This page is currently undergoing updates, please bear with us. If there is a particular document you need urgently please contact David Clarke on 0121 678 1023
RSS Revision Phase 3
LATEST NEWS...
Consultation on the RSS Options Document commences on 29 June 2009
RSS Revision Phase Three
The WMRSS Phase Three Revision considers the following topics:
Rural Services:
To identify and prioritise the services that are critical to the sustainability of rural communities, and to identify mechanisms for promoting their provision;
Communities for the Future:
To identify the number of pitches required for Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople;
Culture, Sport and Tourism:
To improve the provision of, and access to, quality cultural and sports assets and provide opportunities to increase the rate of participation / attendance in cultural activities;
Environment:
To further develop environmental policies in the RSS, including flood risk, air quality, renewable energy and Green Belt;
Minerals:
To develop policies on safeguarding mineral resources and the future supplies of construction aggregates and brick clay.
Project Plan:
The first stage of the Revision process started with the preparation of the Draft Project Plan which was issued for consultation in November 2007 and published in its final format in May 2009.
The Draft Project Plan sets out what elements of the RSS will be revised, how partners and the public can get involved, what timetable will be worked to, what technical work will be undertaken, and how the Revision will be aligned with other regional strategies. The Project Plan can be downloaded below:
- Project Plan
- Project Plan Leaflet
- Responses to Draft Project Plan (under construction)
Options Consultation:
Because there are likely to be a number of choices as to the nature and content of new or revised policies, an Options document is now being issued for consultation to identify those choices and the consequences of adopting them. At this stage, policies are not fixed and everybody has a chance to say what they think about the Options before a Preferred Option is developed (see below). A Sustainability Appraisal has been carried out of the Options document, and a report setting out its findings is also available for consultees to refer to and comment on.
The RSS Phase Three Options consultation starts on Monday 29th June 2009 and closes on Friday 14th August 2009.
Copies of the full RSS Phase Three Revision Options consultation document, Sustainability Appraisal Report, questionnaire and related documents can be downloaded from the links below:
Options Consultation Document and Questionnaire:
- Draft Options Consultation Document
- Online Questionnaire
- Questionnaire (Word Version)
- Summary Leaflet
To accompany the Options consultation document there are also Background Technical Reports for each of the five topics considered in the Phase Three Revision. These provide more information and detail about the matters being examined in the Revision. Copies of all of the Background Technical Reports can be downloaded from the links below:
Options Consultation - Background Papers:
- Critical Rural Services Background Paper
- Communities for the Future - Gypsies and Travellers and Travelling Showpeople Background Paper
- Communities for the Future - Gypsies and Travellers Options Audio Mp3 Version
- Communities for the Future - Travelling Showpeople Options - Audio Mp3 Version
- Gypsies and Travellers and Travelling Showpeople Leaflet
- Culture, Sport and Tourism Background Paper
- Quality of the Environment Background Paper
- Minerals Policy Background Paper
A short dvd titled "Somewhere To Live" has been produced to accompany the consultation relating to provision for gypsy and traveler sites. A copy of the dvd is available on request from the Regional Assembly
As integral elements of the WMRSS Revision process, various appraisals and assessments will be carried out, including a Sustainability Appraisal, Habitat Regulation Assessment and a Rural Proofing. Copies of all of the Appraisal and Assessment reports can be downloaded from the links below:
Appraisals and Assessments:
As part of the RSS Phase Three Revision, a Sustainability Appraisal is being undertaken to look at the environmental, economic and social effects of the revised policies. A Habitat Regulations Assessment will also ensure that revised policies do not adversely affect European habitat sites within the West Midlands. In addition, Rural Proofing will be carried out to ensure that the needs of rural areas are adequately considered.
