Want to influence better planning decisions? want to secure or develop land? Get training on how s.106 agreements can be used.

Following two successful `Planning for non-Planners' training programmes in 2006 and 2007 Yorkshire Planning Aid is now delighted to be able to offer a much-requested day-long training seminar on s106 agreements.
Date: Thursday 10th April 2008
Venue: St. George's Centre, Leeds

The Ethical Property Foundation (EPF), in partnership with The Town & Country Planning Association (TCPA), are developing guidance and training for community groups, planning professionals and developers on maximising community benefit via s106 agreements. As part of this project, EPF is sponsoring this seminar in the Yorkshire and Humber region, to help equip community groups with the basic knowledge and skills required to effectively engage with the s106 process and secure real community benefits.'

Integreat Yorkshire is jointly sponsoring this seminar as part of its mission to deliver community learning in place-making specialisms such as planning. Integreat intends to utilize the learning from the seminar to inform future regional events to help up-skill planners and developers in respect of community/community group s106 related needs.

What to expect from the day
This one day seminar will use a mix of presentations, practical workshops (involving real life planning applications and s106 agreements), role play and discussion groups in order to increase your understanding of the s106 system, the roles of the key players in it and the opportunities which exist for communities to influence it.

The seminar is aimed at:
•neighbourhood action groups – groups in areas of development who want to know how they can protect and enhance their neighbourhood through the planning process;
•community & voluntary groups – groups whose more general community work has brought them into contact with the planning system;
•charities – seeking to secure or develop an asset (land or buildings) for the charity through the planning process;

What you will get out of the seminar
•An understanding of what s106 agreements are, and what s106 monies can and can't be used for;
•An understanding of how the process of negotiating, drawing up and implementing a s106 agreement works, how this fits with the planning and development processes, and what opportunities there are for community groups to get involved at various stages of the process – from negotiating content to enforcing delivery;
•Knowledge of the key players in the s106 process (local authorities, developers, community groups) and the parameters within which they operate (eg planning policy for local authorities, economics of development appraisal for developers);
•An appreciation of the implications of the above points for how community groups engage with the s106 process;
•An understanding of how community groups can get involved in influencing s106 agreements strategically, rather than on a site by site basis;
•An awareness of the likely future of s106 in the light of the latest Government proposals on Community Infrastructure Levies and any opportunities to influence this;
•The chance to raise issues, problems and concerns that you have about the workings of s106 so that they can be taken on board in the EPF study & influence future Integreat professional development sessions.

For further details please contact Jacqui Baines at Yorkshire Planning
Aid.
jacqui.baines@planningaid.rtpi.org.uk
Tel: 0113 237 8486