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3 Sep 2007 : Column 1694W—continued
1. To open all hearings within 20 weeks of the start date of the case.
2. To issue 80 per cent. of decisions within 10 weeks of the close of the hearing.
3. To open all inquiries within 20 weeks of the start date of the case
4. To issue 80 per cent. of decisions within 10 weeks of the close of the inquiry.
Planning appeals and called in planning applications decided by the Secretary of State
5. To open 80 per cent. of inquiries and hearings within 22 weeks of the start date of the case.
6. Jointly with Planning Central Casework Division/Ministers, to issue all decisions in accordance with statutory timetables.
Planning and enforcement appeals decided by Inspectors by the written representations method
7. Planning appeals: By the end of 2006-07 to determine 50 per cent. of planning appeals decided by written representations within 16 weeks of the start date of the case.
8. Enforcement appeals: 80 per cent. of enforcement appeals decided by written representations to be determined within 32 weeks of the start date of the case.
Planning and enforcement appeals decided by Inspectors by the hearing method
9. Planning appeals: By the end of 2006-07 to determine 50 per cent. of planning appeals decided by hearing within 30 weeks of the start date of the case.
10. Enforcement appeals: 80 per cent. of enforcement appeals decided by hearing to be determined within 33 weeks of the start date of the case.
Planning and enforcement appeals decided by Inspectors by the inquiry method
11. Planning appeals: By the end of 2006-07 to determine 50 per cent. of planning appeals decided by inquiry within 30 weeks of the start date of the case.
12. Enforcement appeals: 80 per cent. of enforcement appeals decided by inquiries to be determined within 43 weeks of the start date of the case.
Key performance targets 2006-07 and 2007-08—Wales
13. 80 per cent. of all planning appeals decided by written representations to be determined in 16 weeks.
14. 80 per cent. of all planning appeals decided by hearings to be determined in 22 weeks.
15. 80 per cent. of all planning appeals decided by inquiries to be determined in 30 weeks.
16. 80 per cent. of all enforcement appeals decided by written representations to be determined in 32 weeks.
17. 80 per cent. of all enforcement appeals decided by hearings and inquiries to be determined in 43 weeks.
18. For called-in applications and recovered appeals to meet the individual timetable set for delivery of the report to the National Assembly (seven weeks up to eight inquiry sitting days; agreed timetable for larger cases).
Planning: Floods
Mrs. Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps her Department is taking to take account of the risk of flooding in the formation of its planning policy. [152669]
Yvette Cooper: In December 2006 we published Planning Policy Statement (PPS) 25 “Development and Flood Risk” to strengthen protection against flood risk in the planning system.
We extended the Environment Agency's statutory consultee role so that it now has to be consulted on planning applications in flood risk areas (The regulation came into force on 1 October 2006).
A planning Direction supports PPS25, providing greater scrutiny for major developments proposed in flood risk areas. Where local authorities intend to approve applications that the Environment Agency still objects to, Government Offices can consider whether to call the application in for decision by the Secretary of State.
Mrs. Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what representations her Department has received from the Environment Agency on planning regulations and guidance on development on flood plains. [153507]
Yvette Cooper: The Environment Agency is a key stakeholder on flood risk issues as it has statutory responsibility for flood management and defence in England and will support the planning system by providing timely information and advice on flooding issues that is fit for purpose. Officials have worked very closely with the Environment Agency in developing Planning Policy Statement 25 Development and Flood Risk (published December 2006). We are continuing to work closely with the Environment Agency on the development of the Practice Guide Companion to PPS25 which will be published later this year.
As part of the monitoring by the Environment Agency and Local Government Association of the planning process we have taken forward recommendations to strengthen the role of the Environment Agency. We have made them a statutory consultee (from October 2006) for all developments in flood risk areas and also introduced a flooding Direction 2007 which allows call-in to be considered if the Environment Agency sustains an objection to a development on flood risk grounds.
