Communities and Local Government Committee - Planning Skills

 

Inquiry into capacity within local government to delivery sustainable communities

 

Submission on behalf of English Heritage

 

· Recent changes to the range and detail of knowledge and skills needed by staff within planning departments;

 

The most significant change to the role and work of planning departments, from the historic environment perspective, is on the immediate horizon in the shape of heritage protection reform. The streamlining of the current system of heritage protection is likely to have significant implications for the way that local authorities manage and protect their local historic environment, particularly given the devolution of certain responsibilities to the local authority level. This will have a significant impact on the work of planning departments. The Heritage Protection White Paper was published in March 2007, and the draft Bill is expected in the Spring of 2008. Implementation is currently planned for 2010.

 

English Heritage, in 2004, introduced Historic Environment Local Management (HELM), using funds provided by the then Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. HELM is a multi faceted training tool aimed specifically at sectors within local authorities, including planning departments (we are currently developing a publication on the historic environment on development control planning). HELM includes a training programme, a comprehensive list of guidance publications, and a web site (www.helm.org.uk), which provides guidance and access to English Heritage publications. We are currently developing a number of e-learning packages to pilot delivery of HELM training and guidance in an online learning environment. English Heritage would be happy to provide the committee with further information on HELM and upcoming developments to this resource if they require.

 

 

· The main areas where a lack of skills is most pronounced (examples, for illustration only, include: use and viability of carbon reduction technologies, economic prosperity, infrastructure planning and the viability of affordable housing within market developments);

 

Please see above the reference to heritage protection and the need for capacity building within planning departments in the run up to those reforms.

 

 

· The skills needed by, and level of training provided to, councillors who make planning decisions, including on the proposed local member review bodies;

 

English Heritage manages and develops a network of Historic Environment (or Heritage) Champions and currently around 66% of all authorities in England have selected a Champion. We do not provide prescriptive advice on what the role of the Champion should be, instead choosing to allow authorities flexibility to interpret the role in a way that best reflects local conditions. However, responsibilities often include:

 

Ø Ensuring that the historic environment it taken into account and contributes to the development of all relevant council policies and forward strategies;

Ø Making sure that the conservation advisory service is suitably resourced and supported; and

Ø Sharing good practice relating to the historic environment with other local authorities.

 

It is recommended that Champions should be placed in positions where they can influence relevant decisions (such as the Leader; relevant portfolio holder; or those sitting on planning committees).

 

English Heritage provides a variety of tools to enable Champions to promote issues relating to the historic environment. These include networking opportunities; regular updates on news and policy development; access to expert advice and support from a national agency and training opportunities. HELM (the tool through which the training is roled out) is currently being developed so as to incorporate the requirements of heritage protection.

 

 

· The role and effectiveness of agencies involved in monitoring, developing and providing specialist knowledge and skills for planning officials and councillors, and their response to changes to the demands placed on planning departments;

 

Since 2003 English Heritage has been taking steps to modernise its approach to planning case work. We have sought to shift our involvement to the pre application stage and seek more strategic involvement. [This has enabled us to positively influence the planning process in a more efficient and co-ordinated fashion.]

 

 

· The effectiveness of Government in supporting local authorities as they respond to changes in the demands placed on them; and

 

English Heritage continues to work closely with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in planning for the implementation of heritage protection reform and ensuring that local authorities are ready for the changes which will result. We would welcome the involvement of Communities and Local Government into this work as it has clear implications on the planning system and there is definite need to ensure that those departments within authorities have the necessary capacity and training. [The historic environment is a key component of the place making agenda currently being extolled by CLG.]

 

 

· The long-term effectiveness of measures being taken by local authorities and others to mitigate gaps in the skills and knowledge within planning departments.

 

The introduction of the National Improvement and Efficiency Strategy and the emphasis placed on the Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnerships could provide authorities with an opportunity pool resources. The RIEPs would be well placed to manage a system whereby authorities could share expertise in cases where demand for said expertise is insufficient to warrant a single post within an authority.

 

We await with interest to see the extent to which authorities incorporate National Indicator 157 into one of their 'up to' 35 targets. This will give an indication of how authorities view the planning system and their capacity to respond to the upcoming changes. There is a concern that the workloads of planning departments continue to rise at a time when the capacity of those department reduces. Whilst we have not yet hit the point where the two cross, if the current trend continues, there is concern that we will.