CONSERVATIVE PARTY PLANS TO ABOLISH THE UK INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING COMMISSIONSimilar cables

http://www.look4leaks.net/showCable.php?id=09LONDON2492&title=CONSERVATIVE+PARTY+PLANS+TO+ABOLISH+THE+UK+INFRASTRUCTURE+PLANNING+COMMISSION&lang=en


C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 LONDON 002492

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/21/2019
TAGS: ECON ENRG UK
SUBJECT: CONSERVATIVE PARTY PLANS TO ABOLISH THE UK
INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING COMMISSION

REF: LONDON 1514

Classified By: Economic Minister Counselor Richard Albright for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 1. (C/NF) Summary. The Conservative Party is planning to abolish the UK Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) if they win the national election due by June 2010. The 2008 Planning Law -- established the IPC -- with the intent of reducing costs, increasing transparency, and eliminating long wait times in the planning application process. The Conservative Party argues ministers should make the power to make planning decisions, not the IPC. Businesses, however, fear the Conservative's proposal will cause long delays by ministers slow to reach planning decisions. End summary.

UK PLANNING ACT SEEKS TO SPEED THINGS UP ----------------------------------------

¶2. (SBU) The case for radical change in the UK planning process is not new. Prior to the passage of the 2008 Planning Act, planning decisions were made by local government councils, applied on an ad-hoc basis, and frequently driven by politics. Some large controversial infrastructure projects were ultimately referred to Parliament. UK airport operator BAA Ltd.'s application to build Heathrow Terminal 5 was one of the longest in UK history. BAA submitted its planning application in February 1993 and long delays in the public inquiry process and multiple reviews at various levels of government, including Parliament, resulted in the construction being delayed until mid-2002. The terminal finally opened in March 2008 -- fifteen years from the date the application was first submitted. While planning applications are usually submitted by large UK or European businesses, the Heathrow project included a few U.S. supply chain companies. British Energy had to wait six years for the go-ahead to build the Sizewell B nuclear power station, which became operational in 1995. Other examples of large infrastructure projects incurring delays in the past include upgrades to electricity grids, cross-rail linkages, and hazardous waste incinerators.

¶3. (SBU) The Planning Act was approved by the UK Parliament in November 2008. This legislation reforms the UK planning process by removing planning decisions for large infrastructure projects from local authorities and creating a national UK Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC). The goal of the IPC is to reduce review times for "nationally significant" infrastructure projects, increase transparency, and ensure that stakeholder input is received up front. The IPC is scheduled to become fully operational by March 1, 2010; it started providing pre-application planning advice on October 1, 2009.

IPC TO BASE DECISIONS ON NATIONAL POLICY STATEMENTS --------------------------------------------- ------

¶4. (SBU) The Planning Law calls for the IPC's decisions on planning applications to be guided by twelve National Policy Statements (NPSs). The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) is preparing six of these NPSs -- Overall Energy Policy; Renewables; Fossil Fuels; Electricity Networks; Oil and Gas; and Nuclear Energy. The Department of Transport (DfT) is responsible for putting together three NPSs on the ports, transportation networks, and airports. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is responsible for three NPSs on the UK's water supply, dealing with waste water, and hazardous waste.

¶5. (SBU) All twelve NPSs will receive public comment and scrutiny by Parliament. DECC's Director of Planning and Consents Richard Mellish recently told ESTHOff a special parliamentary committee may be established to review all of the NPSs in addition to the respective committees which monitor the work of DECC, DfT, and DEFRA. Farrah Bhatti, a staffer on the House of Commons Climate Change Committee, told ESTHOff it will take four to five weeks for the committee to review each NPS from DECC. Bhatti added there will be an "option" for the House of Commons to vote on each NPS, but Mellish told ESTHOff any vote would be "non-binding." Bhatti, Mellish, and an MP indicated it remained unclear whether the House of Lords would review the NPSs.

