Pulse.Assent

Housing Secretary Sajid Javid has today (23 March 2018) written to 15 local authorities in England to inform them of decisions on intervention following their continued failure to produce a local plan, which are key to setting out how and where they expect to meet residents’ needs for new homes, for more than a decade.

In November 2017, the government confirmed it would commence the consideration of intervention in 15 local authorities where there has been a failure to produce a local plan.

Local Plans are a key part of the government’s comprehensive programme of planning reform and targeted investment to ensure the homes local communities need are built.

The councils had until 31 January 2018 to explain why they hadn’t yet published a plan, providing any exceptional circumstances for why the government shouldn’t intervene.

Following their submission, the government is now setting out next steps.

Of the 15 local authorities:

• in Castle Point, Thanet, and Wirral, the government’s Chief Planner and a team of experts will be sent in to assess if the government needs to take over the process of producing the local plan
• in Northumberland the government has instructed the council to produce their plan earlier and to make the timetable clearer
• in Basildon, Bolsover, Brentwood, Calderdale, Eastleigh, Mansfield, St Albans, which have all committed to publishing draft plans before the end of September 2018, the government has made clear it will monitor their progress and that any further significant delay to meet this timescale will lead to the case for intervention being reconsidered
• 4 local authorities – Liverpool, North East Derbyshire, Runnymede, York – have since published their plans

Housing Secretary Sajid Javid has written to them to welcome this progress, but has made clear that should there be any further significant delays to their timetable to submit the plan, the government will not hesitate to act.

The government has abolished top-down regional planning. But a locally-led planning system requires elected local representatives to take the lead, listen to local residents and business, and set out a clear framework to build new homes, provide key infrastructure, support the local economy and protect the environment.

Most councils have seized the opportunity that localism presents – however a small minority have not and do not have a local plan in place. This can mean uncertainty for local people, have a negative impact on neighbourhood planning groups, result in piecemeal speculative housing development and communities having no plans in place for crucial local infrastructure and services.

Housing Secretary Sajid Javid said:

Whilst most councils rightly recognise their responsibilities and most have worked hard to meet the housing challenge, some have failed.

I expect those authorities we identified in November to continue to make progress. I’m also stepping it up with 3 councils in particular, sending in a team of experts to make a direct assessment, ensuring they plan properly for the future or we’ll have to do it for them.

The department has also commenced preparations to take over plan production so that work can begin as soon as possible, subject to decisions taken after the Chief Planner and his experts report back.

A procurement process is currently underway to secure planning consultants and specialists who will swiftly undertake the work on plan production should these councils not comply in the time required.

The department will also make contact with county councils and combined authorities in the areas concerned about the possibility of inviting those authorities to write plans.

Further information

See the letters sent to the relevant local authorities.

The housing white paper set out how the government would prioritise intervention – where:

• the least progress in plan-making has been made
• policies in plans had not been kept up to date
• there was higher housing pressure
• intervention would have the greatest impact in accelerating local plan production

The strategy also made clear that decisions on intervention will also be informed by the wider planning context in each area (specifically, the extent to which authorities are working cooperatively to put strategic plans in place, and the potential impact that not having a plan has on neighbourhood planning activity).

Planning experts – Castle Point, Thanet, and Wirral

The government’s Chief Planner, Steve Quartermain CBE and a team of experts will report back to the Secretary of State who will then take a final decision on formal intervention later this year.

In addition, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government will conduct formal discussions with relevant county councils and city regions to see if they could take over plan production on the Secretary of State’s behalf.

This week, Dame Judith Hackitt hosted a meeting of the Chairs of the working groups which were formed following the Independent Review’s interim report publication in December and Summit meeting in January.

The working groups were asked to consider how to develop elements of a more effective building regulations and fire safety system, taking forward the directions of travel identified by Dame Judith in her interim report.

We had an overwhelming response for people to be involved. To ensure the groups were able to respond in a timely manner, it was necessary to restrict the size but group chairs were encouraged to consult as widely as possible when developing their advice.

The inputs of the working groups will be made available after the final report.

Dame Judith praised the commitment of the working groups, all of which have met multiple times over a 6-week period and thanked them for the quality of their contributions.

