Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 30
30
Accepted
No formal forum exists for sharing best practice with devolved administrations
Recommendation
We asked the Department whether there were mechanisms to share best practice on themes that are common across other parts of the UK. It explained that fairly regular conversations take place with counterparts in the devolved administrations, but there is no set forum. The Department accepted that it should consider trying to set up such a forum, since there are clearly interesting developments emerging in other parts of the UK that it should consider when formulating policy for England.45 43 C&AG’s Report, para 3.18 44 Qq 63–64 45 Qq 50–51 16
Government Response Summary
The government agrees to provide further details of how it will sponsor more effective communication between government departments, local planning authorities, and the devolved nations, and states that this recommendation is implemented. They will look to build upon and extend existing channels of engagement and will continue to sponsor PAS to provide expert support to LPAs.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
7. PAC conclusion: The Department does not facilitate effective communication or the sharing of best practice between stakeholders. 7. PAC 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. 7.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 7.2 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. 7.3 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.