Media Watch | 48

Media Watch is a weekly round-up of the latest major stories on the local (parish and town) council sector.

1. The Housing and Planning Bill received further changes in the House of Lords as peers voted for amendments giving communities the right to appeal decisions on housing schemes that conflict with neighbourhood plans and to limit the bill's permission in principle provisions to housing-led schemes, although the government is looking to remove this amendment now in the House of Commons (via Planning Resource)

2. A feature on Sutton Coldfield Town Council’s first ever elections and how there maybe a rise in the profile of local councils and how it will effect traditional local political party politics via The Guardian)

3. We are keen to hear more of your stories around celebrating the Queen’s 90th Birthday. Thank you to all those who have sent information in. Here is an example involving the chairman of NALC, Cllr Ken Browse (via Middevon Gazette). Send your stories into: 

4. A letter from the chairman of the District Councils’ Network (DCN), Cllr Neil Clarke MBE into The MJ included a paragraph stating: “..the DCN believes successful devolution in district and county areas will also require the principle of subsidiarity, the transfer of responsibilities to the most appropriate level and the involvement of parish and town councils.”