Community Rights: Terms of reference
9 June 2014
The Communities and Local Government Committee today launches an inquiry into community engagement rights.
Through measures such as the Localism Act 2011 the Government has introduced a number of new ‘community rights’.
'Community rights' include:
- the Community Right to Challenge;
- the Community Right to Bid;
- the Community Right to Build; and
- the Community Right to Reclaim Land.
The Committee invites submissions from interested parties on the operation of these ‘community rights’. It wants to hear about progress made in allowing communities to use these powers and intends to examine whether the legislation that delivers them is operating effectively.
The Committee expects to cover the following matters:
- What evidence is there that communities are aware of these rights and are using them?
- If communities are not using the rights, what is the reason?
- How successful communities are in using them to achieve their objectives?
- How helpful is the guidance and assistance that has been made available to communities and local authorities to help them use and understand community rights?
- What more, if anything, might be required to encourage more widespread use of these rights?
The Committee particularly welcomes any evidence from local authority scrutiny committees and from local community groups.
Deadline
- The Committee asks for written submissions in accordance with the guidelines below by 2.00pm on Thursday, 4 September 2014. As a guideline submissions should be no longer than 3,000 words.
- Submissions should be uploaded onto the website in word format no later than the deadline.
- Link to submit your evidence
- Link to guidance on submitting written evidence
If you have any problems with the web portal please contact David Nicholas, Senior Committee Assistant, on 0207 219 4972.