IPC EXPECTED TO SPEED UP PROCESS, RAISE ETHICAL STANDARDS --------------------------------------------- ------------

¶6. (SBU) HMG expects the IPC to improve ethics on planning applications, since commissioners are required to be LONDON 00002492 002 OF 003 "politically independent" and financially unconnected to any project under consideration. Most importantly, HMG expects the IPC to reduce the processing times for major applications from 100 weeks (two years) down to 35 weeks (nine months). According to a presentation in July 2009 by Chair of the IPC Sir Michael Pitt and information on IPC's website, the planning reforms are also expected to cut overall costs of delivering national infrastructure by 300 million GBP ($500 million) annually. Decisions of IPC commissioners can be taken to court. Planning applications are required to include environmental assessments, site surveys, and other background.

¶7. (SBU) The IPC, once operational on March 1, 2010, will review planning applications and provide the requested decision for large infrastructure projects. The IPC opened its doors on October 1 and is providing pre-application advice and guidance to utilities and developers. The IPC released a list of eleven projects on October 22 in the renewable, nuclear, and electricity sector that it initially plans to review.

PERSONNEL BEING GATHERED TO RUN THE IPC ---------------------------------------

¶8. (SBU) The IPC's headquarters is located in Bristol and its leadership is already in place. The budget for the IPC for 2009/2010 is 10 million GBP ($16 million). Sir Michael Pitt serves as the Chair, with two deputies, Robert Upton and Dr. Pauleen Lane. Parliament reviewed and approved the appointment of Sir Michael Pitt in March 2009 and the two deputies in July 2009. Three commissioners are also in place, but this number is expected to rise to 30-35 once the IPC becomes fully operational. Approximately thirty staff are already on board, and this number is expected to grow as the workload increases. The IPC Board also includes a Chief Executive Officer, four directors, and two non-executive directors.

SUPPORT -- AND SKEPTICISM -- FROM STAKEHOLDERS --------------------------------------------- -

¶9. (SBU) John Cridland, Deputy Director General of the Confederation of Business Industries (CBI), stated on July 20 that the 2008 Planning Act has strong support from business. World Wildlife Fund-UK (WWF) Director David Norman said the law brings transparency "essential" to the planning process, although other environmental NGOs have been more guarded. UK Local Government Association staffer Philip Mind said UK local government authorities are supportive of reform, since the law requires businesses/utilities to consult with stakeholders and local communities early in the planning application process.

¶10. (C/NF) Despite the general support for planning reforms, HMG's delay in publishing the NPSs is disconcerting to some. Labour MP Jamie Reed told ESTHOff he predicts the timeline in publishing the NPSs may slip past December 2009. If this happens, he said, the 2010 elections will dominate the agenda and the NPSs will not receive the proper scrutiny. Westinghouse and Fluor officials also expressed similar concerns to ESTHOff. David Powell, Regional Vice President for Westinghouse, told ESTHOff he suspects DECC is being very careful before publishing the NPS on Nuclear Energy because it is trying to ensure the NPS will be "air-tight" against legal challenge. CBI published a report on the UK's "nuclear renaissance" on October 22 and urged HMG to publish the NPS on Nuclear Energy "as quickly as possible."

CONSERVATIVE PARTY'S PLAN TO SCRAP THE IPC ------------------------------------------

¶11. (SBU/NF) While the Conservative Party's opposition to the IPC is well-known among stakeholders and politicians, the party passed a policy paper to "The Independent" newspaper the week of October 22 to publicize these views. The Conservative Party reiterated its plans to abolish the IPC and to give planning decision-making power to ministers. Conservative Shadow Minister of Energy Charles Hendry argued that the IPC would not give the public sufficient opportunity to express views and that decisions would become "tied up" in legal challenges. Conservative Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Caroline Spelman also criticized the IPC in a press statement in early October, calling it a "quango" or independent quasi non-government organization (NGO) unaccountable to the government and public. Under a Conservative government, Spelman said, National Policy Statements would remain but each would require ratification by both Houses of Parliament. LONDON 00002492 003 OF 003 Conservative MP Bob Neill, Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party and Shadow Local Government and Planning Minister, echoed many of these same sentiments at a CBI conference in July, but added his plans for creating a special "planning division" within the Department of Communities and Development.