She will now consider their advice as she develops the recommendations of her final report, intended to deliver the systemic overhaul and culture change required of the building regulations and fire safety system to make sure the people are safe, and feel safe, in the homes that they live in.

Dame Judith Hackitt’s final report will be published in the spring.

Dame Judith and the Independent Review Team would like to thank the following organisations and experts for their contributions.

A list of participants in Dame Judith Hackitt’s January summit has also been published today.

Working Group 1: Construction and Design

Chair

Rachel White, Institute for Civil Engineers

Members

• ACAI
• Build UK
• Construction Leadership Council
• Health and Safety Executive
• Institute of Fire Engineers
• Local Authority Building Control
• National Fire Chiefs Council
• National House Building Council
• Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors
• Royal Institute of British Architects

Working Sub-Group 1b: Procurement

Chair

Paul Nash, Chartered Institute of Building

Members

• Construction Industry Council
• Crown Commercial Services
• Home Builders Federation
• Kier Services
• Local Government Association
• Telford Homes

Working Group 2: Occupation and Maintenance

Chair

Nick Coombe, National Fire Chiefs Council

Members

• Association of British Insurers
• Association of Residential Managing Agents
• British Institute of Facilities Management
• Health and Safety Executive
• Leasehold Advisory Service
• Local Government Association
• National Fire Chiefs Council
• National Housing Federation
• Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors

Working Sub-Group 1 & 2: Golden Thread

This group looked at how to ensure an accurate record of high risk/complex buildings is compiled during the design and construction phase, and then handed to the person responsible for managing the building during occupation.

Chair

Independent Review Team

Members

• National Fire Chiefs Council
• Local Authority Building Control
• Construction Products Association
• National Housing Federation
• Health and Safety Executive
• Institution of Fire Engineers
• Digital Built Britain

Working Group 3: Regulations and Guidance

Chair

Peter Caplehorn, Construction Products Association

Members

• Building Research Establishment
• Build UK
• Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers
• Fire Industry Association
• Health and Safety Executive
• Local Authority Building Control
• National Fire Chiefs Council

Working Group 4: Competence

Chair

Graham Watts, Construction Industry Council

Members

• BUILDUK
• CICAIR
• Chartered Institute of Building
• Construction Industry Training Board
• Engineering Council
• Fire Industry Association
• Fire Protection Association
• Institution of Fire Engineers
• Local Authority Building Control
• National Fire Chiefs Council
• Royal Institute of British Architects
• Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors
• School of Engineering University of Edinburgh

Working Group 5: Residents’ Voice

Chair

Darren Hartley, Tenants and Resident Organisations of England

Members

• Association of Residential Managing Agents (ARMA)
• British Property Federation
• Camden Leaseholders Forum, nominated by LEASE
• Confederation of Co-operative Housing
• Fire Industry Association
• Local Government Association
• National Federation of Tenant Management Organisations
• Optivo Homes, nominated by National Housing Federation
• Shelter
• Tenant Participation Advisory Service (Tpas)

Working Group 6: Quality Assurance and Products

Chair

Dr. Debbie Smith, Building Research Establishment (BRE)

Members

• British Board of Agrement
• British Standards Institution
• Centre for Fire and Hazards Science, University of Central Lancashire
• Construction Products Association
• Fire Industry Association
• Fire Protection Association
• Institution of Fire Engineers
• National Fire Chiefs Council
• United Kingdom Accreditation Service

BGO Entertainment Ltd has formally agreed to change the way it offers bonus promotions to customers playing casino-like games online. This means players will be able to access and release their own money.

This follows an investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), conducted in collaboration with the Gambling Commission, to make sure the £4.7 billion online gambling sector is not breaking consumer protection law in its promotions.

BGO has now given the CMA formal commitments that it will be clear in the terms and conditions of its bonus promotions, and that it will prominently flag any significant restrictions to players. It will not have terms which:

• Require people to play multiple times before allowing them to withdraw their own money
• Prevent them from withdrawing their full balance by minimum withdrawal limits
• Could oblige players to take part in publicity.

The commitments were made in response to the CMA’s concerns that certain terms in these promotions were likely to be unfair, and that its practices could mislead consumers in breach of consumer protection law. This follows similar commitments given by 3 other operators – Ladbrokes, William Hill, and PT Entertainment – announced on 1 February 2018.

