Fwd: News from Civic Voice: Griff Rhys Jones and Nick Boles MP to address MPs at a meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Civic Societies

[Mark Barrett]

---------- Forwarded message ----------

Dear all,

 

Please see below a press release from Civic Voice regarding the All Party Parliamentary Group for Civic Societies next week.  Unfortunately our MP David Burrowes is unlikely to be able to attend this meeting due to a prior engagement.

PRESS RELEASE

Immediate release

May 8th 2013

Griff Rhys Jones to address MPs on the importance of the community voice in the planning system

Griff Rhys Jones and the Planning Minister, Nick Boles MP to attend meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Civic Societies

The importance of community involvement in the planning system will be put under the spotlight when MPs and Peers gather at Portcullis House on May 13th for a meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Civic Societies to hear Griff Rhys Jones and Nick Boles MP.

Laura Sandys MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Civic Societies said “There are around 50 MP’s and Peers who are members of the APPG. This demonstrates the strength of support the civic movement has in the Houses of Parliament. I am grateful that the Planning Minister and Griff Rhys Jones are able to attend this meeting and I look forward to chairing what should be an interesting discussion”.

Topics to be discussed at the meeting include:

• The challenges to encouraging widespread involvement in neighbourhood planning
• A review of the Government’s recent changes to permitted development rights
• Timescales local authorities have to implement their local plans

Paula Ridley CBE, Chair of Civic Voice finished by saying “Civic groups play a vital role in the democratic process which was recently demonstrated when nearly 400 MPs were contacted by civic societies over the Government's proposed permitted development changes. This resulted in the Government making some significant amendments on this key planning policy. We look forward to putting our members’ queries on the role of communities in the planning system to the Minister”. 

Anyone who would like to contribute a question to the debate should email in...@civicvoice.org.uk

A list of MPs and Peers supporting the group can be accessed at http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmallparty/register/civil-society-and-volunteering.htm.