Jimmy Coles

Another indication of the scale of the challenge the Labour government faces as it looks to make planning reforms... A Bloomberg investigation released today into councils across the UK found that builders are using a tool called planning performance agreements more and more to get their proposals looked at. PPAs are agreements between developers and local authorities that hold planning departments to stricter deadlines and more frequent communication regarding housebuilding applications. Paying for one will support their application to be seen faster but some developers have reported a slow decision-making process after spending thousands, and there's no penalty for missing the deadline. PPAs per local authority climbed to the highest on record last year following eight years of consecutive annual rises. Tom Stanley explains that developers essentially pay for the local authority’s time, and spend even more if they want a dedicated planning officer, and calls for overhauls to the system to drive the economy forward. View the full article by Damian Shepherd here: https://lnkd.in/efUXnM3M #planning #development #realestate #labour

16

2 Comments

How can planning policy better support councils in promoting healthier communities? That's a question posed in the government's NPPF consultation, and I’m pleased to have been asked by Simon Wicks to share my thoughts on this topic for the latest issue of The Planner RTPI. It’s definitely encouraging to see the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government recognising the critical link between planning and public health. And there’s a real opportunity to strengthen policy to support this. Here are a few key ideas I believe the government should consider: - Make health improvement and the reduction of health inequalities explicit objectives in national planning policy. - Extend the concept of vision-led planning (introduced in the transport section of the NPPF consultation) to all development projects. - Apply the green belt 'golden rules' to all developments (everyone deserves access to green spaces and reliable public services don't they?) - Expand the understanding of what makes a healthy place - and the Quality of Life Framework offers a helpful, evidence-based approach. The Quality of Life Foundation’s full response to the consultation digs deeper into these points and more. Because planning plays a vital role in shaping healthier, happier communities—and now is the time to make that a core focus. #PlanningPolicy #NPPF #NPPFConsultation #PublicHealth #HealthAndWellbeing #HealthyPlaces #UrbanPlanning #SpatialPlanning #LocalGov

61

1 Comment

Looking forward to chairing this session for PLMR Genesis colleagues next week, with an expert panel discussing what may happen in the polls coming July 4th & what the East of England needs from a new administration. Sign-up details below if you want to listen in! #politics #policy #publicaffairs #eastofengland

1

Do the UK public know their EPCs as well as their ABCs? In March the Department of Energy released its latest data on the public’s awareness and understanding of climate change issues, green heating, and low-carbon choices. Nesta has delved into the data for a temperature check on the public’s awareness of the transition to green heating and whether there are signs of change. From growing awareness of heat pumps to a better understanding of EPC ratings, these are their five key findings:

3

The US presidential/ UK PM debates have never taken place in the same week, let alone consecutive days. Setting aside which was the more entertaining (easily US) – a few thoughts on how the different broadcast formats affected the coverage and impacted the viewer: ⏳ Ground rules & visuals Contrasting with the BBC's looser approach, #CNN set explicit rules of engagement, everything from response times, microphone control and stage positioning. The split screen close-up camera effect was revealing – Biden pensive then growing in confidence and Trump looking increasingly needled as the debate progressed. If a similar technique was adopted for the UK debate, it wouldn't have benefited Starmer... 🔊 Moderation & questions Dana Bash and Jake Tapper led for CNN vs Mishal Husain alone for the #BBC. Two moderators enabled closer control and smoother transition through questions. Lack of audience in Atlanta meant a strangely sanitized atmosphere but removing audience reactions – along with the use of zoom-in – perhaps helps the viewer to focus more on the candidates and be less influenced by variables. The debate in Nottingham was less structured, giving both men – mainly Sunak – more chance to interrupt and go on the attack. There was also something very British about a willing audience stumbling through their questions amidst shouts of protest from outside! 🎯  Fact-checking Husain planted the flag early by highlighting BBC Verify and both candidates appealed to the service when disputed claims arose. She was also more assertive at clarifying statements and presenting official statistics especially during the immigration and fiscal debates. There was little pre-emptive or real time fact-checking in Atlanta, for which CNN are being heavily criticized. In the closing stages, the moderators struggled just to get the candidates – especially Trump - to engage with the question asked. Personal accusations, counter-claims and a ‘he started it’ line of attack increased as the debate wore on. As for the overall optics, Trump and Sunak appeared the more forceful and vigorous. Biden and Starmer will have to hope their more measured, statesmanlike performances are not overly perceived as tired or meek. #presidentialdebate #2024election