¶12. (C/NF) Labour MP Jamie Reed, who sat on the House of Commons Planning Committee temporarily formed to evaluate the 2008 Planning Law, told ESTHOff on October 14 the Conservatives are "playing hardball" in their efforts to abolish the IPC. House of Commons Climate Change Committee staffer Farrah Bhatti told ESTHOff the Liberal Democrats also oppose the IPC. Some business leaders fear that Conservative plans to abolish the IPC will result in long delays as ministers drag out their decisions. David Powell, Regional Vice President for Westinghouse, told ESTHOff that this uncertainty will cause more frustration for utilities investing billions in the UK with tightly-scheduled plans for nuclear new build. French-owned EDF Energy stated in the media in March 2009 it would not "tolerate" significant planning delays. Planning delays could also have a "trickle-down" effect on U.S. companies like Westinghouse, which is pursuing bids with utilities to provide its AP1000 nuclear reactor. A few other U.S. companies active in the UK nuclear new build market include Fluor and CH2MHill. Some industry and government officials speculated to ESTHOff the Conservative Party may "stick" with the planning legislation, but look to the implementing regulations to make changes if they win the next election.

COMMENT -------

¶13. (C/NF) If the Conservative Party wins the next election and carries through with its promise to eliminate the IPC, some businesses, including some major U.S. companies, are expressing concern this could cause more uncertainty in the planning process. Business investment has already slowed as a result of the recession. The Conservatives have taken aim in recent years at "quangos" (quasi-NGOs) created by HMG and are generally opposed to them. The Conservatives consider the IPC another "quango," which is unaccountable to the public and costing taxpayers money. However, removing planning power from an independent body and giving it to ministers may politicize the process, adding time and uncertainty and recreate some of the politicization and delay that the planning law was intended to overcome. Whatever planning system HMG ends up with in the long-term, investors are keen that it speeds up the planning process and provides transparency in its planning decisions. The UK's global competitiveness will depend on it. Visit London's Classified Website: XXXXXXXXXXXX
Susman

The Crusader hav begun

Malaysia

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As police probe, Ibrahim Ali threatens crusade against Christians

By Clara Chooi

May 15, 2011

GOMBAK, May 15 — Despite police still investigating unsubstantiated reports of a move to a Christian Malaysia, Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali threatened Christians nationwide last night that he would wage a crusade or holy war should they proceed with their agenda to usurp Islam.
The pint-sized Malay rights leader thundered to a ceramah audience of some 200 at Kampung Changkat here that he was willing to take the fall for his statement for the sake of defending the dignity of Islam.
Although he complained of fatigue from his nine ceramah stops from Kelantan to here since Friday night, the Pasir Mas MP also said his blood was boiling with rage and “hairs standing on end” following recent reports of a Christian conspiracy between religious leaders and opposition party politicians.
“In Kelantan earlier, I declared before the police, I told the security forces present that if they want to send my messages to Bukit Aman (police), please go ahead.
“Please record my words — if there is any party in Penang, especially the Christian priests who are being backed by the Penang DAP, should continue with their agenda which we already know, I would like to offer that if they want to hold a crusade, we can.
“This is in the spirit of Sultan Saladin Ayubi... if they want to fight a crusade, we can,” he charged.
Saladin was a Kurdish Muslim, who became the first Sultan of Egypt and Syria, and led the Muslim forces during the Crusades — a series of religiously sanctioned military campaigns taken by the Christians to recover the Holy Land from Muslims.
Ibrahim (picture) warned the non-Muslims not to take the silence of their Muslim comrades to mean complacency, saying it was because the latter community placed peace and harmony above everything.
“But we are ready. Silence does not mean fear, we have been silent because we prioritise peace and harmony.
“But these people, if they feel the peace that they have enjoyed all these years is insufficient, or the stability and progress of this nation is not enough and they want to do something that has never once crossed our minds, go ahead... we will be ready,” he said.
He claimed the reason why the non-Muslims were now fearless and brave enough to step up was because they felt secure with the backing of many Muslim liberals and other political leaders including PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat.
“This is my view... if I am incorrect, it is my right. If I am rude, I apologise. My sins I will bear.
“But why is this happening now... after 53 years? The answer you may know — the main source is because of Anwar’s misdeeds.
“So to them (non-Muslims), this is their time because they are being backed by Nik Aziz, supported by Anwar and spurred by the Malay liberals,” he said.
Ibrahim was referring to the recent row over a controversial newspaper report in Utusan Malaysia entitled “Kristian Agam Rasmi?” (Christianity the official religion?) where it was alleged that DAP leaders and Christian priests were conspiring to take over Putrajaya, abolish Islam as the religion of the federation and install a Christian prime minister.
Christian leaders and DAP members have denied the reports and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was even forced to host a meeting with the religious chiefs to solve the issue but Ibrahim insisted last night that the report was true.
For one, he pointed out that a Muslim DAP member had also lodged a report on Friday claiming to know the true story of what transpired during the meeting at a hotel in Penang recently.
“They have been accusing Utusan Malaysia but from the beginning, I said it is valid. It is true.
“Why? Because the MP present at the meeting was Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi. He is an MP like me and I know from his mannerisms and the language he uses,” he said.
Ibrahim also reiterated his recent claim that former Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) members were using local groups for an unsubstantiated plot to replace Islam as Malaysia’s official religion.
He insisted that CPM supporters had infiltrated political parties, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), religious groups and business associations after the party laid down arms in 1989 in order to carry on their activities.
“I am reminding the Malays of this country... where are these CPM members? They have been absorbed into the community. I am confident they have infiltrated political parties, NGOs, and so on.
“These are the remains of PCM... that is why they are brave enough to continue with their agenda.... it is a golden opportunity for them because they now have extraordinary support from Anwar, from PAS and from the Malay liberals,” he said.
Utusan Malaysia’s Christian conspiracy report is presently under police investigation.
According to Ooi, a total of eight pastors and 13 DAP members and event participants have been called forth to give their statements to the police.

