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[Press Release: March 14th, 2008] Green Cllrs Delighted with Guidance on Taking-in-Charge of Residential EstatesGreen Party Cllrs. in Bray are delighted that the Minister for the Environment John Gormley has recently issued a new Policy Guidance, Circular Letter PD 1/08 to planning authorities in relation to the taking in charge of residential estates.Cllr. Caroline Burrell stated, "In January 2006, each planning authority was asked to establish, as a priority, a policy on taking-in-charge which should be approved by the members of the authority, and reported on to those members on a regular basis and at least annually. The Department established a Working Group in August 2006, a rep of the Department, local authorities, architects, planners, Irish Home Builders Association (IHBA) and the National Consumer Agency (NCA) to consider issues in relation to taking in charge and management companies. This policy advice is based on the outcome of the deliberations of that group. All planning authorities are now required to develop or update, as appropriate, their policy on taking-in-charge by the end of June 2008 on the basis of the framework." Cllr. Ciaran O'Brien explained, "The main principles of the guidance set out in the overall framework for taking in charge are: A statement of the facilities that will be taken in charge and the maintenance services that will be provided must be set out and the issue of taking in charge must be addressed at the pre-planning stage with the approved design facilitating the taking in charge of core facilities; Developers will be required, through the development management process/permission, to complete residential developments to a standard that is in compliance with the planning permission granted; Planning authorities must take all necessary measures in this regard in particular through securing adequate bonds, inspection of construction and enforcement action when necessary. The procedures for taking in charge will begin promptly on foot of a request by the majority of the residents in the development or by the developer, as appropriate. Protocols, including time frames, must be set out by planning authorities to respond to requests for taking in charge; In general, planning authorities must not attach management companies as a condition of planning in respect of traditional housing estates." Cllr. Steve Matthews concluded, "We welome this news as there are many unfinished estates in the town that are left for up to 10 years or more and residents are unable to get issues resolved unless taken-in-charge by the local authority. In relation to these older estates, priority must continue to be placed on resolving those estates that have been left unfinished /not taken in charge for the longest period."
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