conservativehome--2020-05-04--Calling Conservatives: New public appointments announced. Trustee of the British Council – and more

Eight years ago , the TaxPayers ’ Alliance reported that “ in the last year , five times more Labour people were appointed to public bodies than Tories ” .
It currently reports that almost half of avowedly political appointees last year owed their allegiance to Labour Party , compared to less than a third for the Conservatives .
Despite the selection of some Party members or supporters to fill important posts , over time , the Conservatives have punched beneath their weight when it comes to public appointments .
One of the reasons seems to be that Tories simply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number as Labour supporters .
To help remedy this , each week we put up links to some of the main public appointments vacancies , so that qualified Conservatives can be aware of the opportunities presented .
“ The Board of Trustees is made up of 15 members .
Board members are guardians of the British Council ’ s purpose and strategy and are ultimately accountable for the organisation ’ s actions and performance .
The Board delegates responsibility for the management of the British Council to the Chief Executive .
The Board @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Corporate Plan and approves the British Council ’ s annual accounts .
The Board of Trustees meets seven times a year with its committees meeting four times a year in addition .
More details about the governance and funding are available at [ link ] .
The British Council is registered as a charity in England and Scotland and is regulated by charity law .
It is committed to a policy of equal opportunity and works to reflect the diversity of UK society at every level within the organisation.
” “ The Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Crown Non-Departmental Public Body sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP ) .
It is responsible for the prevention of workplace illness , injury and death across the UK .
DWP is seeking a Chair with a range of established skills and competences to help set HSE ’ s strategic direction to 2025 and beyond , drive regulatory excellence and oversee the organisation ’ s governance arrangements .
We are therefore looking for candidates who can bring experience from other national and/or international organisations with challenges on a similarly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Chair is expected to attend and preside over eight Board meetings a year , which take place at HSE ’ s headquarters in Bootle , Merseyside or in the regions or devolved administrations and involve an overnight stay.
” “ The Institute was established as a Crown Non-Departmental Public Body , independent of Government and employer-led with a mandate set by Ministers .
The Institute is playing a vital role in continuing the apprenticeship and technical education reform process and works on behalf of employers to support the delivery of high quality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Institute enables apprentices or learners to be confident that their apprenticeship or T Level is of high quality , respected and will help them to build a career with a clear market value.
” “ Led by the Non-Executive Chair , the Crown Commercial Service ( CCS ) Board is responsible for the oversight of the operation of CCS , with emphasis on its strategic direction , management control , and corporate governance .
All Non-Executive Board Members are expected to contribute to decisions covering the strategy for the organisation and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ value by offering counsel , advice and challenge .
We are seeking an exceptional individual to join our Board as a Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Technology and Digital Transformation Committee to support progression of our transformation journey… To complement our existing Board we are particularly interested in hearing from individuals who bring recent experience in leading large scale digital transformation in either the private or public sector.
” “ The CCRC ’ s role is to investigate and review cases where it is alleged that a miscarriage of justice may have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or both .
The CCRC is entrusted with the exercise of wide-ranging , and sometimes intrusive , statutory powers .
Commissioners are supported by senior managers , legal and investigations advisers , casework and administrative staff .
Investigations are mainly carried out by CCRC staff but CCRC can require others , such as the police , to carry out investigations on its behalf… Commissioners may be called on to provide specialist advice depending on their background and expertise .
Commissioners may also be involved in the training of staff and of fellow Commissioners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they bring.
” “ As a non-executive director , you will play an active role on the board of SLC , supporting the SLC Executive Team and SLC Chair to deliver the company ’ s portfolio of priorities , overcome challenges and exploit opportunities , including the continued growth of its customer base , delivery of recommendations from the Tailored Review ( Annex 3 ) and implementation of the Review of Post-18 Education .
A key element of the role will be to work with the board to ensure that the resources and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with and focussed on its delivery obligations .
The SLC administers the data underpinning one of Government ’ s major assets : the Student Loan book .
This data supports the sale of tranches of loans to monetise that asset for the benefit of the exchequer and taxpayers ( £3.6bn raised to date ) .
There may be other opportunities to realise the value , in the widest sense , of the SLC ’ s data in the future .
”

Eight years ago, the TaxPayers’ Alliance reported that “in the last year, five times more Labour people were appointed to public bodies than Tories”.
It currently reports that almost half of avowedly political appointees last year owed their allegiance to Labour Party, compared to less than a third for the Conservatives.
Despite the selection of some Party members or supporters to fill important posts, over time, the Conservatives have punched beneath their weight when it comes to public appointments. One of the reasons seems to be that Tories simply don’t apply in the same number as Labour supporters.
To help remedy this, each week we put up links to some of the main public appointments vacancies, so that qualified Conservatives can be aware of the opportunities presented.
– – – – – – – – – –
British Council – Board Trustee
“The Board of Trustees is made up of 15 members. Board members are guardians of the British Council’s purpose and strategy and are ultimately accountable for the organisation’s actions and performance. The Board delegates responsibility for the management of the British Council to the Chief Executive. The Board also agrees the British Council’s Corporate Plan and approves the British Council’s annual accounts. The Board of Trustees meets seven times a year with its committees meeting four times a year in addition. More details about the governance and funding are available at [link]. The British Council is registered as a charity in England and Scotland and is regulated by charity law. It is committed to a policy of equal opportunity and works to reflect the diversity of UK society at every level within the organisation.”
Time: 18 days per annum.
Remuneration: “Reasonable expenses”.
Closes: 08 May
– – – – – – – – – –
Health & Safety Executive – Chair
“The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is a Crown Non-Departmental Public Body sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). It is responsible for the prevention of workplace illness, injury and death across the UK. DWP is seeking a Chair with a range of established skills and competences to help set HSE’s strategic direction to 2025 and beyond, drive regulatory excellence and oversee the organisation’s governance arrangements. We are therefore looking for candidates who can bring experience from other national and/or international organisations with challenges on a similarly large scale to those facing HSE. The Chair is expected to attend and preside over eight Board meetings a year, which take place at HSE’s headquarters in Bootle, Merseyside or in the regions or devolved administrations and involve an overnight stay.”
Time: 3 days per week.
Remuneration: £84,000 per annum.
Closes: 10 May
– – – – – – – – – –
Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education – Non-Executive Board Member
“The Institute was established as a Crown Non-Departmental Public Body, independent of Government and employer-led with a mandate set by Ministers. The Institute is playing a vital role in continuing the apprenticeship and technical education reform process and works on behalf of employers to support the delivery of high quality apprenticeships and T Levels in England. The Institute enables apprentices or learners to be confident that their apprenticeship or T Level is of high quality, respected and will help them to build a career with a clear market value.”
Time: 2 days per month on average
Remuneration: £15,000 per annum.
Closes: 15 May
– – – – – – – – – –
Crown Commercial Service – Non-Executive Directors
“Led by the Non-Executive Chair, the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) Board is responsible for the oversight of the operation of CCS, with emphasis on its strategic direction, management control, and corporate governance. All Non-Executive Board Members are expected to contribute to decisions covering the strategy for the organisation and the overall direction of the business, adding value by offering counsel, advice and challenge. We are seeking an exceptional individual to join our Board as a Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Technology and Digital Transformation Committee to support progression of our transformation journey… To complement our existing Board we are particularly interested in hearing from individuals who bring recent experience in leading large scale digital transformation in either the private or public sector.”
Time: Approx 2-3 days per month.
Remuneration: £15,000 per annum.
Closes: 17 May
– – – – – – – – – –
Criminal Cases Review Commission – Commissioners
“The CCRC’s role is to investigate and review cases where it is alleged that a miscarriage of justice may have occurred in relation to conviction, sentence or both. The CCRC is entrusted with the exercise of wide-ranging, and sometimes intrusive, statutory powers. Commissioners are supported by senior managers, legal and investigations advisers, casework and administrative staff. Investigations are mainly carried out by CCRC staff but CCRC can require others, such as the police, to carry out investigations on its behalf… Commissioners may be called on to provide specialist advice depending on their background and expertise. Commissioners may also be involved in the training of staff and of fellow Commissioners; again, depending on the expertise they bring.”
Time: Min. 52 days per annum.
Remuneration: £358 per diem.
Closes: 18 May
– – – – – – – – – –
Student Loans Company Board – Non-Executive Directors
“As a non-executive director, you will play an active role on the board of SLC, supporting the SLC Executive Team and SLC Chair to deliver the company’s portfolio of priorities, overcome challenges and exploit opportunities, including the continued growth of its customer base, delivery of recommendations from the Tailored Review (Annex 3) and implementation of the Review of Post-18 Education. A key element of the role will be to work with the board to ensure that the resources and skills available to the Company are commensurate with and focussed on its delivery obligations. The SLC administers the data underpinning one of Government’s major assets: the Student Loan book. This data supports the sale of tranches of loans to monetise that asset for the benefit of the exchequer and taxpayers (£3.6bn raised to date). There may be other opportunities to realise the value, in the widest sense, of the SLC’s data in the future.”
Time: Two days per month.
Remuneration: £12,000, up to £17,000.
Closes: 19 May


