I live at the edge of Manchester City Council's area. Not putting planning
applications on the web at all means that if I want to look at a planning
application, I have to pay to travel into Manchester (and as I work in
Wigan, I'll need to take time off work to do this) and go to the planning
department in normal working hours. Alternatively, I could look on a website
at home when I have the time to think about it. Which approach allows me, a
Manchester Council Taxpayer, greater access? I think putting planning
applications on the web increases the possibility of participation. I think
the risks are small, and the benefits could be large. I carry no torch for
eGoverment or targets, but I do think that local government processes can be
opaque, and any effort to widen access to them is a good thing. What we do
in local government shouldn't be accessible only to specialists.
> ----------
> From: Antoinette Carter[SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Reply To: [log in to unmask]
> Sent: 02 June 2005 14:38
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [data-protection] Opinions sought - Planning
> Applications
>
> I have a lot of sympathy with this view. The main objective of a
> transparent planning process is to allow those people affected, ie. the
> people actually living there, to have a say in proceedings. By that
> definition, all those concerned must be geographically close to the Town
> Hall for their borough. The argument that making access available
> worldwide via the Web adds any value for the borough's residents is weak
> at best, and is probably negated altogether when you take into account
> the loss of privacy, and the possible threat to individuals' personal
> safety.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: This list is for those interested in Data Protection issues
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of [log in to unmask]
> Sent: 02 June 2005 14:19
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [data-protection] Opinions sought - Planning Applications
>
> In a message dated 02/06/05 12:10:06 GMT Daylight Time,
> [log in to unmask] writes (snip):
>
> > . I would like to ask another question: what is the effect of
> > maintaining a system where access to the planning process is limited
> > to people who go to the Town Hall?
>
> -------
> Did it not work well for a number of years before the Internet? Did it
> not actually work better than it does now? Was there not a more
> consistent approach to building? Were not the buildings themselves more
> aesthetically pleasing?
> Have councils seen an increase in applications or objections since
> planning went on-line? If not, what is the objective?
>
> It cannot achieve total popular coverage so why is it done? To achieve
> targets. Targets that were set by government in an arbitrary fashion.
> People do not want e-government, government does. The government has
> recently issued directives to councils to force the public to use
> electronic payments, electronic applications and e-systems in general,
> by stoppping the manual (personal
> contact) alternative where possible.
>
> I have never suggested the system is closed down, nor that it does not
> present an opportunity for those with no domestic problems. What I
> object to is that councils are now being told to put the details on the
> web regardless of the wishes of the individual. This is wrong. I hope
> councils ignore the advice and actually ask people whether they object,
> then respect those wishes.
>
> Ian B
>
> Ian Buckland
> Managing Director
> Keep IT Legal Ltd
>
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