DTA contributes to Social Enterprise Agenda for Defra's Third Sector Strategy (February 2008)
Read the paper
DTA responds to the Third Sector Strategy for Communities and Local Government consultation (22 September)
Read the DTA's response
DTA responds to BERR consultation on Business Support (20 September)
Read DTA's response
Hazel Blears promises 'power for local people' (17 September)
Read the DTA press release - read Hazel Blears' speech
Community Land Trusts to benefit from corporation funding
The Housing Corporation has confirmed that Community Land Trusts will for the first time be given access to its national investment programme. Read full story.
Communities England now consulting on its future role (20 July)
Communities England will be given a hands-on role in setting local regeneration priorities in key areas under government plans unveiled this week. In a consultation paper on the powers and remit of the new national housing and regeneration agency, the Department for Communities and Local Government said all councils would be obliged to consult Communities England when preparing sustainable community strategies and local area agreements. But in 'key strategic locations' ministers want the agency to sit on local strategic partnerships and help directly shape regeneration. Read full story / Download the Consultation document.
The way forward for Local Areas Agreements (LAAs) (20 July)
In 2009 the regulatory landscape for public services will change significantly with the introduction of Comprehensive Area Assesments (CAAs). Voluntary and community organisations (VCOs) and local government share many values and objectives; both work in the interests of local people and local communities. The relationship that local authorities have with their local voluntary and community sector (VCS) is fundamental if we are to properly tackle the challenges that our communities are facing today. Read full story / Download "10 things to know about the way forward on LAAs" / Read the NAO report.
Capacitybuilders to fund social support services (20 July)
Capacitybuilders announced last week that it will launch a three-year funding package for support to social enterprises starting in April 2008. The agency will start a review of social enterprise support needs this autumn, before launching the funding package next spring. It says: "We will be working with social enterprise umbrella bodies and regional social enterprise networks to identify funding opportunities to help further build the business support needed by many social enterprises." For more information visit www.capacitybuilders.org.uk.
Planning White Paper briefing (20th July)
The White Paper broadly sets out Government actions in response to the Barker Review of Land Use Planning and the Eddington Review of Transport. Its four key pillars are a new system to decide major infrastructure projects, simplifying the local planning system for householders, planning a bigger role for tackling climate change, and ensuring the planning system continues to support vibrant town centres. Read the DTA briefing paper.
Hazel Blears announces 20 local authority areas to benefit from Quirk demonstration programme (5th July)
Hazel Blears, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, has announced the 20 local authority areas that will be involved in the “Advancing Assets for Communities” demonstration programme following from the recent launch of the report on the Quirk Review “Making Assets Work”. The announcement was made at the Local Government Association conference in Birmingham on Thursday 5 July. Read full press release.
Community Alliance welcomes Gordon Brown’s support for community ownership of assets (27 June)
Gordon Brown affirmed his support for community ownership of assets in his leadership acceptance speech on 24 June 2007, calling for reforms based on the principles of community ownership of assets, which enable and empower people to take control of their lives. Read full press release.