conservativehome--2020-05-04--Andrew Gimson’s Commons sketch: Remote MPs cannot make their presence felt, so cannot hold ministers

Andrew Gimson’s Commons sketch: Remote MPs cannot make their presence felt, so cannot hold ministers to account

What a thin , diminished spectacle the House of Commons presented on Monday afternoon .
A junior minister , Edward Argar , was sent to make the case for the Health Protection ( Corona Virus ) Regulations England .
Matt Hancock , the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care , was required to front the altogether more important daily press conference at Number Ten , an institution which within a few weeks has come to take precedence over Parliament .
Argar addressed an empty Chamber .
If it had been full , MPs could have tried to puncture @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lockdown , and spectators could have seen whether he was carrying the House with him , or whether , on the contrary , he was antagonising it .
But a remote House can not make its presence felt .
In all but a technical sense , this experiment looks like a failure which should be ended as soon as possible .
Because of the rules on social distancing , Argar proceeded on his way uninterrupted , and those of us watching him on television had no idea what scores of MPs , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ twee constituency homes rather than gathered together in the cockpit of the nation , were collectively making of his performance .
Justin Madders , replying from the Opposition front bench , said “ a couple of hours ’ debate weeks after the regulations were introduced can not be sufficient ” .
At this a loud “ hear hear ” could be heard , which sounded as if it was uttered by Sir Charles Walker ( Con , Broxbourne ) , one of the handful of backbenchers who were actually in the House .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” does not appear in the regulations , and wondered , “ Is it enforceable ?
” Sir Graham Brady ( Con , Altrincham and Sale ) , chairman of the 1922 Committee and like Walker actually present , said people had been prepared to comply “ voluntarily ” with the regulations : “ it hasn ’ t been policing in the main ” .
He added that “ in many cases the public has been a little too willing to stay at home ” and employers have had difficulty getting workers back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was much better the response to the virus continued to be “ done through a conversation with the British people ” than than by enforcing “ arbitrary rules ” .
But he ended by saying it was “ deeply regrettable ” that the end of the current 21-day period of regulations should fall this Thursday , when the Commons will not be sitting .
Parliament has been written out of the script .
Walker was the next Conservative speaker .
He warned that if a million of Britain ’ s 5.9 million privately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will unleash a tidal wave of human misery ” .
So we need “ a frank , open and honest debate about the ethics of trading lives tomorrow to save lives today ” .
Steve Baker ( Con , Wycombe ) , speaking by video link , said the rules were necessary , the government had made the right call and people must obey the law .
But he proceeded to argue that the regulations might well be against the law , for does not Blackstone warn against false imprisonment and physical restraint @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be full , so one could see whether it regarded Baker as a crank , or as a man who spoke for England .
He protested that “ people have been accused of not sweating properly when bicycling ” , and such conduct by the police is “ absurd and wrong ” .
Brady , Walker and Baker voiced the deep misgivings of Conservative MPs , but one could not say they embarrassed the Government .
For in order to be embarrassed , it is necessary to be present , and this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new technique of rule by Downing Street press conference .

What a thin, diminished spectacle the House of Commons presented on Monday afternoon. A junior minister, Edward Argar, was sent to make the case for the Health Protection (Corona Virus) Regulations England.
Matt Hancock, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, was required to front the altogether more important daily press conference at Number Ten, an institution which within a few weeks has come to take precedence over Parliament.
Argar addressed an empty Chamber. If it had been full, MPs could have tried to puncture his deliberately dull, bureaucratic justifications for the lockdown, and spectators could have seen whether he was carrying the House with him, or whether, on the contrary, he was antagonising it.
But a remote House cannot make its presence felt. In all but a technical sense, this experiment looks like a failure which should be ended as soon as possible.
Because of the rules on social distancing, Argar proceeded on his way uninterrupted, and those of us watching him on television had no idea what scores of MPs, scattered like so many prisoners in their twee constituency homes rather than gathered together in the cockpit of the nation, were collectively making of his performance.
Justin Madders, replying from the Opposition front bench, said “a couple of hours’ debate weeks after the regulations were introduced cannot be sufficient”.
At this a loud “hear hear” could be heard, which sounded as if it was uttered by Sir Charles Walker (Con, Broxbourne), one of the handful of backbenchers who were actually in the House.
Madders remarked that “the two-metre rule” does not appear in the regulations, and wondered, “Is it enforceable?”
Sir Graham Brady (Con, Altrincham and Sale), chairman of the 1922 Committee and like Walker actually present, said people had been prepared to comply “voluntarily” with the regulations: “it hasn’t been policing in the main”.
He added that “in many cases the public has been a little too willing to stay at home” and employers have had difficulty getting workers back who are needed.
Brady reckoned it was much better the response to the virus continued to be “done through a conversation with the British people” than than by enforcing “arbitrary rules”.
But he ended by saying it was “deeply regrettable” that the end of the current 21-day period of regulations should fall this Thursday, when the Commons will not be sitting. Parliament has been written out of the script.
Walker was the next Conservative speaker. He warned that if a million of Britain’s 5.9 million privately owned businesses go under, “we will unleash a tidal wave of human misery”.
So we need “a frank, open and honest debate about the ethics of trading lives tomorrow to save lives today”.
Steve Baker (Con, Wycombe), speaking by video link, said the rules were necessary, the government had made the right call and people must obey the law.
But he proceeded to argue that the regulations might well be against the law, for does not Blackstone warn against false imprisonment and physical restraint?
How one longed for the House to be full, so one could see whether it regarded Baker as a crank, or as a man who spoke for England.
He protested that “people have been accused of not sweating properly when bicycling”, and such conduct by the police is “absurd and wrong”.
Brady, Walker and Baker voiced the deep misgivings of Conservative MPs, but one could not say they embarrassed the Government.
For in order to be embarrassed, it is necessary to be present, and this Government has instead embraced with fervour the new technique of rule by Downing Street press conference.


Conor Burns resigns

Conor Burns has resigned as trade minister after a report found he had used his parliamentary privilege “ in an attempt to intimidate a member of the public “ .
The MP for Bournemouth West had been trying to resolve a financial dispute on behalf of his father .
In correspondence to the complainant , he wrote on House stationary : “ I am acutely aware that my role in the public eye could well attract interest especially if I were to use parliamentary privilege to raise the case ” .
The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards concluded that “ the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a personal financial situation and was not sent in support of his parliamentary activities ” , and therefore in breach of the rules .
The Committee unanimously accepted the Commissioner ’ s report and considered mitigating factors , such as that : “ Mr Burns had been under a considerable degree of personal stress , and that he had apologised for the Committee.
” But it still found that he had “ persisted in making ill-disguised threats… even after the Commissioner had informed him that this was a serious breach of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should be suspended from service of the House for seven days , and that he should write an apology to the Speaker of the House and to the complainant as the injured party .
On Twitter , Burns wrote that he had made the decision to resign with “ deep regret ” , having been appointed to the role in July last year .
No 10 said Burns would be replaced “ in due course ” .

