David Smith

In my acceptance speech following re-election as Chairman of the West Midlands Regional Assembly, I called for the abandonment of the transfer of responsibility for regional housing, planning and transport to Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) on the basis that it is not deliverable in the life of this Parliament:

"Proposals to transfer powers from largely local government control to agencies is expected to be in the Queen's Speech on 11 December and will fight for legislative time in the 2009 parliamentary session.  Responsibility remains with Regional Assemblies until March 2010, at which point it could revert to local government control.  The Parliamentary timetable will have to overcome the highly critical proposals for transfer of power from largely local government and will have a difficult time in its passages  through both the Commons and the Lords and would be extremely unlikely to be implemented before the end of this Parliament. 

"These powers are the only part of the Sub National Review that require primary legislation, and if they were dropped, the Regional Assembly, together with Regional Development Agencies and other partners, could begin the task now to fight off some of the potential ravages of the growing recession."

Section 106 monies are designed not just to improve a new development, but are also intended to improve nearby facilities and amenities, to ensure the local area is both enhanced by, and can cope with the additional community demands any new development brings.

Over 50% of the £1.4 million section 106 monies raised through Darwin Park will be used within or very close to the development itself.

Projects are set to include a new underpass, creating a community hall, a new scout hut on Christchuch Lane, and maintaining the open space across the site. In 2007 a team at the Council consulted with local agenices, action groups and people living in the new development through a postal survey, on what else the section 106 monies should be spent on.

Projects that will be supported include the enhancement of Beacon Park, investment in youth facilities, and improvements to the area just outside of the Garrick which will make it more pedestrian friendly and accessible to all.

On a personal front I was over the moon to go together with our family to see my wife, Gay receive a first class hon. degree in Philosophy at Staffordshire University.

It was a great day for us all despite the rain to see one of us older ones hitting the high spots.

Birmingham planners as part of their options appraisal are considering an approach to Lichfield DC. to develop a housing site in the Green Belt at Little Aston.

May I say that we are committed to the protection of the Green Belt around the City as a protection against Urban sprawl and will defend our boundaries against any development proposals by Birmingham to expand beyond the City limits.

In a press release issued by the Curborough Consortium on the 7th July 2008, the Consortium announced that it has withdrawm its eco-town bid.

The announcement follows talks between the Curborough Consortium and DCLG last week. A spokesperson on behalf of the Curborough Consortium, said "We were delighted to have been shortlisted and have fully engaged in the eco-town process. It is with regret that we feel we must withdraw our bid, however, we remain committed to the principles behind the eco-town agenda.

"We are pleased that the Government has recognised the merits of the location of our scheme and has commended it as being a good development by normal standards.

"Going forward, we will continue to pursue our planning application for a new settlement at Curborough and will look to ways by which our application can benefit from our discussions with the eco-town challenge panel."

The new settlement planning application was submitted on March 27 and is currently subject to on-going consultation with Lichfield District Council.

View and or comment on Curborough Consortium's planning application for a new settlement at Curborough.