Shadow Communities Minister and North Wales AM Mark Isherwood has this afternoon called on the Welsh Government to give communities across Wales more say over matters which affect them.
Speaking in the Welsh Conservative Debate on Localism, Mr Isherwood urged Ministers to recognise the importance of empowering individuals and community groups to tackle issues of local significance.
He said:
“Asset based community development is a large and growing movement that considers people as the primary building blocks of sustainable community development. Put it another way, this is about giving voice, choice, control and real power to the people in our communities: Building on the skills of local residents, the power of local associations and the support of local institutions, this is about drawing upon existing community strengths to build stronger communities for the future.
“This is anathema to Welsh Labour’s state organisation of society and top down control over persons and activities within their jurisdiction.
“Since the 2011 UK Localism Act, we have campaigned for its Community empowering provisions to be enacted in Wales. However, we had to wait until 2015 for the Welsh Labour Government to set out its plans for “Community ownership” - a watered down version of the opportunities available in England, leaving Communities in Wales with a far smaller voice than their English counter parts.
“Welsh Labour has now put off proposals for Community Groups to become involved in the delivery of local services until after the 2016 Assembly Elections, proposals which still exclude a statutory right for communities to challenge Council services or bid for Local Authority property.
“The 2011 Localism Act introduced Neighbourhood Development Plans that allow local people to get the right type of development for their community –which must still meet the needs for the wider area and take into account the Local Council’s assessment of housing and other development needs.
“Detailed or general plans identify what local people want, where new homes and offices should be built, what they should look like - but this is denied to people in Wales.”
Mr Isherwood said that a Welsh Conservative Welsh Government would introduce “Neighbourhood Planning” including a Community Right to Build, and Neighbourhood Development Plans.
He said: “This would allow communities to bring forward small-scale community-led developments such as shops, services or affordable housing - and allow communities to show where they would like a new development to happen and what it should look like.
“By April 2014, 1,000 communities in England had taken the first formal steps for Development Plans, 80 had been sent out to consultation and 13 had been passed at local referenda.
“These new powers in Wales would engage communities at a local level, giving them a voice to shape the future of local authority services, assets and planning in their neighbourhood. “It’s time to turn the power thing upside down, design the system backwards and set the people free.”