- Sustainability Appraisal (SA) / SEA
- Annex
- Habitat Regulation Assessment (HRA) (Draft Screening Report available on 6th July 2009))
- Rural Proofing
Options Consultation - Maps:
The WMRSS Phase Three Options consultation document and background reports include a number of maps. Colour versions of the maps can be accessed here
Fig 03: GTTS - Options for the Distribution of Additional Pitch Requirements 2007-2017
Fig 04: GTTS - Options for the Distribution of Additional Transit Pitch Requirements 2007-2017
Fig 05: GTTS - Options for the Distribution of Additional Plot Requirements for Travelling Showpeople 2007-2012
Fig 07: GTTS - Culture - Assests of International, National and Regional Importance by Domain
Fig 08: Environment - Regional Biodiversity Opportunity Areas
Fig 09: Environment - West Midlands Flood Zones
Fig 10: Minerals - Minerals Resources in the West Midlands
Fig 11: Minerals - Aggregate Producing Quarries in the West Midlands
Fig 12: Minerals - Brickworks/Tileries and Brick Clay Quarries in the West Midlands
Fig 13: Principal Habitat Networks in the West Midlands
Fig 14: Current BAP Habitat Distribution - Regional Habitat Data Project
Options Consultation Events
During the Phase Three Options consultation period the Regional Assembly are facilitating a number of events and other opportunities to help anyone who wishes to get involved in this important discussion including:
2ND JULY 2009 - PHASE THREE REVISION OPTIONS CONSULTATION - 'DROP IN' EVENT
08.30 - 13.30 THE BURLINGTON HOTEL, NEW STREET, BIRMINGHAM
Issues being considered in the RSS Phase Three Revision are:
Rural Services: Identification and provision of services that are critical to the sustainability of rural communities
Housing: Provision of pitches and plots for Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople
Culture, Sport and Tourism: Strengthen RSS policies to support cultural, sport and tourism needs of the Region
Environment: Update existing Quality of Environment policies in the RSS and consider need for new policies related to flood risk, renewable energy and Green Belt
Minerals: Safeguarding minerals and examining future supply of aggregates
The event is intended to provide you with an opportunity to find out more about the Phase Three Revision Options and to get the answers to any questions you may have.
Policy Leads who have been responsible for developing the Options will be available on the day for you to discuss issues relating to the Phase Three topic areas.
Please keep checking the WMRA website for updated details on events or e-mail wmrss@wmra.gov.uk for the latest information.
HEREFORDSHIRE SUB-REGIONAL EVENT - 7 JULY 2009 - Further details to follow...
STAFFORSHIRE SUB-REGIONAL EVENT - 22 JULY 2009 in STAFFORD commencing at 10:00am - Further details to follow...
Responding to the Options Consultation
Please ensure that the Regional Assembly receive your completed Options questionnaire no later than 5pm on 14th August 2009.
It is possible to respond to the RSS Phase Three Options consultation in one of three ways:
(i) The online questionnaire is available from the weblinks above
(ii) Electronic copies of the questionnaire can be downloaded from the weblinks above. Completed electronic questionnaires should be emailed to the Regional Assembly at wmrss@wmra.gov.uk or
(iii) A detachable questionnaire is included with the Options consultation document. Completed handwritten questionnaires should be posted to the WMRA:
RSS Phase 3 Revision
West Midlands Regional Assembly
Regional Partnership Centre
Albert House, Quay Place
92-93 Edward Street
Birmingham
B1 2RA
Phase Three Revision Timetable
In light of responses to the Options consultation the Regional Assembly developed Preferred Option. The Preferred Option, which is also called the 'Draft WMRSS Revision', will then be submitted to the Secretary of State. It is anticipated that the Preferred Option would then be subject to another period of consultation. Under current regulations, once the Draft WMRSS Revision has been submitted to the Secretary of State, management of the final stages of the process would be led by the Government Office for the West Midlands (GOWM). These regulations will be revised once of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill is enacted later this year.
In July 2007, the Government published a Sub National Review of Economic Development and Regeneration. Among other things, the Government proposes to bring together the RSS and the West Midlands Economic Strategy (WMES) into a single Regional Strategy for each of the English regions. The work completed to date as part of the Phase Three Revision will be reappraised to ensure it is taken forward into the single Regional Strategy in the most effective way.
The timetable below shows how the Revision would be completed under the existing Regulations, but in these circumstances it can only be provisional. The WMRA and the GO-WM have agreed to review the situation together following the Phase Three Options consultation. This review will agree how to take account of emerging legislative certainty and the Phase Two Revision's Panel Report. Regional stakeholders will be kept informed of this review as it progresses.
The timetable for the WMRSS Phase Three Revision is as follows:
How to Join the RSS Revision Consultation Database:
The timetable above indicates a number of opportunities for you to get involved in the WMRSS Revision and to have your say in the development of the revised policies. If you would like to join our consultation database and be kept updated with progress on the RSS Revision by emailing your contact details to wmrss@wmra.gov.uk.
If you have any queries or questions related to WMRSS Phase Three Revision please contact David Clarke on 0121 678 1023 or at d.clarke@wmra.gov.uk