§ Mr. Thorneasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider revision of the present planning relationship between the new Preston District Council and the Lancashire County Council which would permit the direct participation of community representatives in planning decisions.
§ Mr. John SilkinThere are statutory requirements to ensure that county and district planning authorities are aware of each other's views when making planning decisions. Authorities were urged in Circular 74/73 to supplement these mandatory provisions by joint consultative arrangements. It is not for me, however, to dictate what these arrangements should be in a particular case.
Parish councils now have a right to be informed of applications and their views must be taken into account by the authority—whether county or district—deciding an application.
The whole question of public involvement is being considered by Mr. George Dobry, QC as part of his review of development control. A copy of his interim report is in the Library.
§ Mr. Thorneasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek greater representation within the Central Lancashire Development Corporation from people residing in the Walton-le-dale area likely to be directly or indirectly affected by planning decisions made by that body; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John SilkinWhen making appointments to new town development corporations my right hon. Friend is required by statute to have regard to the desirability of securing the services of one or more persons resident in or having special knowledge of the locality in which the new town is constituted. When he comes to review the present composition of the Central Lancashire Development Corporation this requirement will, of course, be observed.
§ Mr. Thorneasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is satisfied with the steps taken by the Central Lancashire Development Corporation to seek implementation of 375W the recommendations of the Skeffington Report in respect of the people's participation in the planning process; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John SilkinThe Skeffington Report was concerned primarily with public participation in the activities of local planning authorities; but new town development corporations have been invited to use it as a guide where appropriate. I have no reason to suppose that the Central Lancashire Development Corporation is not acting in the spirit of this report.