RICS seeks evidence of ‘big society’
THE Royal Instition of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has set up an independent commission to examine how communities in the North West can manage their neighbourhoods in response to the Government’s ‘Big Society’ initiative.
The Land and Society Commission will be chaired by Trevor Beattie, former director of Placemaking at the Homes and Communities Agency, and will comprise of people drawn from the urban and rural property sectors, communities, academia and local government.
It will lead a four-month investigation into how communities in the region can embrace their new land and property roles, and would like to hear from those with experience in the fields of community action, the built environment and local government.
The Commission’s final report, due to be published in April, will make recommendations to government, policy makers and land and property sector bodies as to how to help empower communities in the North West to shape and manage their neighbourhoods. Oral evidence sessions will take place in February and March.
“Localism and the Big Society present a major opportunity for communities across the country to shape their future and to create valuable new local assets,” said Beattie. “The role of this new commission is to investigate how best to provide communities with knowledge and resources necessary to make the most of their new responsibilities.”
RICS has set up a Land and Society Commission on its website where people who are interested in getting involved can find more information.
