Pictured above: Eric Pickles MP with IoD Coventry &
Warwickshire chairman Martin Gower
A strong local economy is the basis for a strong community,
Communities and Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles told the
Midsummer Dinner of the Coventry & Warwickshire branch of the
Institute of Directors in the West Midlands.
The Brentwood and Ongar MP said that successful firms created
jobs that put money in to family pockets.
And it was this principle that was driving the changes that his
department was spearheading, he said.
"This Government inherited the worst recession in 80 years
coupled with runaway public spending.
"We are committed to growth, not in public spending, but through
private investment - not on a particular financial square mile in
the capital but in every corner of the country," he said.
He laid out the three key changes his department was
leading.
The first is the reform the planning system. "The planning is
the drag anchor on growth, it is often slow and pointless. It has
put obstacles in the way of development and this has resulted in
frustration and delay.
"Planning must create the opportunities for new premises and new
jobs. We are reforming planning from the topo down.
"There are currently 7,000 pages of planning guidance which is
roughly the complete works of Shakespeare and The Old Testament
together.
"The new guidance which will be issued soon is just over 50
pages long. It will be in English, readable, and you are going to
be able to understand it - which is bad news for planning
silks.
"There will be a presumption in favour of sustainable
development and some planners are going to have to learn a new word
- Yes!"
His next change would be to "repatriate business rates".
"By returning much of the local business rate to local councils,
they will be able to see clearly the direct connection between the
strength of local businesses and the result on local finances," he
said.
His third proposal was LEPs - the Local Enterprise
Partnerships.
"We do not presume to know better than local leaders and chief
executives what their local area needs.
"Your LEP is what you make it. It can be as tame as you want it
to be, or it can be as ambitious as you want it to be.
"I am impressed by the Coventry & Warwickshire LEP and Denys
Shortt is a good chairman," he said.
He also hailed Enterprise Zones as the shape of the future and
was very encouraged by the local reaction.
"I think there is some truth about Coventry and Warwickshire
being the apple of my eye, because they got it first - but now I
want you to up your game even more.
"Get on with it - and do something!"