Every parliamentary written question tabled by James Cartlidge this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 21–31 of 31 · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Communities and Local Government, when she expects Locality to open the window for grant applications for funding to support communities with developing neighbourhood plans in 2025-26.
The government will make an announcement in respect of support for neighbourhood planning in due course.
Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to make changes to the (a) Housing Revenue Account model and (b) Right to Buy scheme.
The government recognises that changes in rent policy, inflationary pressures, and increased costs associated with investing in existing stock since 2012 have led to increasing strain on Housing Revenue Accounts. The principle of self-financing remains the right one but we are committed to working with councils to overcome the pressures on their Housing Revenue Accounts and to supporting them to make a greater contribution to social and affordable housing supply.This government is also committed to the Right to Buy. We want to ensure that council tenants who have lived in, and paid rent on, their social homes for many years can retain the opportunity to own their home. However, reform of Right to Buy is essential to better protect much-needed social housing stock, boost council capacity and build more social homes than we lose, supporting the government’s commitment to deliver the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation.We have returned the maximum cash discounts to between £16,000 and £38,000 and we are allowing councils to keep 100% of the receipts from sales so that they are better able to build and buy new homes. We consulted last autumn on further reforms to the Right to Buy, including increased protections for new builds and changes to eligibility requirements. The consultation is now closed, and the government will set out next steps shortly.We will also set out more detail of our future investment in social and affordable housing at the Spending Review next week.
Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the five-point plan set out in the report entitled Securing the Future of Council Housing, published in September 2024.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 27397 on 7 February 2025.
Communities and Local Government, whether the legal status of (a) Local Plans and (b) Neighbourhood Plans will be impacted in circumstances where the planning authority in question is subsumed into a new unitary authority as part of local government reorganisation.
The legal status of local plans and neighbourhood plans is not impacted by local government reorganisation. Where reorganisation occurs, existing local and neighbourhood plans remain in force as part of the development plan for their area until they are replaced by new local or neighbourhood plans.
Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment on the potential impact of a planning authority being subsumed into a new unitary authority as part of local government reorganisation on housing number targets.
Local planning authorities are expected to use the government's revised standard method to assess housing needs. This is a starting point used by councils to inform the preparation of their local development plans.The government is clear all local planning authorities should continue work on local plans and get them in place as soon as possible.The implications of local government reorganisation, including the impact of reorganisation on local housing targets, will be considered in light of the specific circumstances of any given area. Local plans should still be progressed in all areas, as they will act as the foundation for any new plans as required.
Communities and Local Government, what plans she has to include district councils in the Suffolk devolution deal.
In areas of two-tier local government, as is the case in Suffolk, the Government will continue to seek to establish combined county authorities. The Government recognises the vital role district councils play and strongly encourages their involvement in combined county authorities in a number of ways, including non-constituent membership, positions on overview and scrutiny and audit committees, and via local joint working on key issues.
Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to renew the Community Housing Fund.
The Community Housing Fund was established in 2016 and closed in 2022. The Government recognises that the community-led housing sector delivers a wide range of benefits, including strengthening community participation in local decision-making, engendering community cohesion, achieving high quality design and strengthening the co-operative economy. As we develop our Long Term Housing Strategy, we will consider how the Government may further support the growth of the community-led housing sector.
Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to reform funding arrangements for Internal Drainage Board levies.
Internal Drainage Boards (IDBs) play a crucial role managing water levels and flood risk.The Government recognises the sustained increases in Internal Drainage Board levies that some local authorities have experienced over the last two years.MHCLG also recognises the need for a long-term solution and are working with Defra to explore potential approaches.
Communities and Local Government, if she will provide additional support to district councils to reduce levels of homelessness.
As announced at the Budget on 30th October, funding for homelessness services is increasing next year by £233 million compared to this year (2024/25). The increased spending will help to prevent rises in the number of families in temporary accommodation and help to prevent rough sleeping. This brings total spend to nearly a billion pounds in 25/26.As announced on 6th November, the department will also be providing £10 million of Rough Sleeping Winter Pressures Funding to local authorities across England this winter.
Communities and Local Government, if it is her Department’s policy to continue the Community Ownership Fund beyond March 2025.
Communities will rightly be seeking clarity regarding the future of the Community Ownership Fund.This Government was elected on a manifesto that stressed its commitment to the communities’ sector and community ownership through empowering communities to own and run those local assets which mean the most to them.We recognise uncertainty is challenging for groups seeking to save vital community assets; the Government is carefully considering all available options and will confirm plans in due course.
Communities and Local Government, with which members of (a) Suffolk County Council and (b) district councils in Suffolk she has discussed Suffolk's devolution deal.
This Government has recently announced that it will not be proceeding with the existing devolution deal with Suffolk County Council. Instead, Government will continue discussions Suffolk to deliver a more ambitious agreement as we lay the foundations for the English Devolution Bill. The Local Government Minister met with the Leader of Suffolk County Council recently to discuss next steps.This Government strongly believes that the benefits of devolution are best achieved through the establishment of combined institutions with a directly elected leader. In this context mayors should have a unique role in an institution which allows them to focus fully on their devolved strategic responsibilities, working hand in glove with council leaders who will vitally also focus on the delivery of the essential services for which they are responsible.Conflating these two responsibilities into the same individual and institution, as is the case under the mayoral Single Local Authority model of devolution, would risk the optimal delivery of both and is not in line with the direction of travel we are setting out ahead of the English Devolution Bill.