Property: Photographs
Mrs. Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 25 June 2007, Official Report, columns 177-8W to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar, on property: photographs, if she will provide the information given in the answer as at July 2007. [152529]
John Healey: As at 3 July 2007 there were 23.68 million domestic properties entered in the council tax valuation lists in England and Wales. Photographs were attached to 3.2 per cent. of the 22.34 million domestic properties in England and 10 per cent. of the 1.34 million domestic properties in Wales.
Public Sector Relocation Independent Review
Mrs. Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman) of 19 June 2007, Official Report, column 1679W, on the Public Sector Relocation Independent Review, which Government departments and agencies which sent written submissions to the Lyons Inquiry into local government which are held by her Department. [152682]
John Healey: The final report of the Lyons Inquiry into Local Government provides, on pages 376 to 388, a list of organisations and members of the public that provided submissions to the Lyons Inquiry.
Regional Assemblies
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent discussions she has held with the regional assemblies on their future role and responsibilities; and if she will make a statement. [150563]
John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the oral statement I made to the House on 17 July 2007, announcing the publication of the Review of Sub-national Regeneration and Economic Development. The Review sets out the Government's proposals for the future of regional institutions, including regional assemblies.
Regional Government
Mrs. Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what support her Department expects to provide to the Ministers for the Regions. [152392]
John Healey: The role of Regional Ministers is set out in paragraphs 115 to 118 in “The Governance of Britain” and is currently being developed. At present, support is being provided by their departmental private offices and the Government offices in their respective regions as part of their wider functions.
Regional Government: Local Authorities
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans she has to return powers held by the regional assemblies to local councils following the abolition of the regional assemblies. [152303]
John Healey: Local authorities will be given greater power and flexibilities to promote economic well-being; and regional development agencies will be expected to delegate funding to them wherever possible.
There will however remain matters that need to be dealt with at a level beyond even the largest local authority, be that sub-regional or regional.
The Government will consult further later this year on how to implement these reforms.
Regional Planning and Development
Mrs. Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what her role is in approving and amending regional spatial strategies published by (a) the Greater London Authority and (b) the regional chambers in England. [152947]
John Healey: Following the examination in public, the Secretary of State is responsible for consulting on any proposed changes before approving and issuing the final version of the regional spatial strategy (RSS). Once published, the RSS becomes the regional level of the statutory development plan.
The Mayor of London is responsible for publishing the Spatial Development Strategy “The London Plan” (which is the equivalent to an RSS). The Secretary of State has no role in approving the Spatial Development Strategy. The Secretary of State can direct the Mayor to make changes to the plan before it is published, but this power of direction may only be exercised for the purpose of avoiding inconsistency with national policies or any detriment to the interests of an area outside Greater London.
The SNR published on 17 July set out the Government’s proposals for strengthening regional governance and accountability including the introduction of a single regional strategy. We will consult on detailed implementation later this year.
Mrs. Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans the Government have to merge regional spatial strategies with regional economic strategies. [153495]
John Healey: The Review of Sub-National Economic Development published on 17 July 2007 set out the Government's proposals to merge regional spatial strategies with regional economic strategies. We will consult further on how to implement these reforms.
Richmond Park
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will bring forward legislation to protect the viewing corridor of the Tower of London from Richmond Park. [153712]
Mr. Iain Wright: No. The Tower of London is not currently visible from Richmond Park.
Right to Buy Scheme
Mrs. Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what the average Right to Buy discount in England was for a house in each year since 1996-97; [153498]
(2) what the average sales price was of a Right to Buy house, before any discount was applied, in each year since 1996-97. [153499]
Mr. Iain Wright: The average right to buy discounts and sale prices of social rent dwellings, in England, in each financial year since 1996-97 are shown in the following table. Information for 2006-07 is not yet available.
| Right to buy sales( 1) of social rent dwellings: England (estimated average per dwelling) | ||||||
| £ | ||||||
| Local authority sales | Registered social landlord sales | |||||
| Market value | Sale price | Discount | Market value | Sale price | Discount | |
| (1) Includes sales through the preserved right to buy. Source: Housing Corporation (CORE), Local authorities (P1B) | ||||||
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