10 June 2024 – Dr Sophie Louisa Bennett, PhD Conservation Biology (Lincoln 2016), MA Modern and Medieval Languages – German and Swedish (KC 1987, Cantab 2020), Diploma in Translation – German into English (City University/Institute of Linguists)
Housebuilders don’t like paying development ‘gain’ to communities, but the money needs to be paid and it is up to those in the local community to decide on what. Formerly known as Section 106 monies, these financial contributions are also referred to as a community development levy, and are paid out in relation to the size of the housing development. Some might cynically refer to it as bribery or a pacifier. Not infrequently a developer may decide to incorporate elements of ‘infrastructure’ offering services such as play areas etc into a new development of larger size, but not always and is not bound to under Planning Law. (This is over and above an obligatory contribution to education and healthcare which is determined by the local authority itself.) Where the developer doesn’t provide any ‘extras’ it pays an amount to those seen as having some responsibility for decision-making in that community to decide what else is needed. The issue is in establishing the need in my view. Having torn my hair out on many an occasion both while on a Parish Council and as a private individual about the arguments which ensue. Often behind closed doors, but also in public meetings.
Of course this becomes contentious in local communities where the use of the income is the responsibility very often of councils consisting of unpaid volunteers[1] with varying levels of local (historical) knowledge, experience, expertise and interest in assessing community needs. Albeit they may ask for advice. And these same people, since they will be regarded as elected representatives of a community, are also within their rights to make decisions on behalf of a community and are rarely challenged. Without consultation this of course would be wrong. Some would say without a public vote – or poll – this would also be wrong.
Community development levies – what to do? Developers, I know from those in the know, do not give a monkeys fundamentally about what is done with the money – their responsibility stops at the point of payment. Well, why doesn’t more of the money go towards ‘essential’ infrastructure, such as schools and hospitals, rather than letting rank amateurs decide how best to get rid of relatively huge amounts of cash (can be hundreds of thousands of pounds) on (pet) projects that may or may not be needed. In fact, perhaps the next parliament should go ahead and change the rules regarding the somewhat wrong-headed community development levy (or whatever it is called these days) and allow monies to be used on maintenance, renovation, restoration and upkeep rather than on brand new projects. (Yes, there is a stipulation that these gains go towards something new.)
Change to the ‘gains’ could be more sustainable. There are, for instance, spaces in communities that matter to people which need maintenance and repair and upgrading, and it is all very well pointing people in the direction of grant funding but for some projects that just isn’t available. I can think of one historical building in my own community which is well-loved by many and well-used at certain times of the year… Heritage, pah, that is history and history does not seem to matter these days. It’s all about making new memories, so I’ve been told.
I’m not proposing anything radically new here: this is something that many many people have discussed in private and on Parish councils for decades now.
Humility check for councillors and those who comment on what councillors do: remember – you didn’t have a single original thought ever – there is nothing new under the sun and even the Neanderthals[2] had more than likely thought about most of the subjects you have, including housing, and possibly even in just as sophisticated a way.
Dr Sophie Louisa Bennett, former Chair of Skellingthorpe Parish Council (2018 to 2019) and former member of the Planning Committee (which at village level has no real power to pass or refuse an application and only the capacity to comment or give limited advice). In total I ‘served’ as a Parish Councillor for around 7 years or so…
[1] Let me make it clear here: I’m talking about Parish Councils (in some cases Town Councils) which are the lowest level of local government in the UK and often consist of unpaid volunteers from the resident population. This is distinct from the District or County Councils where the Planning Departments and the deciding bodies are located, who pass planning applications big and small and determine how those plans will look on the ground. They themselves take advice from agencies such as Natural England, The Environment Agency and those within Planning Departments etc. Incidentally, contrary to images shown on national television in recent times, there is no issue with Nimbyism in North Kesteven District historically, as far as I am aware.
[2] Neanderthals were, contrary to popular belief, both more developed in their social and cultural habits, and even had a bigger brain than homo sapiens. They appear to have cared for their sick and elderly, pursued ritualised burials, left some evidence of being artistic/creative, and anthropologists have even now determined that their anatomy shows they were capable of speech. Furthermore, their species endured for approx. 300,000; longer than the current permutation of Man.
Afterthought (17th June 2024):
Periodically, you would get people moaning about planning applications thinking that Parish Councillors were responsible or to blame for this and that. (Always a bit irritating – but irritations are one thing you need to learn to handle with at least the semblance of a smile – that’s a clue – if you see me smiling then please do feel free to check eye and eyebrow movement – if only there were some kind of psychological calamine lotion.) Well, they weren’t and they probably did wish they had more influence and power. Decisions were/are voted on by District Councillors of North Kesteven District Council (and, if a larger infrastructure project, Lincolnshire County Council). And for those of you who are surprised that Skellingthorpe should be in the North Kesteven District Planning area when you might have received an invitation to cast a vote for your MP for the Borough of Lincoln – I’m afraid that’s life for the moment, barring a change in the authority and electoral boundaries for Members of Parliament. Our planning decision-making for Skellingthorpe takes place in the main in Sleaford and NOT in Lincoln, and that is also why on any maps you may have seen for the Western Growth Corridor Planning around the Swanpool area the boundary cuts off at the Lincoln Bypass (A46) – that is for Lincoln and ‘we’ are not Lincoln, for that purpose at any rate.
There are many village residents in Skellingthorpe who have thought for a long time that it would be more straightforward to be part of Lincoln for planning purposes. Are you one of those? Personally, I would be very happy if ANY planning authority could stick to any landscaping or environmental plans. That’s not to say that any residents thereafter would though.
Into-English-Translations 