City Councillors back pro-communities Bill

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Sat 31st Mar 2007

Liberal Democrat Norwich City Councillors want to see more power devolved from Whitehall down to local communities. That is the essence of the Sustainable Communities Bill which was the subject of a Liberal Democrat motion at the Council meeting on 27 March.

Cllr Judith Lubbock

The motion to support the Bill was proposed by Liberal Democrat Councillor

Judith Lubbock who said: "Too many decisions are taken by Whitehall and

imposed on communities. Councils and communities are experts on their own

problems - and the solutions to them. However, in order for true devolution

to take place a fair method of funding local government needs to be put in

place."

Liberal Democrat Leader Councillor Hereward Cooke said " The possible

granting of unitary status to Norwich will give more power to the City

Council. But the decline of local shops, post offices, pubs, services,

communities and jobs (referred to as Ghost Town Britain) still needs to be

stopped and reversed. The Sustainable Communities Bill attempts to do just

that by empowering local communities to have their own sustainable

strategy. "

Liberal Democrat Councillors are also concerned about the lack of influence

communities can exert on planning decisions. The constraints of Planning

Policy Guidance from Government often stifle community representation. "We

need more opportunity to reflect local circumstances and priorities in the

planning system and be able to represent the needs of our communities more

adequately" said Judith Lubbock a Member of the Council's Planning

Committee. "Changes are needed to stop community decline and tackle the

issue of 'Ghost Town Britain".

The Bill is still making its long and slow progress through Parliament. It

has support from all parties and community groups, and the Liberal Democrat motion on Tuesday was unanimously supported.

Norwich Liberal Democrats are hoping that the Norwich MPs will also support the Bill.