Sipenoreh getah yg tidak mengenali penat semata2 anak n keluarga

Pemimpin itu ibarat penoreh upahan, jadi menorehlah dengan jujur

Keadaan berubah dengan masa. Itulah sebabnya Islam mengingatkan yang kita mesti hidup mengikut masa dan zamannya. Apa-apa agama pun menyatakan yang perubahan itu adalah satu elemen yang tidak dapat di elakkan. Sedangkan secara fisiknya dunia ini pun berubah. Jika kita tengok peta dunia sebelum dan selepas ‘ice age’ misalnya, perubahan dalam bentuk dunia pun berubah dengan begitu besar.
Manusia sentiasa berubah dari muda sehingga tuanya usia. Semasa muda manusia mampu melakukan banyak kegiatan yang memerlukan tenaga, tetapi manusia itu berubah menjadi matang dan tua dan dituruti dengan tenaga dan kudrat yang berkurangan. Semua makhluk berubah dan tidak statik.
Pemikiran kita berubah dari masa ke semasa dan dari zaman ke zaman yang lain. Persepsi terhadap sesuatu perkara berubah dan perubahan ini akan memberikan reaksi kepada pihak lain kerana memang satu principle kepada sains yang menyatakan ‘in every action there will be reaction’.
Hidup ini ibarat pusingan roda, kadangkala diatas, kadangkala di bawah. Tidak ada siapa yang dapat mengelak dari pusingan ini. Begitu juga kuasa; kita berkuasa di satu masa dan akan hilang kuasa itu pada suatu hari nanti. Kuasa itu akan datang atau hilang bergantung kepada perlakuan sendiri. Tidak ada kuasa yang hilang disebabkan kesalahan pihak lain.
Dunia ini berubah dengan sendirinya jika kita lihat dari zahirnya. Tetapi pada hakikatnya ianya berubah dengan afa’al tuhan atau dalam erti lainnya adalah disebabkan kehendak dan gerakNya. Kadangkala kita lupa bahawa kuasa yang paling dan Maha besar adalah kuasa Tuhan, dan selalu kita merasakan kuasa kecil yang dipinjamkanNya itu adalah hak kita untuk selamanya. Ingat kata-kata ini, ‘The earth is much more intelligent and putting all human minds together’.
Saya menyebut isu ini kerana kita selalunya mendabik dada yang hanya kita sahaja yang mampu membawa pembangunan dan orang lain tidak berkeupayaan. Kitalah yang telah membangunkan negara, kitalah yang telah mencipta segala kejayaan, kitalah yang membawa penyatuan umat, kita adalah contoh kepada seluruh dunia dan semuanya kita. Kita telah mengambil segala keizinan Tuhan kepada kita seperti orang yang kufur nikmat. Semuanya adalah ‘kerana aku..aku…dan…aku…seolah-oleh tidak ada Tuhan yang bersifat mukhalafah dan manawi di sebalik segala-galanya.
Tidak ada unsur maknawi yang lain apabila mendapat kejayaan selain dari kita dan parti kita. Segala kuasa ghaib dinafikan; hanya kita..aku…kita dan aku. Tuhan telah pun menunjukan sedikit demi sedikit untuk kita mengakui bahawa kuasa yang ada kepada kita ada PEMILIK MUTLAKNYA. Kita hanyalah peminjam sementara semata-mata.
Sedikit demi sedikit kuasa pinjamanNya telah diambil balik oleh pemilikNya, tetapi kita masih merasakan yang kita adalah pewaris kepada segala kuasa dariNya. Kita sedang diintai-intai oleh kelemahan dan kegagalan kita sendiri.
