If there was a day that David Cameron's Big Society quietly or not so quietly died then it the day that plans for low-level radioactive waste disposal to be allowed at a landfill site in Northamptonshire were given the go-ahead by the government. The decision for Kings Cliffe near Peterborough follows a two-year stand-off between the hazardous waste company Augean and campaigners. Nearly 98% of people who voted in local referendums voted to oppose the plans. Northamptonshire county councillors had also voted unanimously to reject the plan (which is a legacy of the last Labour Government) back in March 2010.Many people saw this case as an important test case for waste companies and one that would really test the Con Dem government's much proclaimed commitment to localism.
Communities Secretary Eric Pickles (who at first glance bares an amazing resemblance to that type of smug long time elected and arrogant with it Labour councillor that many people in the South of Wales would recognise) said he had accepted expert advice that planning permission for this additional waste "would not be harmful to the local community". A Department for Communities and Local Government spokesman said Mr Pickles had taken account of the detailed findings of the planning inspector who had held a public local inquiry which was open and transparent to the public.
One one of the reasons why the waste may be dumped in Kings Cliffe is because of the UK Governments unhealthy obsession with pushing to develop Nuclear energy, because as older reactors are taken out of service, the demolition of surrounding buildings will produce a large amount of low-level radioactive waste. The Kings Cliffe Waste Watchers protest group believe that the site will end taking construction rubble from decommissioned nuclear plants because the existing national low-level radioactive waste repository near the Sellafield nuclear plant at Drigg in Cumbria is filling up.
There is a degree of irony here because whilst riding roughshod over the democratically expressed wishes of local people and various levels of elected local government citizen Pickles is valiantly endeavouring to guide the localism bill through the Westminster Parliament. So much for the Big Society was the Conservatives' main flagship policy at the last Westminster general election and was allegedly based around a desire to shrink the role of government and devolve power to local communities to run their own services.
Depending on who's doing the counting Mr Cameron ("call me Dave" is no more) appears to have re-launched the Big Society four times since the heady days of May 2010. There is much muttering on the Conservative benches from those who have always felt the idea is "too woolly", lacks clarity and inspiration. Too make matters worse Lord Wei (the PM's Big Society Tsar), who announced his resignation (on 24th May) to go back to charity work) has stated that the Big Society required a culture change that could take two parliaments to achieve, but it's critics (Conservative and otherwise) will no doubt continue to wonder aloud how much longer the big idea will last...
Showing posts with label the Localism Bill. Show all posts
Showing posts with label the Localism Bill. Show all posts
Thursday, 26 May 2011
Tuesday, 17 May 2011
STANDING UP FOR WALES?
Plaid’s Jonathan Edwards MP has called on Welsh MPs from all parties to support a move which would transfer power over energy from a UK quango to the Welsh Government. The power to decide on a tidal lagoon in Swansea Bay or a tidal reef across the Severn estuary would be transferred to Welsh First Minister, Carwyn Jones, who has the Welsh Government's energy portfolio.
If an amendment to the Localism Bill (tabled by Plaid Cymru MP Jonathan Edwards) that has been selected for debate in the Commons tonight (Tuesday) is passed – the amendment to the Localism Bill would give the Welsh Assembly the right to decide upon planning applications for electricity generating stations in Wales, and offshore in Welsh waters.
In their recent election manifestos the Conservatives and Labour Party's pledged to double the current limit of Welsh Government powers to grant planning permission from 50MW to 100MW. Plaid argues that both figures are arbitrary, rather than evidence-based, and that a single consistent Welsh approach to energy would achieve the best results for renewable energy in Wales.
At the moment the Assembly only has the power to deal with applications of up to 50MW on Welsh land while the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) deals with applications greater than that. At sea, the Marine Management Organisation has the power to grant consent for applications of up to 100MW, with the IPC having the power above that figure. The Localism Bill plans to scrap the IPC, with the powers being returned to the Secretary of State in Westminster. Plaid argues that it is essential for consistency that all energy decisions for Wales are taken by the Welsh Assembly.