16

It was interesting listening to Rt Hon Rachel Reeves speech to HM Treasury this morning, which set out some clear priorities for UK government over the next few months. She said that reform for the planning system is a key reason The Labour Party was elected, and that planning is no longer working anymore, with projects left delayed for too many years. 🌹 A consultation and review of the NPPF before the end of the month is part of a wider restructure, with a new housing sites taskforce to be set up and recruitment of 300 new planning officers for local authorities to speed up decision making.🏚 The Deputy Prime Minister will work with Mayors and local planning authorities to ensure that regional economic benefits are realised, and that local plans and green belt release plans are delivered upon. How the promise of further devolution marries up with centralised top down planning reform is one of the aspects that will be interesting to watch. 🏗 Finally, that the planning system is being reviewed to accelerate decision making for energy and transport infrastructure can only be a good thing. It will result in less waste and increase private sector investment. Labour's plans to double onshore wind energy by 2030 will help provide more highly skilled jobs and provide more energy independence. 🍃 Now I'm just waiting on a recommitment to finish HS2... 🚄

14

1 Comment

What's in a name? It's a case of new government, new rebrand for hard-working colleagues at what was Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities which will go back to its former name, The Ministry for Housing Communities and Local Government, as revealed by Heather Jameson While it's always good to see #localgov recognised on a departmental brass plate, I'm not going to get too excited about a move that will mean absolutely nothing to many of our citizens, unless they work in the office stationery or banner stands businesses. We can all discuss the practical merits of levelling up, and some will be sadder than others to see it disappear from Government nomenclature. However, it did, along with Brexit voting patterns, help shift the previously niche political topic of regional inequality into the political and media mainstream. We also shouldn't forget the excellent Michael Gove-inspired White Paper that started it all. There are still lessons to learn here, particularly about the importance of cities to wider regional economies and the need for system change at the heart of Whitehall. I think the big challenge for the new Government and re-named department is to move this agenda away from the centre - where it was beset and held back by national politics and a wasteful and expensive bidding culture - to a true partnership between local and national. That's why the forthcoming Take Back Control bill will be so important and worthy of scrutiny from across the sector. Remember, the future is local!

25

4 Comments

Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Outlines Key Priorities for the next West Midlands   As we approach the West Midlands Mayoral election on 2nd May 2024, FSB has put together a Mayoral Manifesto to help the candidates understand the challenges faced by our members across the West Midlands Combined Authority catchment area, namely; #Birmingham, #Solihull, #Coventry, #Wolverhampton, #Walsall, #Dudley and #Sandwell. This Manifesto outlines areas the Mayor could tackle to help aid small businesses and bolster inclusive growth. This year marks FSB’s 50th anniversary, having been established in 1974 to help our members succeed in business - we are a non-profit making and non-party political organisation that’s led by our members, for our members. In the #WestMidlands we are a trusted voice for small business with more than 10,000 members across the region. We aim to represent anyone and everyone running a business or with aspirations to start a business. With SMEs making up over 99.6% of the indigenous 254,640 enterprises in the West Midlands, 253,575 (99.6 per cent) are small and medium-sized enterprises and, of these, more than 84.2 per cent are sole traders and micro businesses (employing 0-9 employees), it’s easy to see that the West Midlands economy will not be able to boost productivity, tackle the climate emergency or have inclusive growth without small businesses. Small businesses are not only at the heart of the West Midlands economy, they are also at the heart of West Midlands communities. They create local jobs, grow and keep wealth within a local economy and provide vital local services. Our small businesses support communities in the good times and, as we have seen, stick around when the going is not so good. Our manifesto suggests ways that small businesses can help the Mayor create a thriving West Midlands, a successful economy and vibrant communities.   https://lnkd.in/e8ERHqh3 Linsey MIED Mike Goodall Lee Osborne Sue...Sue Tonks Hollie Whittles Rob Harrison Hemant Kalidas Ray Hickinbottom- Supporting Small Businesses Lianne Phillips FSB- Helping Small Businesses Grow Roger Poynton

