2007 Budget: Our Response
- Posted on:
- Wednesday, 21st March 2007 at 6:28pm
Overall we welcome the 2007 Budget. On housing we are pleased to see that at least 70% of the Planning Gains Supplement will be paid directly to the Local Planning Authority. We also welcome the proposal that Local Strategic Partnerships and local communities should be involved in the infrastructure planning process and that scaled back current planning obligations will focus on affordable housing as well as the environment.
We are disappointed though that more effort hasn't been given to encouraging further private equity into the delivery of affordable housing.
We welcome the implementation of the Leitch Review and we trust that the Commission for Employment and Skills will have a clear rural remit. We also support the Government's aim to encourage Learning Skills Councils and Job Centre+ to resource individuals' retention and progression of skills and not just the initial development.
For firms in rural areas we look forward to participating in the consultation on government business support. However, as small firms make up 90% of rural businesses, the Small Firms Impact Test needs to be strengthened and rural proofed. Finally we are pleased to see continuing encouragement for biofuels and biomass including for small biofuel producers.
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