Publications Publications
We produce a wide range of publications from research reports to policy briefings, as well as our members' magazine, Clearway, and a monthly Policy Round-Up. Our Handy Guides provide practical information covering topics such as LSPs, Planning and local government. All our publications are designed to provide accessible and relevant information to help you get to the heart of what matters.
Don't know your Handy Guide from your Briefing? Read our explanation of what our different publications are.
In October 2012 Communities and Local Government launched a consultation on Neighbourhood Planning regulations. The consultation aimed to consider whether the proposed approach to taking up the regulation making powers in the Localism Bill (now Act) with regard to neighbourhood planning struck the right balance between standardising the approach across the country and providing sufficient local flexibility to reflect local circumstances.
We cast our eye over what's happening in Whitehall for one last time in 2011....
The measure in the Localism Bill which required local authorities to hold a local referendum (on any issue) if a petition on the issue received signatures from five percent of the local government voters in the area has been removed from the final Localism Act. After undergoing several Amendments to address concerns over the cost to local authorities of holding referenda, it was decided in the House of Lords to remove the measure altogether.
Council tax referenda, which must be held if the local authority wishes to raise council tax above a certain amount, do remain in the final Act.
response big society inquiryUrban Forum responded to the Government's inquiry on the Big Society.
We believe the starting point for community sustainability and resilience is self-organisation and collective action. We therefore support many of the objectives of Big Society, but feel that a number of issues need to be addressed if the opportunities it presents are to be realised:
The impact on disadvantage and inequality
There is a risk that greater reliance on civic action could result in a diversion of resources from areas that need them most and a loss of voice for minorities.
The timing and chronology of policy implementation
The timing, speed and the extent of public service cuts hamper the implementation of the Big Society agenda. VCS organisations are now struggling to survive, and public appetite/capacity for social and civic activity is reduced.
Putting localism in economic recovery and public service reform
Public service reform should lead to a blossoming of local providers close to communities, increased service-user involvement, and support local enterprise. The inverse of this is at risk of happening.
Making Government and public services more accountable
More needs to be done to strengthen and clarify the role of local government and councillors, and to apply measures on openness
Download our full response with the link, above right.
The Localism Bill, introduced in December 2010, received Royal Assent on 16 November 2011. The Act sets out plans it says will give communities and local government greater powers and freedom from Whitehall. The Government estimates that many of the measures will come into effect in April 2012.This briefing summarises the main features in the Act, which was subjected to a number of changes during its passage through Parliament.
David Wilcox, who has been doing social reporting with John Popham as part of the Big Lottery Fund's People Powered Change programme, asked me to write something about our ideas and experience for the Social Reporters blog. Here's what i came up with....
The latest edition of our online magazine, Clearway, looks at the issue of Social Finance. 