§ Mr. KidneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what resources he will make available outside neighbourhood renewal areas to support an increase in community capacity to participate in the proposed neighbourhood and village action plans and local development frameworks. [35077]
§ Ms KeebleThe Green Paper "Planning: delivering a fundamental change" proposes that local authorities should work with Local Strategic Partnerships and other bodies to establish more effective mechanisms for community involvement in both the preparation of plans and in taking decisions on planning applications. The Green Paper acknowledges the importance of properly resourced local planning authorities to the delivery of an improved planning system. An increase in planning fees from April 2002 has been announced, and there is to be a review of that regime. The resourcing needs of the local planning service is also being considered in the context of the current spending review.