Conor Burns has resigned as trade minister after a report found he had used his parliamentary privilege “in an attempt to intimidate a member of the public“.
The MP for Bournemouth West had been trying to resolve a financial dispute on behalf of his father. In correspondence to the complainant, he wrote on House stationary: “I am acutely aware that my role in the public eye could well attract interest especially if I were to use parliamentary privilege to raise the case”.
The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards concluded that “the letter to the complainant was concerned solely with a personal financial situation and was not sent in support of his parliamentary activities”, and therefore in breach of the rules.
The Committee unanimously accepted the Commissioner’s report and considered mitigating factors, such as that: “Mr Burns had been under a considerable degree of personal stress, and that he had apologised for the Committee.”
But it still found that he had “persisted in making ill-disguised threats… even after the Commissioner had informed him that this was a serious breach of the rules.”
The Committee recommended that Burns should be suspended from service of the House for seven days, and that he should write an apology to the Speaker of the House and to the complainant as the injured party.
On Twitter, Burns wrote that he had made the decision to resign with “deep regret”, having been appointed to the role in July last year. No 10 said Burns would be replaced “in due course”.


conservativehome--2020-05-05--Andy Street: Our West Midlands recovery plan – and why no one-size-fits-all Whitehall scheme would w

Andy Street: Our West Midlands recovery plan – and why no one-size-fits-all Whitehall scheme would work

Andy Street is Mayor of the West Midlands , and is a former Managing Director of John Lewis .
Across the West Midlands , the human impact of the coronavirus has been deep and painful .
It has left people mourning relatives , friends and neighbours , while separating us from our loved ones .
The number of cases and deaths here has been second only to London .
The last few days have offered some reasons for positivity , from the Prime Minister ’ s assertion that we have “ passed the peak ” of the outbreak , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I write , here in the West Midlands the NHS Nightingale Hospital at the NEC is yet to take a single patient , more than a week after opening – a sure sign that our region ’ s brilliant hospitals are creating the capacity to deal with COVID-19 .
Planning has played a vital role in achieving these milestones .
Now , as our NHS continues to battle the outbreak , we face the daunting task of developing plans to bring the economy out of hibernation .
This is a tremendously difficult subject @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still being lost , but it is vital that we do so .
The Office for Budget Responsibility has predicted a 35 per cent hit to national GDP , with the possibility that the effect on economic growth could be felt for many years .
In the West Midlands , 79 per cent of businesses in the area have seen a drop in their income .
When coronavirus hit , the West Midlands was in a strong economic position .
We had record employment figures and the fastest growth anywhere outside London .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ vulnerable .
Research highlights our dependence on manufacturing and high levels of business tourism , as well as a significant economic contribution from universities , all of which are affected .
Government measures to put large parts of the economy into hibernation – furloughing staff , business rates deferrals , grants and loans – were a vital first step to protect our businesses .
Last week ’ s £600million pledge to support small firms in shared spaces , market traders , charity shops and others was a welcome addition .
Now , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is vital that we learn the lessons of past downturns .
To deal with the 2008 recession , the West Midlands set up taskforces with business , councils , trade unions and politicians putting aside partisan interests .
This is already happening again .
In the West Midlands , we are working together to create a plan which will be specific to our needs .
Recovery needs to be informed by a detailed local knowledge .
There is no ‘ one size fits all ’ model that can be rolled out from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the West Midlands automotive and construction sectors is crucial .
Our cluster of automotive firms directly employs around 46,500 people .
The West Midlands Combined Authority ( WMCA ) , Local Enterprise Partnerships and our seven member boroughs of Birmingham , Coventry , Dudley , Sandwell , Solihull , Walsall and Wolverhampton are drawing up plans that will set out a road map to recovery .
At times like these , public authorities can play a key role in boosting confidence , through their flexible handling of services like education and transport @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this too – just look at the way our supermarkets have evolved to meet the challenges they face .
However , the West Midlands requires targeted efforts to help reboot our most important sectors and support local people as the economy recovers – gear changes that will drive growth .
An Automotive Response Programme would allow vehicle manufacturing and retail to resume in a safe way , while pressing ahead with the infrastructure and Gigafactory required to make the region a global leader in electric transport .
The region ’ s SMEs must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ £1.3 billion fund for new firms , backed by local business accelerators offering advice and training .
A new Clean Growth Innovation Challenge would identify ideas to stimulate the green economy .
Big capital projects – such as stations for HS2 and a central hub for our creative economy – would stimulate growth , along with major transport projects like the expansion of the Metro across the region .
I have urged the Prime Minister to bring forward £4.2 billion of national transport funding , planned for 2022 , while the WMCA is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cleaning up former industrial sites in Coventry and Sandwell ready for housing development .
This ground-breaking Brownfield First policy can be fast-tracked to build 200,000 new homes in the next 10 years on more former industrial sites .
Our universities will also be critical to recovery , collaborating with business to boost productivity through research and development .
Finally , as we compete with the likes of Berlin , Boston and Barcelona , we will need to showcase our region to the world , building international reputation and utilising the Commonwealth Games in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also look at the short , medium and long-term challenges we face .
In the short term , for instance , companies will need help with social distancing measures .
In the medium term , we will need to address how the crisis has impacted on people .
From the youth job market to rural communities and the consequences of enforced isolation , it will only be when lockdown is coming to an end that we really understand how it has impacted on individuals .
We will need employment and re-training schemes for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support for charities , social enterprises , the arts , culture , sport and council services too .
We are a long way from our long-term aims , when there will be fewer restrictions with the virus in retreat .
This will be the stage at which global economic trends that have emerged from the crisis will become apparent – in terms of things like technology and home working .
Those days are far off , and we have a long road ahead to get through this crisis .
The most important task @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restrictions , drive down the infection rate and save lives .
This is how we will defeat the virus .
Up and down the country , we have seen cities , towns and communities draw on local spirit to play their part .
This virus was a challenge we did not expect , which came from the other side of the world .
Our answer must begin at home with local leadership backed by Government support .

