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Brokenshire intervenes in two councils over local plans
James Brokenshire has intervened in two councils over the writing of their local plans.
The housing secretary wrote to Wirral and Thanet councils last week criticising them for not having produced local plans yet.
Mr Brokenshire said his department would not take over the writing of these plans now but would do so if either council delays any further.
He did say, however, that in the case of Wirral, he was using his powers to direct the council to appoint a lead councillor and lead official to be responsible for the local plan, to publish an action plan and to report monthly on progress towards adopting a new local plan.
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In his letter to Phil Davies, the Labour leader of Wirral Council, he described this as “a final opportunity to demonstrate a clear path towards the delivery of your local plan”.
In the case of Thanet, Mr Brokenshire said he was also directing the council to appoint a lead councillor and lead official, and to amend its local development scheme “to provide for the completion of a review of the council’s local plan within six months of its adoption”.
Writing to Robert Bayford, the Conservative leader of Thanet District Council, Mr Brokenshire added: “I am also, for the avoidance of doubt, now putting on public record my concerns about the low level of housing supply and delivery in Thanet.”
Mr Brokenshire’s predecessor, Sajid Javid, threatened Wirral and Thanet – as well as Castle Point Borough Council – with intervention over the issue. This, however, is the first time the government has announced specific measures to intervene.
In a letter responding to Mr Brokenshire, Mr Davies disputed the accuracy of the housing secretary’s account of the situation in the Wirral, saying a lead councillor and lead official were already in place and that technical studies are “either in process or being commissioned”.
George Davies, deputy leader of the council and cabinet member for housing and planning, added in a statement: “The government wants to have its cake and eat it. They are insisting we forge ahead with the local plan which could decimate our borough’s green gelt, while at the same time saying there [are] no housing targets.”
A spokesperson for Thanet District Council: “The council has significantly progressed with its Local Plan which was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate on 30 October 2018, with a public examination expected in the coming months.
“The council has reviewed the actions in the Secretary of State’s letter and can confirm that arrangements are already in place to meet the majority of requirements set out, any others will be incorporated into our processes without unnecessarily delaying examination of the plan.
“Given this positive progress and constructive dialogue with MHCLG, the council is disappointed that there wasn’t more recognition of this within the letter and will be responding directly to the Secretary of State. The council will continue to work positively with MHCLG to progress with its plan.”
Update: at 16.12 on 5.2.19 This story was updated to include a comment from Thanet District Council.