16

2 Comments

Public affairs types - I've a question. If you were wanting to establish what the baseline level of awareness of your charity/issue in this new parliament was, so you could measure the impact of different campaigns & engagement activities over time - - what questions would you ask? - what channel/s would you use? - how often would you review? - what would you do with the information? I've some ideas about how I intend to go about these, but thought asking around was a good idea - to sharpen my own approach, and to share out loud some of what lots of us in the field are wrestling with while the rest of the world has just realised there's been a change of government! Our questions are in ideation at the moment, but cover:- - do they know who we are, and what do they know about us - what their interest in ending poverty is, and how connected are they with the necessary resources to do so (local churches & charities addressing the issue on the ground, lived experience perspectives) - to what extent they think addressing poverty should be a priority for the Government Channel - the major polling firms run MP panels which while pricey can be effective (especially if you're super smart in your question writing). Would you use other channels, though? Writing directly to offices so you have real data and not a sample? Having established question sets for each parliamentary engagement whether in westminster or in constituency, via public affairs team or other departments? Planning to review annually as a minumum and after any major campaign activity (perhaps on a restricted question set) - would you go more often? Information - primarily to inform strategic planning, resource allocation, coordination of various teams and departments' own contribution to CAP's policy & advocacy work. Not really planning to try and generate any PR type headlines - but is that aiming too low? Looking forward to reading your thoughts!

7

3 Comments

Excited for the next session of the CPG on Renewable and Low Carbon Energy. Let me know if you would like to join the session!

8

Happy Friday - here's the latest environmental headlines from the past week. 🚗 Campaigners urge UK ‘pay per mile’ EV tax to fill £5bn revenue gap via Innovation News Network https://lnkd.in/e5spKPTj 🎶 MusicMagpie achieve annual energy savings of 67,137kWh musicMagpie Bee Net Zero https://lnkd.in/etdCF5zg 🥑 UK Government urged to launch National Food Security Strategy amid rising climate risks via edie https://lnkd.in/eU89THwT 🔣 Over half of waste and recycling datasets phased out under previous government via CIWM https://lnkd.in/ehru9ssR 🏭 UK leading the world in fusion power plant design https://lnkd.in/e2PjeYiK 🗑 A fifth of the world's plastic garbage is either burned or littered via New Scientist https://lnkd.in/eWPXdBWT ⛽ Volvo cars pulls back electrification, carbon reduction goals via ESG Today https://lnkd.in/eb6u5qeb

11

Some 50 Labour MPs just abstained on the government's controversial winter fuel payment cut - a significant rebellion for Sir Keir Starmer. What might this tell us about the psychology of backbench Labour MPs? As we've seen this afternoon, arguments and pleas for unity won't always deliver complete party support for the Prime Minister's agenda. If they haven't already, then many will soon realise that there is very little prospect of them ever climbing up the ministerial ranks - there's just too many of them, and too few positions available. So dangling hopes of advancement can't be relied upon to encourage loyalty. The size of the Labour majority means they'll feel a greater freedom to rebel without fearing that the government will collapse. Over time, this is likely to boost the number of rebellions. With the Prime Minister already demonstrating he is prepared to remove the whip for a time-limited period, many will start to calculate whether an unsanctioned rebellion is worth it for time spent on the Parliamentary equivalent of the naughty step. Perhaps more importantly, in time ambitious Labour MPs are likely to get bored of traipsing through the division lobbies, so they'll be on the hunt for exciting causes to champion - a real gift for creative campaigners: https://lnkd.in/e97Fh2qx

11

Climate change has cross-party support in the UK: our polling with More in Common earlier this year found that four in five Britons think it’s important that the government cares about tackling climate change - including nearly 80% of 2024 Conservative voters and two thirds of 2024 Reform voters. In fact, in every UK constituency the majority of people said they were worried about climate change. Whether its climate justice, nature, lower bills, green tech, conservation or energy independence, there are different ways to communicate about environmental issues depending on your audience's priorities. 👉https://lnkd.in/eay7j4hK