Andy Street is Mayor of the West Midlands, and is a former Managing Director of John Lewis.
Across the West Midlands, the human impact of the coronavirus has been deep and painful. It has left people mourning relatives, friends and neighbours, while separating us from our loved ones. The number of cases and deaths here has been second only to London.
The last few days have offered some reasons for positivity, from the Prime Minister’s assertion that we have “passed the peak” of the outbreak, to the huge increase in testing. As I write, here in the West Midlands the NHS Nightingale Hospital at the NEC is yet to take a single patient, more than a week after opening – a sure sign that our region’s brilliant hospitals are creating the capacity to deal with COVID-19.
Planning has played a vital role in achieving these milestones. Now, as our NHS continues to battle the outbreak, we face the daunting task of developing plans to bring the economy out of hibernation. This is a tremendously difficult subject to face while so many lives are still being lost, but it is vital that we do so.
The Office for Budget Responsibility has predicted a 35 per cent hit to national GDP, with the possibility that the effect on economic growth could be felt for many years. In the West Midlands, 79 per cent of businesses in the area have seen a drop in their income.
When coronavirus hit, the West Midlands was in a strong economic position. We had record employment figures and the fastest growth anywhere outside London. However, our economic mix leaves us vulnerable. Research highlights our dependence on manufacturing and high levels of business tourism, as well as a significant economic contribution from universities, all of which are affected.
Government measures to put large parts of the economy into hibernation – furloughing staff, business rates deferrals, grants and loans – were a vital first step to protect our businesses. Last week’s £600million pledge to support small firms in shared spaces, market traders, charity shops and others was a welcome addition.
Now, as we draw up future economic plans, it is vital that we learn the lessons of past downturns. To deal with the 2008 recession, the West Midlands set up taskforces with business, councils, trade unions and politicians putting aside partisan interests. This is already happening again.
In the West Midlands, we are working together to create a plan which will be specific to our needs. Recovery needs to be informed by a detailed local knowledge. There is no ‘one size fits all’ model that can be rolled out from Whitehall.
For instance, the recovery of the West Midlands automotive and construction sectors is crucial. Our cluster of automotive firms directly employs around 46,500 people.
The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), Local Enterprise Partnerships and our seven member boroughs of Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton are drawing up plans that will set out a road map to recovery. At times like these, public authorities can play a key role in boosting confidence, through their flexible handling of services like education and transport. Business has shown it can do this too – just look at the way our supermarkets have evolved to meet the challenges they face.
However, the West Midlands requires targeted efforts to help reboot our most important sectors and support local people as the economy recovers – gear changes that will drive growth.
An Automotive Response Programme would allow vehicle manufacturing and retail to resume in a safe way, while pressing ahead with the infrastructure and Gigafactory required to make the region a global leader in electric transport.
The region’s SMEs must be supported through the Government’s £1.3 billion fund for new firms, backed by local business accelerators offering advice and training. A new Clean Growth Innovation Challenge would identify ideas to stimulate the green economy.
Big capital projects – such as stations for HS2 and a central hub for our creative economy – would stimulate growth, along with major transport projects like the expansion of the Metro across the region. I have urged the Prime Minister to bring forward £4.2 billion of national transport funding, planned for 2022, while the WMCA is pressing ahead with major projects, including cleaning up former industrial sites in Coventry and Sandwell ready for housing development.
This ground-breaking Brownfield First policy can be fast-tracked to build 200,000 new homes in the next 10 years on more former industrial sites. Our universities will also be critical to recovery, collaborating with business to boost productivity through research and development.
Finally, as we compete with the likes of Berlin, Boston and Barcelona, we will need to showcase our region to the world, building international reputation and utilising the Commonwealth Games in 2022.
Our region’s plans also look at the short, medium and long-term challenges we face. In the short term, for instance, companies will need help with social distancing measures.
In the medium term, we will need to address how the crisis has impacted on people. From the youth job market to rural communities and the consequences of enforced isolation, it will only be when lockdown is coming to an end that we really understand how it has impacted on individuals.
We will need employment and re-training schemes for those who lost their jobs, and support for charities, social enterprises, the arts, culture, sport and council services too.
We are a long way from our long-term aims, when there will be fewer restrictions with the virus in retreat. This will be the stage at which global economic trends that have emerged from the crisis will become apparent – in terms of things like technology and home working.
Those days are far off, and we have a long road ahead to get through this crisis. The most important task at hand remains to respect the lockdown restrictions, drive down the infection rate and save lives. This is how we will defeat the virus. Up and down the country, we have seen cities, towns and communities draw on local spirit to play their part.
This virus was a challenge we did not expect, which came from the other side of the world. Our answer must begin at home with local leadership backed by Government support.


conservativehome--2020-05-05--Our survey. Is the Cabinet, which must wrestle with the Coronavirus, fit for purpose?

An idea is occasionally worth testing with the panel to see where it gets to .
Here ’ s an example .
• Ministers are appointed on the basis of compliance , not talent ; • None “ An A-team of Brexiteers and Remainers is needed to steer UK away from the rocks ” ( though not immediately ) .
“ Tick-tock , tick-tock !
Act soon Boris !
” • “ I ’ ve rarely had so much feedback from Tory MPs to a Tweet but my concern at the > > unnecessary < < weakness of the Government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seems to be widely shared… So what ’ s our panel members ’ view of the Cabinet ?
We asked – • Whether they believe that it is of sufficient quality to govern adequately at the least , and is fit for purpose .
• Which Conservative MPs who aren ’ t in the Cabinet they ’ d like to see appointed to it .
• 81 per cent of respondents , some four in five , think the Cabinet is adequate at least , and basically fit for purpose – not a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Which brings us to which Tory MPs panel members would like to see promoted to the top table .
There were two potential ways of asking for names .
• Presenting a list of our own and asking members to select from it , which would have left us open to the accusation of puffing our favourites .
• Letting members decide for themselves , which would incur the charge of name recall – i.e : that respondents are simply citing the MPs they remember .
The second route seemed to us to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At any rate , here are the top ten Conservative MPs favoured in replies as first choice for a Cabinet seat .
If we knocked out from the bottom of our last Cabinet League Table , excluding the three territorial Ministers , these would replace : There now follows a disparate series of points , some of which favour Tim ’ s thesis , and others which don ’ t .
• Cards on the table .
Our own take is that Tim is right to argue that compliance was a significant factor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
To take just one example : the real Party Chairman is Ben Elliot , who is the Andrew Feldman tradition of being an extension of the Party leader , rather than a Ken Baker or Chris Patten or Eric Pickles figure , who is of independent standing .
• But if panel members think this is true , most don ’ t seem to be bothered .
Perhaps the Union Jack Effect explains the rallying-round represented by that four in five margin of support .
Or maybe they ’ re simply content @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in December haven ’ t worn off yet , despite the Coronavirus .
• We ’ ll publish our monthly Cabinet League Table later this week , and don ’ t want to reveal the results now .
But without giving any great secrets away we can say that there ’ s little evidence of dissatisfaction , particularly with Boris Johnson , Dominic Raab , Rishi Sunak , Priti Patel , Michael Gove , Matt Hancock and Jacob Rees-Mogg .
• And look at the number of votes cast for prospective members .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the poll , won 91 votes .
That ’ s out of 869 replies .
From a total of 1274 survey returns .
Which means 405 respondents didn ’ t think the question was worth answering .
We think that the Cabinet would be stronger for having Hunt in it , but 91 votes out of 1274 returns isn ’ t a large share .
Some of the lower ones barely scrape double figures .
• Were the ten names put up by our panel members appointed to the top table , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Cabinet would be greyer , older , more experienced , more male and arguably more right-wing .
The panel has a preference for military men – or at least men associated with the military – and a single military-style woman : Mordaunt .
• Either our panel members are unwilling to recognise the merits of female Tory MPs , or those that they might name for promotion simply aren ’ t up to the job .
Which is it : an unyielding prejudice problem among some party members , or a persistent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Conservative women ?
Which just won ’ t go away – the former or the latter ?
• Tim ’ s original tweet was sparked by one from Andrew Neil , which itself was provoked by Piers Morgan monstering Victoria Atkins on GMTV .
But should the ability of Ministers to cope with showbusiness interviewers be the test of their capacity ?
Is thinking so a bit of a Westminster Village Test ?
Or is standing up to an aggressive interviewer essential ?
• Crises tend either to kill Ministers or make them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a relatively inexperienced Cabinet member , whose only previous experience round the top table was at Digital , Culture , Media and Sport – a relative backwater .
By the time the Coronavirus abates he will have been through a governing experience almost as intense as any in wartime .
The same will apply to less public-facing Ministers , such as Alok Sharma .

