Neither the Government nor the local authorities have a clear idea of what the real objectives of their policies for the inner cities are and there is a lack of any coherent strategy to deal with the problems.
This is one of the conclusions in a report from the Town and Country Planning Association, Whose Responsibility? Reclaiming the Inner Cities. The TCPA is calling for a five-point action plan to arrest the decline of the inner cities.
These include a greater devolution of power and responsibility from the centre to local authorities and community agencies, and planning strategies that come from knowing what the people want.
On the planning side, the association suggests Community Planning Zones — CPZs — which would give responsibility for local planning to urban parish councils or similar local agencies.
Other recommendations in the report include the use of empty blocks as workshop space, that local authorities be allowed to buy land at existing use value and that development land tax be reintroduced.
Copies of the report are available from the TCPA, 17 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5AS, price £3.95.
