Planning Permission: Local Press
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Answer of 1 December 2020 to Question 119355 on Planning Permission: Local Press, what her Department's policy is on the continued role of statutory notices in local newspapers, in relation to (a) the revenue for local newspapers and (b) bringing matters of importance to the attention of local residents.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock
Public notices are important for ensuring that the public is kept informed of decisions made by their council which may affect their quality of life, local services or amenities, or their property. The independent 2019 Cairncross Review into sustainable journalism found that public notices are also an important source of revenue for local newspapers. The sector’s Public Notice Portal is a welcome innovation, intended to take advantage of print publishers’ growing digital audiences and provide a centralised resource for all types of public notice. We continue to monitor the progress of the Portal and the effect that it has on the audience reach of public notices.
We also welcome the plans for expansion of the Portal, announced in December and funded by the Google News Initiative, including a fully searchable archive and new consultation functions to help public bodies and commercial entities engage with the public more effectively. We consider this type of industry innovation and collaboration to be integral to securing the sector’s future, and will seek to further support and incentivise it through our Local Media Strategy.
With specific reference to the answer to Question 119355 on 1 December 2020, planning law requires local planning authorities to publicise planning applications through various means, including site notices, advertisements in local newspapers, and publishing information on their website. In addition to these requirements, we are exploring ways to enhance community engagement in the planning system, including by leveraging digital platforms.
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