Kita sudah tidak dapat membezakan dua bentuk kesalahan hina yang sama, sehinggakan kesalahan yang dilakukan oleh orang lain itu sahaja yang hina sedangkan kesalahan yang sama atau lebih hinanya yang kita lakukan tidak diperbetulkan. Kesalahan oleh pelaku seks haram itu sahaja yang salah tetapi salah guna kuasa dan rasuah itu tidak beberapa besar kesalahannya.
Kita lupa pelaku seks haram yang diintai dan dirakamkan itu merupakan dosa besar kepada Tuhan tetapi dosa rasuah itu adalah lebih besar kerana ianya melibatkan manusia lain. Lain-lain perkataan ianya adalah kesalahan sesama manusia dan isunya ialah isu ‘hablum minan naas’. Ianya melibatkan harta dan wang ringgit manusia yang kita diamanahkan untuk memimpin.
Setahu saya isu ‘hablum minan naas’ adalah lebih besar dari isu ‘hablum minallah’. Allah itu Maha pengampun dan pengasih dan dosa dengan Tuhan mudah terampun dari dosa kepada manusia lain apatah lagi dosa kepada rakyat yang puluhan juta ramainya.
Itulah sebabnya dosa kepada rakyat cepat mendapat balasan. Jika kita orang politik maka kita akan hilang sokongan dari mereka. Sebagai pihak yang memerintah parti kita sedang pemerhatian rakyat dan jika kita masih tidak berubah cara pendekatan kepada mereka kita tidak mustahil ditinggalkan oleh mereka kerana mereka tidak ada apa-apa ‘obligation’ terhadap kita.
Hanya kita sahaja yang merasakan yang mereka mesti membalas budi kepada kita sedangkan hakikatnya kitalah yang sepatutnya membalas budi rakyat yang telah memberikan mandat untuk mentadbir negara yang dianugerah kekayaan yang melimpah ruah.
Isu membalas budi tidak lagi menjadi bahan kempen yang sesuai kerana pemimpin dibayar gaji dan elaun yang besar untuk mentadbir mereka. Mereka yang mengupah pemimpin kita untuk mentadbir negara. Itulah sebabnya apabila mereka melihat pemimpin-pemimpin yang mereka upah itu tidak melaksanakan tanggungjawab dengan jujur mereka ada hak untuk mengganti manusia lain untuk diupah mentadbir negara. Sebenarnya pemimpin itulah hamba kepada rakyat, bukan sebaliknya.
Rakyat mentertawakan pemimpin yang meminta rakyat membalas budi mereka sedangkan merekalah yang sepatutnya bersyukur kerana diberikan mandat untuk mentadbir negara.
Kalau kita mengambil upah untuk menoreh getah di kebun seseorang tuan punya kebun ada hak untuk menukar penorehnya jika didapati penoreh yang diupahnya itu tidak jujur dengan menjual torehan itu tanpa pengetahuan tuannya. Jadi pemimpin-pemimpin UMNO ini merupakan mereka yang telah diupah oleh rakyat untuk menoreh getah mereka.
Jadi menorehlah dengan baik. Jangan dicuri getah torehan itu dan dijual tanpa pengetahuan tuannya iaitu rakyat Malaysia yang berbilang kaum ini. Pilihanraya yang akan datang ini ialah proses memilih siapa yang akan menjadi penoreh. Jangan pula penoreh upahan pula yang mengatur dan menggertak tuan punya kebun.
Rakyat sekarang sedang mengira berapa banyak getah mereka yang dicuri oleh penoreh-penoreh si kebun getah mereka. Dengarnya berbillion telah tiris dan telah banyak kerugian yang dialami oleh tuan punya ladang getah itu, iaitu rakyat.
Tuan punya ladang sekarang sudah sedar yang penoreh upahan mereka lebih kaya dari mereka. Isteri penoreh pun glamor gila! Ladang-ladang rakyat yang punya. Mana boleh jadi....
“Tunggu!!!" Kata mereka. "Nanti kami pilih penoreh-penoreh yang lain!!"