An idea is occasionally worth testing with the panel to see where it gets to. Here’s an example.
Tim Montgomerie recently tweeted that –
Ministers are appointed on the basis of compliance, not talent;
“An A-team of Brexiteers and Remainers is needed to steer UK away from the rocks” (though not immediately). “Tick-tock, tick-tock! Act soon Boris!”
“I’ve rarely had so much feedback from Tory MPs to a Tweet but my concern at the >>unnecessary<< weakness of the Government frontbench and of the Number Ten operation seems to be widely shared…
So what’s our panel members’ view of the Cabinet? We asked –
Whether they believe that it is of sufficient quality to govern adequately at the least, and is fit for purpose.
Which Conservative MPs who aren’t in the Cabinet they’d like to see appointed to it.
So, in order:
81 per cent of respondents, some four in five, think the Cabinet is adequate at least, and basically fit for purpose – not a high bar, you may think.
Which brings us to which Tory MPs panel members would like to see promoted to the top table.
There were two potential ways of asking for names.
Presenting a list of our own and asking members to select from it, which would have left us open to the accusation of puffing our favourites.
Letting members decide for themselves, which would incur the charge of name recall – i.e: that respondents are simply citing the MPs they remember.
The second route seemed to us to be the lesser of two evils. At any rate, here are the top ten Conservative MPs favoured in replies as first choice for a Cabinet seat.
Jeremy Hunt – 91 votes.
Steve Baker – 66.
John Redwood – 55.
Iain Duncan Smith – 49.
Penny Mordaunt – 37.
Tom Tugendhat – 30.
Johnny Mercer – 25.
Sajid Javid – 22.
David Davis – 16
Owen Paterson – 13.
If we knocked out from the bottom of our last Cabinet League Table, excluding the three territorial Ministers, these would replace:
Amanda Milling.
Anne-Marie Trevelyan.
Oliver Dowden.
Mark Spencer.
Therese Coffey.
Gavin Williamson.
Alok Sharma.
George Eustice.
Ben Wallace.
Robert Buckland.
There now follows a disparate series of points, some of which favour Tim’s thesis, and others which don’t.


conservativehome--2020-05-05--Calling Conservatives: New public appointments announced. Trustee of the British Council – and more


conservativehome--2020-05-05--Andrew Gimson’s Commons sketch: Remote MPs cannot make their presence felt, so cannot hold ministers


Coronavirus Count

UK cumulative total of lab-confirmed cases : 190,584 ( Up from 186,599 ) .
UK cumulative total of COVID-19 associated UK deaths in hospital : 28,734 ( Up from 28,446 ) .
Latest daily number of lab-confirmed UK cases : 3,985 ( Down from 4,339 ) .
Latest daily number of COVID-19 associated UK deaths in hospital : 288 ( Down from 315 ) .
From the Government ’ s website Number of coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) cases and risk in the UK .
DAILY NUMBER OF COVID-19 ASSOCIATED DEATHS BY DATE REPORTED From the Government ’ s website Number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk in the UK .
Wednesday April 29th note : Dominic Raab told today ’ s Government press conference that “ we are moving to an improved daily reporting system for deaths , so that deaths in all settings are included , wherever the individual has tested positive for COVID-19 , rather than just those in hospitals ” “ The risk to the UK has been raised to high ” – From the Government ’ s website Number of coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) cases and risk in the UK .
GOVERNMENT RULES ON @ @ @ @ @ @ @ See here .
Published on Monday March 23 .
GUIDANCE : FURTHER BUSINESSES AND PREMISES TO CLOSE See here .
Published on Monday March 23 .
HOW EVERYONE CAN HELP STOP THE CORONAVIRUS ( SOCIAL DISTANCING ) See here .
Republished on Monday March 23 .
STAY AT HOME IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE CORONAVIRUS ( SELF-DISTANCING ) See here .
Republished on Monday March 23 .
See here .
Published on Monday March 23 .
GOVERNMENT GUIDANCE FOR WORKERS ON WHAT AND HOW THEY CAN CLAIM See here .
Published on Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , TENANTS AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES NEW See here .
Published on Saturday March 28 .
GOVERNMENT GUIDANCE ON WHAT THE CORONAVIRUS BILL WILL DO See here .
Published on Wednesday March 18 HOW TO AVOID CATCHING OR SPREADING CORONAVIRUS • Wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds .
• Always wash your hands when you get home or into work .
• Use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available .
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when you cough or sneeze .
• Put used tissues in the bin straight away and wash your hands afterwards .
• Try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell .
The symptoms of coronavirus are : However , these symptoms do not necessarily mean you have the illness .
The symptoms are similar to other illnesses that are much more common , such as cold and flu .
NHS 111 has an online coronavirus service that can tell you if you need medical help and advise you what to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You think you might have coronavirus .
• In the last 14 days you ’ ve been to a country or area with a high risk of coronavirus – see the coronavirus advice for travellers .
• You ’ ve been in close contact with someone with coronavirus .
• In Scotland call your GP or NHS 24 on 111 out of hours .
• In Wales call 111 ( if available in your area ) or 0845 46 47 .
• Do not go to a GP surgery , pharmacy or hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how it ’ s spread and how to avoid catching it – Government NHS website overview .
• Stay at home advice and how to manage self-isolation .
( All information taken from Government sources .
Updated as of 7.00 on Tuesday May 5th . )

HEADLINE FACTS
Total number of lab-confirmed UK cases: 292,950 (Up from 291,409).
Total number of COVID-19 associated UK deaths: 41,481 (Up from 41,279).
Daily number of lab-confirmed UK cases: 1,541 (Up from 1,266).
Daily number of COVID-19 associated UK deaths: 202 (Up from 151).
England total cases: 156,410 (Up from 156,018 ).
England total deaths: 37,069 (Up from 36,883).
England death rate: 279.4 (Was 278.7).
Scotland total cases: 15,709 (Up from 15,682).
Scotland total deaths: 2,439 (Up from 2,434).
Scotland death rate: 288.9 (Was 288.4).
Wales total cases: 14,658 (Up from 14,581).
Wales total deaths: 1,435 (Up from 1,425).
Wales death rate: 467.0 (Was 464.6)
Northern Ireland total cases: 4,838 (Up from 4,822)
Northern Ireland total deaths: 538 (Up from 537).
Northern Ireland death rate: 257.1 (Was 256.3).
From the Government’s website Number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and risk in the UK.
DAILY NUMBER OF COVID-19 ASSOCIATED DEATHS BY DATE REPORTED
DAILY NUMBER OF LAB-CONFIRMED ENGLAND CASES
From the Government’s website Number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and risk in the UK.
– – –
RISK
“The risk to the UK has been raised to high” –
From the Government’s website Number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and risk in the UK.
– – –
NHS VOLUNTEER RESPONDER FORM
See here
(The Government’s scheme to recruit 250,000 volunteers.)
– – –
OUR PLAN TO REBUILD: THE UK GOVERNMENT’S COVID-19 RECOVERY STRATEGY
See here. New as of Monday May 11.
GOVERNMENT GUIDANCE ON THE LOCKDOWN.
See here. New as of Tuesday June 2.
GOVERNMENT GUIDANCE ON SHIELDING AND PROTECTING PEOPLE WHO ARE CLINICALLY EXTREMELY VULNERABLE FROM COVID-19
See here. New as of Tuesday June 2.
GOVERNMENT GUIDANCE ON SOCIAL DISTANCING
See here. New as of Tuesday June 2.
GOVERNMENT WEBSITE: GENERAL ADVICE
See here.
GOVERNMENT WEBSITE: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS. WHAT YOU CAN DO AND CAN’T DO
See here.
GOVERNMENT GUIDANCE FOR LANDLORDS, TENANTS AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES NEW
See here. Published on Saturday March 28.
– – –
HOW TO AVOID CATCHING OR SPREADING CORONAVIRUS
Wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds .
Always wash your hands when you get home or into work .
Use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available .
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze .
Put used tissues in the bin straight away and wash your hands afterwards .
Try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell.
SYMPTOMS
The symptoms of coronavirus are:
A cough.
A high temperature.
Shortness of breath.
However, these symptoms do not necessarily mean you have the illness.
The symptoms are similar to other illnesses that are much more common, such as cold and flu.
USING 111
NHS 111 has an online coronavirus service that can tell you if you need medical help and advise you what to do.
Use this service if:
You think you might have coronavirus.
In the last 14 days you’ve been to a country or area with a high risk of coronavirus – see the coronavirus advice for travellers.
You’ve been in close contact with someone with coronavirus.
In Scotland call your GP or NHS 24 on 111 out of hours.
In Wales call 111 (if available in your area) or 0845 46 47.
In Northern Ireland call 111.
Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.
FURTHER LINKS TO GOVERNMENT ADVICE
– – –
(All information taken from Government sources.
Updated as of 19.00 on Friday June 12.)


conservativehome--2020-05-05--The Moggcast. “If people hadn’t decided they wanted a lockdown, there wouldn’t have been one.”

