The new Lib-con Government is already making a difference to how we carry on at Babergh.
Firstly, we are going to be able to stop wasting time on the ‘Comprehensive Area Assessment’ process (CAA) and secondly we have been told by the Minister for Communities and Local Government, cuddly Eric Pickles pictured here) , to immediately take into account that he is abolishing Regional Strategies when making planning decisions.
What does this mean?
As far as the CAA abolition is concerned it means that we will no longer have to jump through a set of arbitrary hoops created by Central Government and enforced by the Audit Commission. Local accountability and transparency are what will matter in the future and thank goodness for that.
The abolition of Regional Strategies means that we will no longer have to respond to fulfilling top down housing targets set by relatively undemocratic remote bodies on a predict and provide basis. It has long been a plank of Conservative policy that decisions with regard to the amount of housing provided should remain with the Local Authority.
With more power will come more responsibility which I welcome. We will have to rely a little less on officers fulfilling the dictats of the Centre and do a little more thinking for ourselves.
Oh yes, and it should save money too!
