tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3985711776365144891.post1758606667490750996..comments2023-05-19T11:22:45.301+01:00Comments on Your Coleridge Conservative Action Team: Station Area thoughtsChris Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00788153276499154335noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3985711776365144891.post-64204835531274796702008-10-16T22:44:00.000+01:002008-10-16T22:44:00.000+01:00The Conservative suggestions have been about aboli...The Conservative suggestions have been about abolishing national planning policies, giving more control over what happens to local Councils, and with more of the benefits from developments ending up with local people (e.g. benefitting from the extra Council tax) - but this plan obviously needs to be treated sceptically until there is a bit more detail as to how it would work in practice. <BR/><BR/>Even if the result wasn't what I wanted, My criticism of the Council over the station decision is tempered by the fact it is really difficult to make large projects like this happen at all (and they obviously aren't there yet in terms of delivery). <BR/><BR/>The s106 tax issue is likely to sort itself out pretty soon, as in most future developments the fall in property values will ensure there just isn't the value available for Councils to take, and much of what is being spent is in reality long term public infrastructure that will need long term taxpayer commitment to fund. If it is seen as taxpayer money being spent, it will be money better scrutinised and therfore hopefully spent with considerable more attention to taxpayer value than s106 at the moment that is seen as 'free money' that noone has to pay for.Chris Howellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00788153276499154335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3985711776365144891.post-35395635463653850452008-10-16T20:25:00.000+01:002008-10-16T20:25:00.000+01:00I agree, the money that councils "extract" from de...I agree, the money that councils "extract" from developers during planning leaves a bad taste in the mouth.<BR/><BR/>Not only are these discussions behind closed doors, and no doubt I can't find out the details, but because it is a negotiation going on it rather implies that the council is giving something in return for the money.<BR/><BR/>The amount of the money "extracted" seems to vary, if it were a flat rate based on land value (or similar) at least it would be transparent.<BR/><BR/>Would a Conservative government reform this practice, perhaps removing Section 106 payments altogether?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com