COLUMN: Legislative change is needed to the system

King Charles III

By John Milne MP as printed in the Thursday, 25 July 2024, print edition of the West Sussex County Times.

In my second week as an MP, I attended my first Kings Speech. This is the moment when the government lays out its key intentions for the year ahead. So in amongst the pomp and ceremony of the occasion, what does Keir Starmer have in store for us and how will it affect Horsham?

Perhaps the most controversial subject in Horsham for many years has been planning. There’s been a terrific battle to determine what exactly the ‘right houses’ might look like, and where are the ‘right places’ to build them. Currently we have a system that’s bad for housebuilders, because it’s slow and expensive; but also for residents, because local control is largely an illusion.

The Labour manifesto correctly identifies a need for more affordable housing and infrastructure. But frustratingly, in Angela Rayner’s first speech as Minister for Housing, Communities and Local Government, the detail is missing.

The fundamental problem is that local authorities are legally unable to enforce the provision of schools and clinics. This issue requires legislative change - it won’t just happen by itself.

There’s also no mention of a reform to the Standard Method, which is the way local housing targets are set. Introduced by the Tories in 2017, it’s an inflexible mathematical formula which creates wildly inappropriate targets. It must be changed!

With regard to Transport, I strongly support the move to increase local control over bus services. This has been very successful in other parts of the country such as Manchester. I very much hope West Sussex County Council will have the imagination to grasp this opportunity to reverse the decline in bus provision.

As for rail, the government plans to take Southern Rail and Thameslink back into full national ownership by the first half of 2025, when there’s a break clause in their franchise contracts. More important than the ownership issue however is the ability to introduce a sensible national ticketing system with clear lines of responsibility. Our railways face deep challenges whether they are state owned or private.

Finally, I’d like to draw attention to something vital that’s missing. There’s no mention of action on social care provision, which was a key Lib Dem campaign issue. The suggestion is that the government will look to set up a cross party commission to consider options. This isn’t wrong in itself, so long as it doesn’t lead to yet more procrastination!