1
plan. In this way, the Governor-in-Council would be
assured that a statutory consultative procedure related
to the planning had been followed. A statutory plan
would also provide a more certain definition of the
boundaries of the layout, which in the present system,
defines the limits in which the exchange policy operates.
It is appreciated that the present accelerated programme
for the New Towns and Market Towns probably precludes
the adoption of full statutory town planning procedures,
and that the justification of the use of resumption procedures (and exchange procedures) for the acquisition
of leased lands will have to continue to rely on the
approval by the Finance Committee of development packages
in the New Towns development programmes.
Nevertheless,
the Working Group noted that in many cases the first
formal notice which any landowner receives about the
resumption of his land is the posting of a resumption
notice, frequently of only one month duration, and con-
sidered that it is very important that Government should
make a firm endeavour to improve its procedures for
advance consultation and information.
Wherever possible,
at least three months formal notice should be given. This
formal advance notice is necessary not least because the
better informed are able to take advantage of any
prior information of Government's intentions in their
dealings in land before it is resumed.
/General