Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 7
7
Accepted
Sponsor effective communication among departments, local bodies, and devolved nations to share best practice.
Conclusion
The Department does not facilitate effective communication or the sharing of best practice between stakeholders. Given that developer contributions help to fund a wide range of infrastructure such as schools, health facilities and roads, other government departments have a clear interest in the system. But they have mixed views on the quality and timeliness of communication with the Department. It explains that it is considering establishing a standing forum for government departments to share information, discuss relevant policy updates and identify areas of overlap. LPAs have also expressed a desire for more direct engagement with the Department on planning matters and live issues relating to developer contributions. There is variation across the country in how well local bodies engage with the system and co-operate with each other. Despite the devolved nations having similar systems of developer contributions, and some of the same issues, there is no formal mechanism for the Department to communicate and share best practice across the UK. 5 recommendation In its Treasury Minute response, the Department should provide the Committee with further details of how it will sponsor more effective communication between: government departments that have a stake in developer contributions; local planning authorities and other local bodies; and the devolved nations, to share best practice. 6 1 Systemic problems Introduction
Government Response Summary
The government agrees and states it will build upon and extend existing channels of engagement, such as the Planning Advisory Service (PAS) support and resources for LPAs, and regular meetings between the Chief Planner and devolved administrations. However, it does not detail new specific initiatives to sponsor more effective communication beyond these existing mechanisms.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented The department recognises the importance of effective engagement across government departments and with diverse stakeholders. The department will look to build upon and extend existing channels of engagement. It will remain the case that the developer contributions is a predominantly locally-led process, where priorities are rightly determined at the local level; noting that contributions from developers must sit alongside considerations of the overall viability of development schemes. The department sponsors PAS to provide expert support to LPAs on a range of planning matters. This includes tailored support to 70 councils between 2021 and 2025 to improve their governance and delivery of developer contributions. Extensive resources have been published on the PAS website, including a good practice guide for Infrastructure Funding Statement, guides for local authorities to improve the governance of developer contributions and how to navigate infrastructure delivery planning. In addition, the government's Chief Planner meets regularly with the Chief Planners of the devolved administrations, and the Chief Planner’s Newsletter provides guidance, policy and legislative updates, and advice to LPAs in England on a regular basis.