New Nature Network for LPAs Basecamp, Shout Out for Protected Sites, and more...

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27 June 2024

Planning Advisory Service


What a month! We're in the thick of the pre-election period, and summer finally arrives. If you love sports, there is almost too much to choose from, and the festivals have just got going. Besides, this PAS is weirdly busy. Why is it weird? because some things have continued, some have stopped, and some are starting, and yet there is no pattern to follow.

Over the last few years, we have stabilised ourselves by working on the basis of 'no regrets'. We will help councils with the skills and processes that they will need, whatever the system. We will also help them understand proposed reform and implement new areas of policy or legislation. We are all about building capacity and confidence. So 'no surprises' and 'no regrets'.

Get in touch at pas@local.gov.uk

Anna Rose
Head of PAS

New Nature Network for LPAs

A place to connect across the national network on almost  all things nature recovery (BNG & nutrients have their own space) including NERC duty, Protected Sites Strategies, nature recovery toolkit and more...drop us a line at pas@local.gov.uk to join in.

Shout Out for Protected Sites

Do you have a Ramsar, SAC, SPA or complex SSSI in your area? Does it pose issues or challenges to planning? Perhaps its featured in the LNRS?

Would you like to step back and have a strategic approach and follow a supported process along with your partners and stakeholders? Perhaps you have an approach already? Either way I'd love to hear from you as PAS helps develop the process and guidance for Protected Site Strategies.

Please fill out this short questionnaire

Drop me an e-mail rachel.murtagh@local.gov.uk

Keep an eye on our Protected Site Strategies webpage as the project develops.

Who you gonna call - Backlog Busters!

There's still time to register for the Backlog Busters Webinar 9 July (10am-12pm). The webinar will take a deep dive into DM performance management and showcase how councils are using staff skills and processes to tackle officer caseloads. 

Book your place on the Backlog Busters webinar

Water companies, price review and planning

An event for local authorities - Tuesday 16 July - 2pm to 4pm

PAS hosted online event for local authorities on Water Companies, Price Reviews and Planning. There will be a step change in investment from water companies from 2025 to 2030 to ensure drinking water is available for homes and businesses and sewage and drainage services keep up with growing demand and climate change. At this event, Water UK will provide some background into the economic and environmental regulation of the sector, then preview some of the main challenges and opportunities associated with the upcoming programme of capital delivery, with particular reference to planning and associated issues.

Digital Planning Directory

The Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has signed a new partnership with the Digital Task Force for Planning to introduce a 'Digital Planning Directory'.

Once developed, the directory will serve as a 'One-Stop-Shop' for anyone seeking service providers of digital planning tools. It will contain essential information about digital planning service providers, including their areas of expertise, case studies, and contact details.

We will keep you updated as the directory takes shape.

New National Highways Planning Guide

National Highways wants to raise your awareness of their recently updated Planning Guide 'Planning for the future: A guide to working with National Highways on planning matters. It's best read alongside DfT Circular 01/2022

The Guide is easy to understand and accessible to planners. It sets how National Highways will engage collaboratively with Local Planning Authority plan-making and planning applications. 

Do you love data and statistics?

(CLIP) Central Local Information Partnership: Planning Group are looking for local authority representatives.

CLIP: Planning – is one of a number of groups Central Local Information Partnership (CLIP) | Local Government Association who help inform data and statistical returns from local authorities to central government including assessing any new burdens of new data collection processes. The group gets involved in discussions on government consultations as well as providing opportunities to raise specific detailed issues with relevant central government departments. The group meets online two to three times per annum.

If you are interested in joining or want to know more then please email Andrew.Presland@levellingup.gov.uk

PAS Solutions

We have a new section of our website - we're calling it PAS Solutions which sets out what we do and why we do it. Sometimes it helps to have a trusted and impartial body come and train your planning committee. More importantly, if you are newly in charge of a planning department, we can help you hammer out your priorities for the next year or two with a peer challenge. If you want to understand how it works have a look at PAS Solutions and see if you'd benefit from our help. 

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