guidelines for open spaces, sport and recreation (PPG 17), how many local authorities have compiled audits of both the supply and demand for playing fields in their localities. [HL4843]
§ The Minister of State, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (Lord Rooker)Planning Policy Guidance note 17 (PPG17) was issued in July 2002. It expects planning authorities to prepare assessments of need for open space and built sports and recreational facilities, and to undertake audits of existing provision 191WA as a part of the process of preparing their development plan documents.
When planning authorities have prepared their development plan documents, they must submit them for an independent examination to ensure that they are sound. An inspector appointed by the Secretary of State, my right honourable friend the Deputy Prime Minister, conducts this examination of the development plan document, which will include a test of the plan's conformity with national planning policy such as PPG17. The recommendations of the inspector are binding on the authority.
Authorities will also be obliged to monitor and report on the implementation of their plans, developing suitable indicators of performance. So the policies which they prepare to meet the requirements of PPG17 will be subject to this process.
As part of the normal policy review process the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister aims to carry out an assessment within five years of publication, to look at the extent to which audits of the supply of, and demand for, open space and sports and recreational facilities have been undertaken by local planning authorities in line with the provisions of PPG17.