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Aktiviti Baik-pulih Jalan untuk kelas Fardu Ain Kanak-kanak Kg PBH..

 

SEBELUM DI TURAP

 DI RATA KAN

BATU CRUSHER RUN

JOB COMPLETE

Anda akan merasa MATANG sekiranya : -

Anda dapat bertenang dan bersabar seandainya hajat anda tidak tercapai.
Anda mampu menyembunyikan perasaan anda yang luka dan tersinggung oleh seseorang dalam kumpulan dan berlaku sebagai biasa.
Anda tidak merasa iri hati bila melihat orang lain dipuji dan disanjung.
Anda dapat menghadapi kebencian orang yang anda benar-benar merasa tidak sewajar dengan mereka.
Anda mampu menguasai nafsu gelojoh walaupun anda ingin mendapat perkara yang anda fikir boleh dapat.
Anda dapat menahan rasa sakit hati dan malu seandainya anda tidak dapat hidup setaraf dengan rakan sejawat anda yang lain.
Anda terus berlaku adil dan saksama walaupun suasana sekeliling menghalang maksud anda.
Anda dapat menerima kritik atau salah faham orang tanpa memperbesar-besarkannya.
Anda memandang jauh kedepan, umpamanya dengan sabar menangung kesusahan demi kepentingan masa depan, tanpa merasa resah, bimbang dan ragu.
Anda memberi persetujuan kepada pendapat- pendapat yang anda tidak setujui dalam perdebatan tanpa merasa sakit hati atau tidak senang.
Anda berbahagia bersendirian dengan mempunyai satu kegemaran atau hobi yang benar-benar anda minati.
Anda mengaku dengan jujur tidak tahu bila anda betul-betul tidak tahu, tanpa merasa malu.
Anda menghadapi orang-orang tua atau orang- orang yang lebih berpengaruh tanpa sentiasa berusaha untuk menimbulkan kesan-kesan negatif.
Anda akan cuba melakukan sesuatu dengan sederhana bukannya berlebih-lebihan untuk menunjukkan bahawa anda dapat melakukannya dengan lebih sempurna.
Anda dapat mendahulukan kepentingan orang lain walaupun anda tidak merasa senang kerananya.
Anda boleh berlaku wajar dan saksama terhadap orang-orang yang tidak anda sukai.
Anda dapat mengujudkan rasa kasih-sayang, cinta atau boleh bersahabat tanpa mendapat tempat yang utama dalam hidup mereka.
Sekiranya anda lelaki, anda dapat bekerjasama atau bersahabat dengan wanita tanpa berfikir bahawa anda adalah lelaki yang jadi idaman setiap wanita.
Sekiranya anda wanita, anda dapat bekerjasama atau bersahabat dengan orang lelaki secara jujur.
- Artikel iluvislam.com

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