Are there any other issues we should consider as part of our programme of Reforming Local Government in Wales, for example, matters relating to policy, legislation or implementation?
1. “Place-shaping role”
In Chapter 1 on page 5 the White Paper states: “These proposed reforms are intended to refocus our Councils on their place-shaping role.”
We fully support this aim, but we are concerned the rest of the White Paper and its proposals hardly touch on the realities of 'place-shaping'. We strongly suggest the entire 'Reforming Local Government' programme includes best practice in place-shaping approaches and methodologies to guide all the ensuing policy, legislation and implementation.
The Landscape Institute Wales would be willing to work with Welsh Government to strengthen this important aspect, which would also help deliver the Well-Being legislation as well as the Planning Bill and the forthcoming Environment Bill.
The Landscape Institute suggests that in reconstructing the pattern of Local Government in Wales a special emphasis is needed to deliver the new agenda for the multi-function use and management of land for the benefit of existing communities and future generations i.e. 'place-shaping'. This will need to cover a range of integrated topics including:-
1. The need to build in resilience to climate change and extreme weather events at a landscape scale to protect existing communities.
2. To mitigate against climate change by securing the sequestration of carbon through natural processes.
3. To incorporate into the landscape renewable energy systems, including biodiesel, bioethanol, photovoltaic, wind turbines and biomass amongst others.
4. To reconstruct the biological health of the entire land area of the authority, including sustainable habitats and species development.
5. To protect, conserve and celebrate the cultural and historic environment.
6. For Children's Services to create landscapes for experiential learning across the entire curriculum in schools, to provide facilities for child development through all forms of play, including imaginative play, territorial play and social play. To provide the environment for physical development and fitness. To provide facilities to encourage positive social interaction and to reconnect children with nature.
7. For the Elderly to develop landscapes for healthy lifestyles and for social development.
8. To empower local communities to transform their local environment, to provide facilities for food growing, for wildlife development and social development. To encourage a strong sense of belonging and pride in the distinctiveness of the locality, everywhere.
9. To update Landscape Character Maps to provide the framework for agenda setting in the wider countryside and for directing public intervention systems, including securing a more sustainable approach to food production.
10. To secure the new standards of quality in the authority's own developments across all its services.
11. To direct land use planning to secure the highest standards for the landscape through regulating and enforcing private development.
12. To provide the opportunities for the authority to contribute to national policy development.
The development, use and management of land within the local authority area, both publicly owned and privately owned land, cannot be delivered by any one department of the authority. The Landscape Institute proposes that a senior member of the Landscape profession (Landscape Planning/Policy, Landscape Design, Landscape Science and Landscape Management) should be located in the Corporate Centre of the Authority to advise members of the authority on: identification of the big issues and opportunities, research, policy development, programmes and the commissioning of services from outside the authority, including services from the private, voluntary, and other public sectors.
2. Green Infrastructure
We advocate the Green Infrastructure approach as a cost effective and integrative way to deliver all the local authorities' land use planning, transport and neighbourhood planning and delivery. To this end we commend Monmouthshire Council's draft Supplementary Planning Guidance on Green Infrastructure – link to it online here.
3. City Regions
Chapter 2 page 15 states: “The [City Regions] Task and Finish Group identified that the key to improved economic performance in these regions is the integration of economic development, skills, regeneration, transport, planning and the environment.”
We support this view and recommend that the Green Infrastructure approach will go a long way to achieving this. Indeed the Cardiff City Region Board was very positive about the recent presentation they received on Green Infrastructure.
Therefore we strongly suggest the 'Reforming Local Government' programme includes a requirement on the City Region boards to adopt the Green Infrastructure approach.
3. In-sourcing across a range of local authorities
In chapter 2 page 22 the White Paper states: “Other services might be more economically provided through In-sourcing across a range of local authorities rather than out-sourcing.”
We strongly advocate the need for professional Landscape Architect services in each of the new County Councils and the National Park Authorities. They provide services ranging from strategic planning, to project management, to case work for planning applications, as well as delivery on the ground.
However, if the 'Reforming Local Government' programme establishes a Wales-wide overview of the Councils' services, then recruitment could be managed so that the full range of specialist Landscape Architect services was available for in-sourcing across the new County Councils in Wales.
For your information the role of a landscape architect commonly includes some or all of the following:
>overseeing the design of a variety of projects, including urban regeneration schemes, pedestrian schemes, road or retail schemes, and maintaining the character of sites of natural beauty;
>establishing general landscape requirements with clients;
>conducting preliminary studies of the site (including contours, soil, ecology, buildings, roads);
>assessing a site's potential to meet the client's specifications;
>carrying out environmental impact assessments;
>seeking and taking into account the views of local residents, potential users, and parties with a vested interest in the project;
>accurately preparing and presenting detailed plans and working drawings, including applications, construction details and specifications for the project using computer-aided design (CAD) packages or similar design software;
>presenting proposals to clients, dealing with enquiries and negotiating any amendments to the final design;
>matching the client's wishes with your knowledge of what will work best;
>contacting and coordinating manufacturers and suppliers;
>putting work out to tender, selecting a contractor and manager (mainly for larger projects), and leading cross-functional teams;
>making site visits;
>ensuring deadlines are met;
>liaising with other professionals on the project;
>monitoring and checking work on-site (on large projects, landscape managers may do this type of supervisory work);
>authorising payment once work has been satisfactorily completed;
>attending public inquiries to give evidence if necessary;
>generating new business opportunities.
Landscape Architects in Local Authorities often work with Planners on a strategic level to ensure that environmental and green infrastructure issues are included in proposed developments. Landscape Architects also often comment on environmental/landscape issues on behalf of the Council (through the planning procedure) to ensure that these issues are being properly considered.