Jonathan Edwards MP said:
“If Carwyn Jones is in any way serious about Labour’s claim to be standing up for Wales, then his party must vote to give him full powers for energy in Wales, not hang about on the sidelines and abstain.
“If only two weeks after the election, Labour fail to support this motion to give Wales the power to make a real difference to our energy policy, then we can only wonder where else they will fail to stand up against the coalition.
“After all, if their MPs don’t trust their own First Minister with these powers, what does that say for him and his government in Wales?
“Energy decisions being made in Wales is a matter of common sense and consistency.
“Our amendment would mean that instead of two agendas being in place, one in London and one in Wales, there would be just a Welsh agenda to develop and diversify our energy portfolio.”
Amendment to the Localism Bill – to be discussed on 17th May, 2011 (after 7:30pm)
Transfer of generating station consent powers to Welsh Ministers
Jonathan Edwards
NC11
To move the following Clause:—
‘(1) The Secretary of State must make regulations to transfer to the Welsh Ministers those functions of the Infrastructure Planning Commission and the Marine Management Organisation which relate to applications for an order granting development consent for the construction or extension of generating stations in Wales or in waters in or adjacent to Wales up to the seaward limits of the territorial sea.
(2) Regulations made under subsection (1) must be laid within 12 months of the passing of this Act and are subject to the negative resolution procedure.’.
If an amendment to the Localism Bill (tabled by Plaid Cymru MP Jonathan Edwards) that has been selected for debate in the Commons tonight (Tuesday) is passed – the amendment to the Localism Bill would give the Welsh Assembly the right to decide upon planning applications for electricity generating stations in Wales, and offshore in Welsh waters.
In their recent election manifestos the Conservatives and Labour Party's pledged to double the current limit of Welsh Government powers to grant planning permission from 50MW to 100MW. Plaid argues that both figures are arbitrary, rather than evidence-based, and that a single consistent Welsh approach to energy would achieve the best results for renewable energy in Wales.
At the moment the Assembly only has the power to deal with applications of up to 50MW on Welsh land while the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) deals with applications greater than that. At sea, the Marine Management Organisation has the power to grant consent for applications of up to 100MW, with the IPC having the power above that figure. The Localism Bill plans to scrap the IPC, with the powers being returned to the Secretary of State in Westminster. Plaid argues that it is essential for consistency that all energy decisions for Wales are taken by the Welsh Assembly.
Jonathan Edwards MP said:
“If Carwyn Jones is in any way serious about Labour’s claim to be standing up for Wales, then his party must vote to give him full powers for energy in Wales, not hang about on the sidelines and abstain.
“If only two weeks after the election, Labour fail to support this motion to give Wales the power to make a real difference to our energy policy, then we can only wonder where else they will fail to stand up against the coalition.
“After all, if their MPs don’t trust their own First Minister with these powers, what does that say for him and his government in Wales?
“Energy decisions being made in Wales is a matter of common sense and consistency.
“Our amendment would mean that instead of two agendas being in place, one in London and one in Wales, there would be just a Welsh agenda to develop and diversify our energy portfolio.”
Amendment to the Localism Bill – to be discussed on 17th May, 2011 (after 7:30pm)
Transfer of generating station consent powers to Welsh Ministers
Jonathan Edwards
NC11
To move the following Clause:—
‘(1) The Secretary of State must make regulations to transfer to the Welsh Ministers those functions of the Infrastructure Planning Commission and the Marine Management Organisation which relate to applications for an order granting development consent for the construction or extension of generating stations in Wales or in waters in or adjacent to Wales up to the seaward limits of the territorial sea.
(2) Regulations made under subsection (1) must be laid within 12 months of the passing of this Act and are subject to the negative resolution procedure.’.
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