Bulletin – 28thSeptember
Jonathan Owen, NALC CEO, writes…
Data protection
In the Summer we began talking to the government about the impact of the introduction of the EU’s General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and the Data Protection Bill, now introduced to Parliament as part of the government’s plans to update data protection legislation. Since May, we have published a number of legal briefings to help councils understand the changes in the law and what they need to do to comply by 25th May 2018 when GDPR, including the requirement to appoint a Data Protection Officer (DPO), come into effect.
On 20th September we met with officials from Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, the Department for Communities and Local Government and the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) to discuss the changes and their impact in more detail, explaining our concerns about the potential resource implications and in particular the impact this may have on council tax payers and the parish precept as well as seeking clarification on points such as application to parish meetings. We also requested more guidance and support to help councils get ready and ensure compliance from next year. In terms of next steps, officials have agreed to consider what further support government can offer, to work with ICO as well as NALC to see if generic ICO guidance can filter into sector specific content to assist parish councils and parish meetings to prepare for and comply with GDPR, and engage with the Local Government Association to ascertain if its members may help parish councils and meetings.
The second reading of the Data Protection Bill is on 10th October in the House of Lords and we have already begun briefing Peers on our concerns about the impact of GDPR and need for more support to the sector.
Communications User Group
The Communications User Group, led by NALC vice-chairman Cllr Derek Liddell and involving a number of representatives from larger and smaller councils as well as from county associations, met on 20th September and identified a number of areas for improvement such as:gathering more case studies and evidence from county associations and local councils to help our various campaigns and public relations work; exploring ways to target more of our communications to reach councilors in member councils; ease of access and navigation of the NALC website including the development of blogs; increasing the number of county associations that access and handle NALC publications; raising awareness of reputation management and crisis communications. Other ongoing work includes exploring ways to increase attendance from smaller councils at NALC conferences and events and continuing NALC’s support for the Tree Charter campaign.
Housing and neighbourhood planning
Following the publication of its housing White Paper, DCLG has now launched a consultation ‘Planning for the right homes in the right places: consultation proposals’ with proposed changes to planning policy design and legislation. Ourpolicy consultation (attached) explainsmore and invites you to tell us what you think about the proposals, so can I urge you to take a few minutes to read and respond.
Given the starring role our councils are playing in neighbourhood planning – since 2012 over 2,200 groups have started the neighbourhood planning process with over 90 per cent led by our councils – we have continued to press government to provide the support councils need such as grants and technical help. Hence I’m pleased DCLG have just announced a funding package worth £22.8 million to help communities through the provision of specialist support.
“Parks for People” – help from the Heritage Lottery Fund
Historic public parks and cemeteries are valued places at the centre of local communities. Help toconserve them with funding ranging from £100,000 to £5m.For our increasingly urban population, parks are often the only green space where people canmeet, play, relax and come close to nature. Parks have always been a priority for HLF and since it first started to invest in them in 1996 it has awarded over £850m across the UK, including £130mfrom the Big Lottery Fund in England. Yet, as the recent ‘State of UK Public Parks’ report ( highlights, many of our best-loved green spaces are in need ofregeneration and investment.
Parks for People funding helps to conserve the heritage that makes both historic parks andcemeteries special. And it gives local people a say in how they are managed in the future. Projectsimprove people’s wellbeing and knowledge of their area, and make communities better places tolive, work and visit.
Community-Led Housing Guide Launched
How to get your community-led housing project up and running in four easy steps. From agreeingon your project, to choosing a legal structure, this guide gives clear information, links to helpfulresources, access to handy videos and more.
If you’re thinking of setting up a project to create affordable housing your community wants andneeds, this guide is perfect for you to get started
Government Funded Affordable Housing Down By 50%
The number of affordable homes funded by the government fell between 2010/11 and 2016/17, withthe level of funding for the affordable housing far less than for private housing, according to theChartered Institute of Housing (CIH).Analysis by the Institute suggests that the government is set to spend 79% of its housing budget –£32bn – on programmes such as Help to Buy up to 2020/21, with the remaining 21% – £8bn – to goon schemes like shared ownership and affordable homes.The analysis forms part of the CIH’s 2017 UK Housing Review.
Figures from the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) suggest that only28,000 affordable homes were built in 2016/17, down 50% from 56,000 in 2010/11, said the CIH. Thenumber of homes built for the cheapest rents using government investment fell from 36,000 to justover 1,000.
The Institute notes that the government no longer funds homes for social rent, which are marketedat 30-40% cheaper than market rent. Instead funding goes towards affordable rent, around 80% ofmarket rent.
£645m to Help Improve Rural Broadband
The government says up to £645m will help bring superfast broadband to the UK’s most remoteareas.Digital minister Matt Hancock said more than 900,000 extra UK homes and businesses could gainaccess to superfast speeds after the end of this year.This, it is claimed, would take superfast coverage to 98% of the nation over the next few years.
Mr Hancock said: “We have now brought superfast broadband to almost 94% of UK homes andbusinesses, and we are reaching thousands more every week.“We are on track to reach 95% by the end of the year, but we know there’s still more to do”.
Money being returned to the broadband programme for reinvestment would help reach the final5%, said Mr Hancock.It was all part of the government’s commitment to make sure that 100% of the UK could getaffordable, fast and reliable broadband by 2020.The government subsidised rollout has now reaches more than 4.5 million premises around the UK.New figures show more than 2 million homes and businesses have now signed up for superfastconnections in areas where the government has invested in broadband.
A clause in the government’s contracts requires suppliers to recycle funding when people take upsuperfast connections installed as part of the programme.
SPCA Bulletin 17/39 (28thSeptember)