BGO has also separately agreed that it will not include terms which could be used to unfairly change promotions after players have opted in.

George Lusty, CMA Senior Director for Consumer Protection, said:

Gambling firms should not have terms that could be used to catch players out by unfairly changing their promotions after a customer has opted in.

We are therefore pleased that BGO has pledged to make these important changes. Following the CMA’s action, the gambling industry is rightly taking steps to overhaul online terms and conditions that could be misleading or unfair.

Before entering into these commitments with the CMA, BGO had already made welcome changes to address some of the CMA’s concerns – such as removing restrictions on winnings from cash deposits.

Notes for editors

1. The CMA is the UK’s primary competition and consumer authority. It is an independent non-ministerial government department with responsibility for carrying out investigations into mergers, markets and the regulated industries and enforcing competition and consumer law. For CMA updates, follow us on Twitter @CMAgovuk, Facebook, Flickr and LinkedIn.
2. The Gambling Commission regulates gambling in Great Britain in partnership with licensing authorities. It also regulates the National Lottery. Regulations are aimed at ensuring gambling is crime-free, fair and open and children and other vulnerable people are protected. It advises central and local government on the impact of gambling and its regulation. It holds operators to account; it ensures operators meet licensing standards and takes action against those that don’t. It ensures that National Lottery returns to good causes are maximised.
3. The key pieces of consumer protection legislation relevant to the CMA’s investigation are the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 and Part 2 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
4. The CMA opened an investigation into the gambling sector’s compliance with consumer protection law in October 2016 after hearing about a range of concerns that suggested some operators were not treating their customers fairly. This investigation heard from over 1,000 customers with concerns. The CMA investigation required companies to answer questions about how they operate, it closely examined the advertising and terms on a range of websites, and asked companies to give it demonstrations of the consumer journey and consumer play on their sites.
5. The CMA acknowledges the co-operation of BGO, and in particular that in October 2017 it made a number of welcome changes which addressed some of the CMA’s concerns.
6. The CMA has produced a ‘60-second summary’ and further information to help all gambling operators review their practices and ensure their terms and conditions are in line with consumer protection law. It has also produced ‘advice for gamblers’ and a short video guide for consumers.
7. If you are a member of the public with a query please email general.enquiries@cma.gsi.gov.uk or call 020 3737 6000.
8. Media enquiries to the CMA should be directed to press@cma.gsi.gov.uk or 020 3738 6798.
   Media enquiries to the Gambling Commission should be directed to Ben Glass at bglass@gamblingcommission.gov.uk on 0121 230 6700.

As part of the major A19 Coast Road project which is creating a triple decker roundabout, the first of its kind in the North East, a time capsule containing items donated by schools and businesses will be buried on site.

One of the schools that has been involved is Hadrian Park Primary School which was visited by the Mayor of North Tyneside Norma Redfearn.

During her visit she spoke to the children about the items they were putting into the capsule including a video which the children produced themselves about the school and teachers.

Highways England assistant project manager Steven Cox said:

We have been really pleased with the contributions we have received from the wider community who have been willing to get involved in this project. There will be a wide range of items including pictures and videos as well as brochures and memory sticks.

We would like to thank everyone who has got involved and hopefully when it is dug up in 100 years it will provide a great insight into the past. There will be information on the £75m Highways England scheme and our contractors Sisk Lagan JV, along with photographs which show the different stages of progress on the scheme.

There will be an official unveiling of a plaque to commemorate the burying of the capsule in August.

Highways England are taking part in the Year of Engineering campaign, which aims to inspire young people to consider engineering as a rewarding career. Highways England is looking for a continuing pipeline of young engineers to deliver the multi-billion investment plans for our motorways and major A-roads, improving lives and making a positive difference to the world.

To support this Highways England and its A19 Coast Road scheme contractors Sisk Lagan JV are organising a competition for local schools. The competition is asking children to design and build a model school using recycled materials. Hadrain Park Primary School has already signed up to the competition which will run from May until the end of September.

Judging will take place in October before crowning the winning school – Best School Design and Build Engineering Project 2018.

General enquiries

Members of the public should contact the Highways England customer contact centre on 0300 123 5000.

Media enquiries

Journalists should contact the Highways England press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.