LibDem Cabinet Respond Strongly to New 'Communities England' Agency Proposal

2.40.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Sat 29th Sep 2007

Government proposals to set up a new agency, 'Communities England' - to provide a single focus for the delivery of national housing and regeneration programmes - have attracted strong views from Milton Keynes Council's Liberal Democrat cabinet.

The plans will bring together functions of the Housing Corporation, English Partnerships and the Department of Communities and Local Government into a new agency which will have responsibility for affordable housing, improvements to existing housing stock, urban regeneration, the reclamation and development of brownfield land, and supporting strategic growth.

As the remit of the proposed organisation affects Milton Keynes, the Council's cabinet has agreed a detailed response, explaining how the Government's growth agenda should most appropriately be carried out at a local level. They further commented on how the agency should operate against each of its major remits, as proposed in the consultation.

The response letter, which will now be sent to the Government, was drawn up in consultation with all political parties on the Council.

Liberal Democrat council leader Isobel McCall, said: "The establishment of Communities England is very significant to us because it will impact on Milton Keynes Partnership, which is a sub-committee of English Partnerships' Board.

"The new organisation must work in partnership with us to deliver what residents want - not impose from above. As Milton Keynes is earmarked for growth, we will continue to stress the importance of getting adequate funding for services and for the infrastructure required to meet the needs of residents."

Some of the key issues highlighted in the cabinet's response are:

• greater recognition of the need to invest in high growth areas and former New Towns

• re-investment within Milton Keynes of English Partnerships' (and subsequently Communities England's) capital receipts from land disposals

• greater recognition of the importance of meeting local needs with local solutions;

• greater democratic leadership and input

• the necessity for co-ordinated strategies from government departments to provide services and infrastructure in growth areas

• the need for the local community to determine regeneration priorities.