Fwd: *LDF Alert: Brighton & Hove City Council: Core Strategy - Launch of Consultation*
From:
Helen Russell
Date:
Jun 28 11:18 UTC
Short link
I've been gong along to the stakeholders workshops etc for a couple of years,
they don't take much notice of any of the sensible suggestions made by the
likes of us. The aim is to bring to the city new financial type employers (like
the TSB), and a lot of the new housing development is aimed at the incoming new
employees of these. So nothing new, nothing changes... but with the collapse of
the housing market, developers are not so keen, as they can't be sure they'll
sell, if their intended buyers can't get mortgages. Also there are more
stringenet rules for sustainability, and the developers are not sure they can
meet them... So the Core Strategy may well flounder.
The community and voluntary sector needs to get more involved in these schemes
and strategies - and we are being invited to, under the Council's new Duty to
Involve. Under this, CVSF is part of a working group to develop the city's
community and engagement strategy - but it is being led by the council, of
course. So whilst we are being invited to join in, it is still as
'participants' rather than equals. But equality is not something which can be
given, it has to be wrenched from those 'more equal', which requires a huge
change in perspective.
The Sustainability Act should be taken up and used to kickstart this change of
perspective. Joint action under the Act by activists across the spectrum might
get something done. See the Local Works website for info.
http://www.localworks.org/