Decision details

This report seeks approval for the Executive Member for Planning and Development to attend the Town & Country Planning Association Annual Conference and Parliamentary Reception, to be held on 25 March 2014 in London.

Now that all three major political parties have expressed support for a new generation of New Towns and Garden Cities, the TCPA’s very timely spring conference will look at how the practical barriers to delivery can be overcome.  With guests from across central and local government, local authority leaders and senior officers, business and investment organisations, planners, developers, community and voluntary groups and academics, this will be a lively and informative event, with theShadow Secretary of State for Communities, the Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP, delivering a keynote speech.

The conference will be chaired by Lee Shostak, chair of the TCPA and includes an excellent line-up of speakers;

·         Cllr Barry Wood, Leader, Cherwell District Council

·         Jane Hamilton, Former Chief Operating Officer, Milton Keynes Partnership

·         Henry Cleary, Chair of the Standing Conference for the Welbourne New Community

·         Euan Hall, Chief Executive, The Land Trust

·         John Lewis, Chief Executive, Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation

·         Dr Hugh Ellis, Chief Planner, TCPA

With key note speeches looking at how political leadership can help gain community support for high-quality large-scale new developments, the conference will be framed around three debates which will provide the opportunity for powerful and informative discussion.

• The first session, 'What are the practical tools for delivering Garden Cities today?' will look at the practical, legal and economic instruments available for delivering new communities.
• The second session, ‘Securing community consent for new Garden Cities’, will consider ways in which communities can be meaningfully involved in shaping new developments.

The third session, ‘Taking care of communities in the long term – exploring different stewardship models’, will look at how we can ensure that new large-scale developments remain attractive and successful places in the longer term.

That approval is given for the Executive Member for Planning and Development to attend the Town & Country Planning Association Annual Conference and Parliamentary Reception, to be held on 25 March 2014 in London.