The Moggcast .
“ If people hadn ’ t decided they wanted a lockdown , there wouldn ’ t have @ @ @ @

You can also listen and subscribe to the Moggcast on iTunes , through our YouTube channel , or through the RSS feed here , as well as on Spotify, Alexa and via numerous leading podcast services.


conservativehome--2020-05-05--David Pugh: After the crisis, we need to continue with flexible planning policies to boost economic

David Pugh: After the crisis, we need to continue with flexible planning policies to boost economic recovery

David Pugh is the Planning & Development Director for Facultas Associates , a public affairs consultancy – and a former leader of the Isle of Wight Council .
Up and down the country , local authorities are playing a leading role in supporting households , businesses , and community organisations as they seek to navigate the unprecedented times we face .
Upper-tier authorities are also overseeing the delivery of vital frontline services such as social care and public health , and all councils are partners in county-wide local resilience forums , which have a key co-ordinating role as the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Isle of Wight Council – has , amongst other things , set up a dedicated helpline for vulnerable residents and allocated its own resources to support third sector organisations and parish councils in providing grassroots support to households across the Island .
The Government is rightly taking a cautious approach , not least as it is keen to avoid a second wave of the pandemic .
But the current measures will be eased , and we will see a gradual return to some form of normality .
And when it does happen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in economic growth .
The co-operation of councils will be critical .
With over 300 local planning authorities ( LPAs ) in England alone , each one of these councils is well placed to use its development management functions to facilitate growth at a local level .
Businesses should be supported – where possible – in any plans that will help secure the future of existing industry and jobs , and also where growth and additional employment is proposed .
England ’ s Chief Planner said recently that local authorities should “ prioritise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to function , especially where this will support the local economy ” .
Thanks to new powers handed to councils last month , public decision-making ( by elected members ) can now take place remotely – and this includes meetings of planning committees to determine applications for development .
A live tracker published by planning consultancy Lichfields – in partnership with the Government-backed Planning Advisory Service ( PAS ) – shows how individual councils are adapting to ensure that development management functions continue .
So how might this look in practice , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Firstly , lead members must ensure that systems are put in place to ensure that planning committees can meet virtually – with minimal delay to regular schedules .
PAS ( using the resources of the Local Government Association ( LGA ) ) has provided guidance and best practice to help councils get these systems up and running as quickly as possible .
The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea hosted England ’ s first fully virtual planning committee on 9th April , and there is no reason why this can not be swiftly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lead members for planning should ask officers to identify which live applications could broadly be defined as supporting the local economy , and then prioritise the resolution of any outstanding issues , with a view to approving under delegated powers or – if necessary – recommending approval to a planning committee meeting in the near future .
If there are details which still need to be finessed , these can – where possible – be subject to conditions and / or a legal agreement which would then be finalised prior to implementation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the LPA is enabling the development , and will work pro-actively with the applicant to ensure it can go ahead .
It may , of course , be that the applicant isn ’ t yet ( because of supply and construction restrictions , if not finance issues ) in a position to implement the consent – but having a decision notice will at least allow them to start preparing for when they are .
Thirdly , councils should look at schemes which have been subject to pre-application discussions in the past year and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the proposals – encourage applications to be submitted in the near future , with a view to progressing such plans to a decision in the coming months , to enable development to take place once the lockdown is eased or lifted .
Fourthly , planning departments should consider whether applications which are “ departures ” from the agreed Local Development Plan should be approved .
Such proposals , by their very nature , run partially or wholly contrary to the planning policy framework , but councils do have the discretion – where it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ departures .
For instance , this could be to allow a scheme which is for economic development in a location which is not allocated for such a purpose , and / or on a scale which might be considered to be out of keeping .
In addition , councils may wish to consider whether “ very special circumstances ” exist which outweigh any perceived harm to the Green Belt , or similar such designations .
Of course , such considerations must still be made entirely within the parameters of the quasi-judicial planning process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from recognising that the current unprecedented circumstances provide a context which could reasonably justify a bolder-than-usual approach .
It is essential that the potential concerns of the immediate locality are taken into account when considering such development proposals .
Town halls are now taking a revised approach to community consultation to ensure this continues to happen .
Finally , both planning authorities and the Government may need to look afresh at what local and national planning policies respectively are in place as we emerge from the pandemic .
It is difficult to see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the current crisis without radical change ; just as those of us living in destination parts of the country recognise that it will be difficult for many visitor accommodation owners to continue trading as they were .
In short , we may need to look at how existing commercial premises are given the opportunity to convert to residential ( or flexible mixed uses ) much more easily than they currently can .
What is needed is decisive political leadership locally , backed up by reforms from the Ministry of Housing , Communities & @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LPAs to use the planning system to drive economic growth .
The Government could accelerate its forthcoming Planning White Paper – and the resulting reforms – to start making interim changes ( that respond to the challenges arising from the pandemic ) in the coming weeks and months .
This could , for instance , include giving discretion to LPAs to reduce or waive planning fees for applications that relate to economic development , subject to implementation timescales being imposed with any permission granted .
MHCLG also needs to make sure that any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Planning Casework Unit – for potential call-in by the Secretary of State – are handled swiftly , with a continued strong presumption in favour of local decision-making , thereby allowing councils to proceed to issue consent .
Local government can rise to the challenge and became a key enabler for post-pandemic economic growth .
There may not yet be the business confidence – or even the ability – to proceed with implementing planning permission , but councils can use their powers to ensure that developers and investors are able to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We are already seeing many examples of best practice in local authorities across the country , including in the use of their development management functions .
It is now time for the political leadership of all councils – with the backing of Ministers – to harness the power of planning in the weeks and months ahead .