6

So national service is back in the news again. Love or loathe the brand, the UK needs a national service offer. Indeed, it already has a small offering in the form of UK Year of Service. This, and programmes in the UK and overseas (France, USA, Germany and many more), have proven to have a significant positive impact on their respective economies, social cohesion and social mobility. Frankly, national service is a no-brainer. Though having led the political campaign for a voluntary, civilian national service programme on these shores for four years during my time City Year UK, I’ve sadly seen more false dawns than I’d care to remember. Today’s proclamation from the Conservative Party feels like just that. And not just because it’s been announced by what appears to the final days of a faltering 14-year administration; it’s because they simply just don’t get it. Whether intention or otherwise, when announcing a national service option with a side order of khaki and command, it’s always the military service that will lead the news. Cue rhetoric about how young people have lost their way, need toughening up and to learn the value of discipline. These are tired old tropes played out by every generation. The truth is that the majority of young people want to serve their country. But they want a new way to do so, one where they can support their schools, hospitals, care homes, museums, community groups and environment. Yes, what Team Rishi has announced today would allow them to do that, but in a piecemeal way of one or two days at a time – which has already been buried by the military option. If I was advising Labour right now, I’d tell them to nick the idea… but to do it right. Indeed, it was the true disciple of the ‘Third Way’, President Bill Clinton, that established the offer I’m proposing (AmeriCorps) in the States. Labour has been talking about ‘service’ for 6 months. So, I challenge them to put their money where their mouth is. Give people of all ages the opportunity to serve in civilian life, but for an unbroken 6-12 months, in a properly funded and branded programme, and in an area (subject and geography) of their choosing. Reward the pioneers who take up the call with tuition debt relief, a pot of money to put towards skills development, and/or guaranteed job. At a time when all the main parties are struggling to create a vision that inspires hope and opportunity, this could be their answer.

48

8 Comments

Whatever your views on the timing of the Prime Minister’s decision to call a UK General Election on 4th July, we are now in the throes of a campaign where many expect a Conservative defeat at the polls and the first Labour administration for 14 years. Do you feel prepared to navigate the campaign period ahead and make the most of a new Parliament and Government? Please read our briefing attached which outlines four essential things businesses and organisations need to consider over the coming weeks and a timeline of key developments.

33

3 Comments

We’ve launched a major new project at Full Fact today to track the government’s progress in delivering 2024 manifesto pledges. Our editorial team has been working tirelessly on this for weeks and there’s plenty more to do in the months ahead. If you have feedback please let us know via the ‘contact us’ form on the Tracker pledges. And, for more on our rationale for taking on this project head to our FAQs: https://lnkd.in/d5kANhD4 #ukpolitics #trustinpolitics

10

As CE, Simon Fletcher, says, 'local government can be too conservative (small c) and resistant to disruptive innovation because of an unbalanced appreciation of the risk in same, whilst not also considering its potential benefits'. Try saying, 'let's try this, it may not work but if it does...' and see a common response. Simon says councils can and do copy better practice from each other. Yes, but that is often not on the 'before the event' basis that it should be. In local goverment communications there is endless reinventing of the wheel - and some of these solutions will naturally be better than others - by each council's operation. It does not need to be so - in civil service communications, the Government Communications Service works out a disruption that will improve and it has the positive track record (and clout) to get widespread implementation. So think of a national resource for local government that produces materials such as: 'How to ensure improved participation in consultations' - innovative and going against some pre-conceived ideas, this has been shown to be effective in situations such as... with examples including... The reaction to such would often be better than a Comms person saying internally, 'Here's my idea for this and I'm thinking of something disruptive and original'. ' 'Why risk it and as the first council to do this - unless we have no choice?' might be the reaction from the (non-Comms?) higher-up.

1

Great to host this roundtable with MPs and stakeholders from various industries to discuss solutions to supporting people to get back into work. Our research shows that at the current rate of increase, work absences due to long-term sickness will cost the economy over £66bn a year by 2030. Insurance polices such as Group Income Protection can play an important role in helping organisations, employees and ultimately, economic growth.

19

I am chuffed to bits to see question 70 in the #NPPF consultation: Question 70: How could national planning policy better support local authorities in (a) promoting healthy communities and (b) tackling childhood obesity? Thanks Dan Simpson for drawing my attention to it. Now to get on with a response.... https://lnkd.in/ebCnyKUx #PlanningPolicy #HealthyHomes #HealthAndWellbeing #HealthyCommunities #Planning #HealthThroughPlanning

6