Policy Consultations

As a regional presence for our local civic societies, YHACS feels that it has a major role in representating community views in the engagement of regional and national authorities through public consultation exercises. Below you will find the latests policies in a consultation phase and links to the full text documents. We want to know what you think, so please send your comments to us by the deadlines posted. We will collate the responses and make sure they get to the right people on time to be counted.

Democracy can only work when the people speak up, so let us hear what you have to say!

Please send all responses by email by clicking here, or by post to the following address:

YHACS Policy Consultations, 11a Grayburn Lane, Beverley, E. Yorkshire HU17 8JR

Here you will find links to those policies under consideration at the moment. Past responses made by the YHACS are archived in our Publications page and can be accessed by clicking here.

Current Consultations

Planning for a Sustainable Future

On 21 May 2007, Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly announced the publication of a planning White Paper, Planning for a Sustainable Future, through which the Government is seeking to expedite the planning process whilst also ensuring "improved community consultation." The paper was motivated by the report by Kate Barker which recommended improvements to the responsiveness, efficiency and speed of land use planning, and as such, puts forward proposals by Kate Barker and Rod Eddington for the overhaul of planning process for major infrastructure projects.

YHACS will be responding to this document on behalf of the regional civic society movement, but we need to hear from you first. We ask all societies to consider the proposed changes and give us your responses by the deadline so we can be sure to have our say!

A copy of the White Paper, Planning for a Sustainable Future, can be obtained from the Department of Communities and Local Government's website, www.communities.gov.uk, or by ringing the Department on 08457 023 474.

DEADLINE FOR RESPONSES: 12 August 2007

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Revised Garden Grabbing Policy Statement

The original version of this statement was issued We have revised our garden grabbing policy statement, taking into account the responses from our first consultation exercise. We are asking for responses to this latest version by the below deadline. Click here to open the consultation letter and here to open the statement.

DEADLINE FOR RESPONSES: 10 October 2007

Housing Green Paper

The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has issued a package of proposals on 23 July 2007 to achieve a sufficient level of housing provision to meet demand by 2020 of 3 million new homes. YHACS will be commenting on this reform as of 10 October 2007, and as such, would like to receive all member society views by this date.

You can access the consultation document by clicking here, or by visiting the DCLG website at www.communities.gov.uk and clicking on Housing.

DEADLINE FOR RESPONSES: 10 October 2007

Closed Consultations

Thank you to all who have commented on the below consultation. We have received the initial consultation responses, and will be submitting a revised policy statement to the membership by our main meeting on 28 July 2007. Any questions can be directed to Katie Stewart at (07981) 622706.

YHACS Policy Statement on Garden Grabbing

YHACS is asking its member societies to consider its policy statement with regard to the abuse of tandem development, or the development of previously residential property (also known as garden grabbing). Because of the critical impact that such development has on the public realm, in terms of both the "green/built balance" -- between built and natural environments -- and the character of our local areas, YHACS feels that such a policy statement is not only in our best interest as civic societies, but is necessary given the current debate on the subject. Much of the issue has been relegated to high politics and the political wrangling of the major political parties, yet the issue is very real for communities across our country, and one that increasingly threatens to become a problem if left unconsidered for much longer.

To access the policy document and consultation cover letter, please click here.

The enclosed document sets out the issue, both in general, legal and political terms, and then offers the proposed YHACS position both on the merits and detriments of such practice and the policy proposal for resolving the problems raised by the practice. We ask that you and your Committee please consider the issue and YHACS' policy statement. We then ask that you please send us

(1) Your comments and suggestions regarding the policy statement
(2) Your experiences of garden-grabbing (as we will be building up a database of case studies to support our position)

*All ODPM documents can be obtained by post at the following address or by phone from the below telephone number:

ODPM Publications, PO Box 236, Wetherby, West Yorkshire, LS23 7NB

(0870) 1226 236

**All DCMS documents can be obtained by post at the following address or by phone from the below telephone number:

Department for Culture Media & Sport, 2-4 Cockspur Street, London SW1Y 5DH

(020) 7211 6509