David Pugh is the Planning & Development Director for Facultas Associates, a public affairs consultancy – and a former leader of the Isle of Wight Council.
Up and down the country, local authorities are playing a leading role in supporting households, businesses, and community organisations as they seek to navigate the unprecedented times we face. Upper-tier authorities are also overseeing the delivery of vital frontline services such as social care and public health, and all councils are partners in county-wide local resilience forums, which have a key co-ordinating role as the pandemic continues.
My own local authority – the Isle of Wight Council – has, amongst other things, set up a dedicated helpline for vulnerable residents and allocated its own resources to support third sector organisations and parish councils in providing grassroots support to households across the Island.
The Government is rightly taking a cautious approach, not least as it is keen to avoid a second wave of the pandemic. But the current measures will be eased, and we will see a gradual return to some form of normality. And when it does happen, we can expect a bounce back in economic growth. The co-operation of councils will be critical.
With over 300 local planning authorities (LPAs) in England alone, each one of these councils is well placed to use its development management functions to facilitate growth at a local level. Businesses should be supported – where possible – in any plans that will help secure the future of existing industry and jobs, and also where growth and additional employment is proposed.
England’s Chief Planner said recently that local authorities should “prioritise decision-making to ensure the planning system continues to function, especially where this will support the local economy”. Thanks to new powers handed to councils last month, public decision-making (by elected members) can now take place remotely – and this includes meetings of planning committees to determine applications for development. A live tracker published by planning consultancy Lichfields – in partnership with the Government-backed Planning Advisory Service (PAS) – shows how individual councils are adapting to ensure that development management functions continue.
So how might this look in practice, and what role can local politicians play?
Firstly, lead members must ensure that systems are put in place to ensure that planning committees can meet virtually – with minimal delay to regular schedules. PAS (using the resources of the Local Government Association (LGA)) has provided guidance and best practice to help councils get these systems up and running as quickly as possible. The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea hosted England’s first fully virtual planning committee on 9th April, and there is no reason why this cannot be swiftly replicated across the country.
Secondly, lead members for planning should ask officers to identify which live applications could broadly be defined as supporting the local economy, and then prioritise the resolution of any outstanding issues, with a view to approving under delegated powers or – if necessary – recommending approval to a planning committee meeting in the near future. If there are details which still need to be finessed, these can – where possible – be subject to conditions and / or a legal agreement which would then be finalised prior to implementation. The key thing is to signal that the LPA is enabling the development, and will work pro-actively with the applicant to ensure it can go ahead. It may, of course, be that the applicant isn’t yet (because of supply and construction restrictions, if not finance issues) in a position to implement the consent – but having a decision notice will at least allow them to start preparing for when they are.
Thirdly, councils should look at schemes which have been subject to pre-application discussions in the past year and – subject to the broad acceptability of the proposals – encourage applications to be submitted in the near future, with a view to progressing such plans to a decision in the coming months, to enable development to take place once the lockdown is eased or lifted.
Fourthly, planning departments should consider whether applications which are “departures” from the agreed Local Development Plan should be approved. Such proposals, by their very nature, run partially or wholly contrary to the planning policy framework, but councils do have the discretion – where it can be justified – to make such departures. For instance, this could be to allow a scheme which is for economic development in a location which is not allocated for such a purpose, and / or on a scale which might be considered to be out of keeping. In addition, councils may wish to consider whether “very special circumstances” exist which outweigh any perceived harm to the Green Belt, or similar such designations. Of course, such considerations must still be made entirely within the parameters of the quasi-judicial planning process, but councils should not shy away from recognising that the current unprecedented circumstances provide a context which could reasonably justify a bolder-than-usual approach.
It is essential that the potential concerns of the immediate locality are taken into account when considering such development proposals. Town halls are now taking a revised approach to community consultation to ensure this continues to happen.
Finally, both planning authorities and the Government may need to look afresh at what local and national planning policies respectively are in place as we emerge from the pandemic. It is difficult to see how the high street can recover from the current crisis without radical change; just as those of us living in destination parts of the country recognise that it will be difficult for many visitor accommodation owners to continue trading as they were. In short, we may need to look at how existing commercial premises are given the opportunity to convert to residential (or flexible mixed uses) much more easily than they currently can.
What is needed is decisive political leadership locally, backed up by reforms from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) to empower LPAs to use the planning system to drive economic growth. The Government could accelerate its forthcoming Planning White Paper – and the resulting reforms – to start making interim changes (that respond to the challenges arising from the pandemic) in the coming weeks and months.
This could, for instance, include giving discretion to LPAs to reduce or waive planning fees for applications that relate to economic development, subject to implementation timescales being imposed with any permission granted. MHCLG also needs to make sure that any proposed decisions that are referred to Whitehall’s Planning Casework Unit – for potential call-in by the Secretary of State – are handled swiftly, with a continued strong presumption in favour of local decision-making, thereby allowing councils to proceed to issue consent.
Local government can rise to the challenge and became a key enabler for post-pandemic economic growth. There may not yet be the business confidence – or even the ability – to proceed with implementing planning permission, but councils can use their powers to ensure that developers and investors are able to do so once the lockdown is eased. We are already seeing many examples of best practice in local authorities across the country, including in the use of their development management functions. It is now time for the political leadership of all councils – with the backing of Ministers – to harness the power of planning in the weeks and months ahead.


conservativehome--2020-05-04--Howard Flight: There’s reason to believe that the recovery will proceed better and accelerate faster

Howard Flight: There’s reason to believe that the recovery will proceed better and accelerate faster than many anticipate

Lord Flight is Chairman of Flight & Partners Recovery Fund , and is a former Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury .
It looks as though we have just about passed the worst in terms of new cases and daily deaths , which will lead , inevitably , to assessing and assisting the country ’ s economic outlook .
My expectation is that we will start to ease the lockdown gently in early May .
The ability to get back to the favourable economic conditions of six months ago is not yet possible , because a significant number of people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can not afford to turn on the spending tap .
Notwithstanding , the Government should urge people to increase their consumption to help get the economy going .
Time will tell , but it looks as if we are fortunate in having a particularly able and bold Chancellor of the Exchequer who has devised and put in place key new financial institutions to help sustain economic recovery .
The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme ( CBILS ) is there as the corporate lender of last resort .
So far , the banks have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ particularly by smaller companies , by requiring personal guarantees and wholly profitable track records , and also by being unwilling to lend where companies have obtained Enterprise Investment Scheme funding .
I expect the Government to have some success in getting the banks to be more cooperative here , but that CBILS will mostly be used by more established businesses .
The CoronaVirus Job Retention Scheme has been dramatically more successful in making available furlough finance equal to 80 per cent of earnings up to £2500 per month .
More directly , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ package for the self-employed , again equal to 80 per cent of earnings up to £2500 per month .
The Chancellor ’ s latest initiative is the establishment of a Future Fund , together with an expansion of the role of Innovate UK , to provide a total £1 billion stimulus package for SMEs/Start Ups .
This is a key territory , where the UK has been markedly successful recently .
£10.1 billion was invested last year into UK tech unicorns alone – with the UK being the third largest tech investor after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the Future Fund will operate on an investment matching basis , whereby the Government will commit initially up to £250 million in total funding for investments of between £125,000 and £5 million , alongside Venture Investors/Funds which agree to match the Government ’ s funding with their own private capital .
It is not entirely clear who will be ultimately responsible for the investment decisions .
The Government ’ s portion of the funding will be provided in exchange for the issue in convertible loan notes .
It looks as if and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the investment decisions will be made by the managers of the Future Fund , and not by government .
There are several practical points yet to be resolved whereby the Government intends the window for applications to run until the end of September .
The very positive Keynesian stance of the Chancellor gives me greater optimism that , once recovery starts in the summer , it may proceed and accelerate better than many currently anticipate .
In releasing functions and activities from lockdown , clearly the initial wave will focus on areas where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the relevant activities .
The Government might also learn its lesson from and copy Germany in this area .
Furthermore , if it looks as if inoculation could be developing speedily available on a major scale by the end of the year .
This will surely be positive for economic confidence .
But , like Asia , we would be wise to be organised to contain aggressively any new virus outbreaks which might occur .
The initial freeing-up is likely to apply to no more than 25 per cent of lockdown activities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of being able to have nationwide testing and tracking of new cases which may arise .
At best , it is likely to take 12 months to get back to conditions to be seen as reasonably normally , which in many areas and particularly retail will operate very differently compared to two years ago .
Here , the Government needs to use capitalism to hasten the adaption to changes .
The first phase of lockdown easing is likely to concentrate on areas not subject to mass participation , e.g .
small shops ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parks ; private car usage and family visits .
There will be pressure to open schools sooner rather than later , where relatively few cases will give justification here .
The sort of areas likely to be the last to be freed up are large department stores , cinema ’ s , concerts and church services including weddings .
The pundits have put the UK ’ s lost output at 15 per cent to 30 per cent of GDP : personally , I anticipate it to be less and closer to 10 per @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first economic objective will be to restore consumption , wherever possible and to make sure there is the necessary funding to finance large and small transactions .
Ongoing economic policy will need us to live with the debt that has been created , and to rely on future economic growth to effect the relative reduction needed in the country ’ s real level of debt .

Lord Flight is Chairman of Flight & Partners Recovery Fund, and is a former Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury.
It looks as though we have just about passed the worst in terms of new cases and daily deaths, which will lead, inevitably, to assessing and assisting the country’s economic outlook. My expectation is that we will start to ease the lockdown gently in early May.
The ability to get back to the favourable economic conditions of six months ago is not yet possible, because a significant number of people will have lost their jobs/income and simply cannot afford to turn on the spending tap.
Notwithstanding, the Government should urge people to increase their consumption to help get the economy going.
Time will tell, but it looks as if we are fortunate in having a particularly able and bold Chancellor of the Exchequer who has devised and put in place key new financial institutions to help sustain economic recovery.
The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) is there as the corporate lender of last resort. So far, the banks have frustrated the use of CBILS funds, particularly by smaller companies, by requiring personal guarantees and wholly profitable track records, and also by being unwilling to lend where companies have obtained Enterprise Investment Scheme funding. I expect the Government to have some success in getting the banks to be more cooperative here, but that CBILS will mostly be used by more established businesses.
The CoronaVirus Job Retention Scheme has been dramatically more successful in making available furlough finance equal to 80 per cent of earnings up to £2500 per month. More directly, the Chancellor has provided a £9 billion rescue package for the self-employed, again equal to 80 per cent of earnings up to £2500 per month.
The Chancellor’s latest initiative is the establishment of a Future Fund, together with an expansion of the role of Innovate UK, to provide a total £1 billion stimulus package for SMEs/Start Ups. This is a key territory, where the UK has been markedly successful recently. £10.1 billion was invested last year into UK tech unicorns alone – with the UK being the third largest tech investor after China and America.
It is intended that the Future Fund will operate on an investment matching basis, whereby the Government will commit initially up to £250 million in total funding for investments of between £125,000 and £5 million, alongside Venture Investors/Funds which agree to match the Government’s funding with their own private capital.
It is not entirely clear who will be ultimately responsible for the investment decisions. The Government’s portion of the funding will be provided in exchange for the issue in convertible loan notes. It looks as if and it needs to be the case that the investment decisions will be made by the managers of the Future Fund ,and not by government. There are several practical points yet to be resolved whereby the Government intends the window for applications to run until the end of September.
The very positive Keynesian stance of the Chancellor gives me greater optimism that, once recovery starts in the summer, it may proceed and accelerate better than many currently anticipate. In releasing functions and activities from lockdown, clearly the initial wave will focus on areas where there is no density of individuals involved in the relevant activities.
The Government might also learn its lesson from and copy Germany in this area. Furthermore, if it looks as if inoculation could be developing speedily available on a major scale by the end of the year. This will surely be positive for economic confidence. But, like Asia, we would be wise to be organised to contain aggressively any new virus outbreaks which might occur.
The initial freeing-up is likely to apply to no more than 25 per cent of lockdown activities, and this will need the prerequisite of being able to have nationwide testing and tracking of new cases which may arise. At best, it is likely to take 12 months to get back to conditions to be seen as reasonably normally, which in many areas and particularly retail will operate very differently compared to two years ago. Here, the Government needs to use capitalism to hasten the adaption to changes.
The first phase of lockdown easing is likely to concentrate on areas not subject to mass participation, e.g. small shops; hairdressers; garden centres; walking in parks; private car usage and family visits. There will be pressure to open schools sooner rather than later, where relatively few cases will give justification here. The sort of areas likely to be the last to be freed up are large department stores, cinema’s, concerts and church services including weddings.
The pundits have put the UK’s lost output at 15 per cent to 30 per cent of GDP: personally, I anticipate it to be less and closer to 10 per cent to 15 per cent.
The first economic objective will be to restore consumption, wherever possible and to make sure there is the necessary funding to finance large and small transactions. Ongoing economic policy will need us to live with the debt that has been created, and to rely on future economic growth to effect the relative reduction needed in the country’s real level of debt.


conservativehome--2020-05-06--Sunak continues to soar in our latest Cabinet League Table

We ’ re another month into the Covid-19 crisis , and with no end in sight .
So as the Prime Minister gears up for his first PMQs against Sir Keir Starmer today , how are the Cabinet ’ s ratings holding up ?
• It ’ s another exceptional month for the Chancellor , who drops fewer than two points and remains above +93 .
Of course our survey predated this morning ’ s news about ‘ weaning ’ the nation off furlough – will he be able to stick the landing ?
• The Prime Minister is still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only Cabinet member besides Sunak to have a score north of 80 .
But he ’ s lost six points , almost doubling the gap between himself and the Chancellor .
• The Foreign Secretary , by contrast , sees another small increase in his net favourable rating which sees him back in medal position – the membership clearly thinks he acquitted himself respectably when deputising for the Prime Minister .
• Last month saw the Health Secretary rocket up the rankings with a month-on-month increase of more than 20 points .
Yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a still-respectable +75 , and fifth place .
Did the testing story damage him ?
• Another to see a substantial fall in her ratings was the Home Secretary , who slips 16 points from the mid-70s to the high 50s .
She has faced criticisms for keeping too low a profile , and for ‘ stumbling ’ over case figures at a press conference .
• None Overall , ratings are somewhat down .
This may be the unwinding of the ‘ rally round the flag ’ effect which saw an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month .

We’re another month into the Covid-19 crisis, and with no end in sight. So as the Prime Minister gears up for his first PMQs against Sir Keir Starmer today, how are the Cabinet’s ratings holding up?
Sunak still soaring. It’s another exceptional month for the Chancellor, who drops fewer than two points and remains above +93. Of course our survey predated this morning’s news about ‘weaning’ the nation off furlough – will he be able to stick the landing?
It’s another exceptional month for the Chancellor, who drops fewer than two points and remains above +93. Of course our survey predated this morning’s news about ‘weaning’ the nation off furlough – will he be able to stick the landing? Johnson slips a little. The Prime Minister is still in second place, and is the only Cabinet member besides Sunak to have a score north of 80. But he’s lost six points, almost doubling the gap between himself and the Chancellor.
The Prime Minister is still in second place, and is the only Cabinet member besides Sunak to have a score north of 80. But he’s lost six points, almost doubling the gap between himself and the Chancellor. Raab rises. The Foreign Secretary, by contrast, sees another small increase in his net favourable rating which sees him back in medal position – the membership clearly thinks he acquitted himself respectably when deputising for the Prime Minister.
The Foreign Secretary, by contrast, sees another small increase in his net favourable rating which sees him back in medal position – the membership clearly thinks he acquitted himself respectably when deputising for the Prime Minister. Hancock falls back… Last month saw the Health Secretary rocket up the rankings with a month-on-month increase of more than 20 points. Yet this month he slips back 13, to a still-respectable +75, and fifth place. Did the testing story damage him?
Last month saw the Health Secretary rocket up the rankings with a month-on-month increase of more than 20 points. Yet this month he slips back 13, to a still-respectable +75, and fifth place. Did the testing story damage him? …an so does Patel. Another to see a substantial fall in her ratings was the Home Secretary, who slips 16 points from the mid-70s to the high 50s. She has faced criticisms for keeping too low a profile, and for ‘stumbling’ over case figures at a press conference.
Another to see a substantial fall in her ratings was the Home Secretary, who slips 16 points from the mid-70s to the high 50s. She has faced criticisms for keeping too low a profile, and for ‘stumbling’ over case figures at a press conference. Overall, ratings are somewhat down. This may be the unwinding of the ‘rally round the flag’ effect which saw an overall increase in ministers’ scores last month.


conservativehome--2020-05-06--Calling Conservatives: New public appointments announced. Trustee of the British Council – and more