Written questions by Cleverly.

Communities and Local Government, whether the council tax referendum policy decision for the six councils with no thresholds was subject to an equality impact assessment.

We have considered the equalities impacts of the proposals and decisions in the multi-year Settlement across the period 2026-27 to 2028-29, including the council tax referendum policy decision for the six councils with no thresholds. Councils are responsible for deciding the level of their council tax and considering the inequalities impacts that may arise, including from additional flexibilities in referendum policy. Council tax increases may enable local authorities to provide better services, but may have a negative impact on any taxpayer struggling to pay their bill. Councils have tools to mitigate the impact, including in relation to equalities, for example, through a council tax support scheme.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has made a recent assessment of trends in the number of local authorities hiring public affairs consultants for lobbying.

Section 26 of the Recommended Code of Practice for Local Authority Publicity (‘the Publicity Code’) states that Local authorities should not incur any expenditure in retaining the services of lobbyists for the purpose of the publication of any material designed to influence public officials, Members of Parliament, political parties or the Government to take a particular view on any issue.Local authorities are required to have regard to the Publicity Code in coming to any decision on publicity, with is defined as any communication, in whatever form, address to the public or a section of the public.

Communities and Local Government, what recent estimate he has made of gross business rate receipts in England in (a) 2024-25, (b) 2025-26, (c) 2026-27, (d) 2027-28 and (e) 2028-29.

The Department collects estimated business rates receipts data annually from local authorities, the most recent data available is for 2024-25, 2025-26 and 2026-27 and is available here. Estimates of business rates receipts data for 2027-28 and 2028-29 have not been collected at this time. For the purpose of the Settlement, the government estimates the amount of an individual local authority’s Settlement allocation provided through the local share of business rates income. This is known as a Baseline Funding Level (BFL) which is the amount of funding that the Government determines that a local authority needs from business rates to deliver local services. The BFLs form part of Core Spending Power, core revenue funding available for local authority services through the local government finance settlement. In 2027-28 and 2028-29, BFLs will increase in line with an annual inflation measurement to reflect the annual uprating of business rates multipliers. An assumption of this was made in the multi-year Settlement to reflect this and published here.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has made an estimate of changes in the number of postal votes under the new expiry rules.

Information relating to postal vote applications is held by independent Electoral Registration Officers rather than the UK Government and so it is not possible to provide more information about the number of postal vote applications that were not renewed during any period. The department does not actively track trends in the level of postal vote renewals, or the number and proportion of postal vote applications that were renewed, over any period.The Government will continue to work with the Electoral Commission and with local authorities to support independent Electoral Registration Officers with postal vote application activities.

Communities and Local Government, whether pubs with hotel rooms, VOA SCAT Code 227, are eligible for the new pub rate relief.

Local authorities are responsible for the administration of business rates, including decisions on the awarding of various reliefs. Guidance for local authorities on the administration of the pubs and live music venues relief 2026 to 2027 was published on 18 February 2026 and can be found here. It is for local authorities to determine whether individual properties meet the definitions contained within the guidance to be eligible for the Pubs and Live Music Venues relief.

Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure that fire and rescue authorities are effectively assessing the fire risk of high-rise buildings.

Each fire and rescue authority (FRA) in England is responsible for enforcing the provisions of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO), which covers fire safety in non-domestic premises, including those within high-rise buildings. The Fire and Rescue National Framework for England sets an expectation that each FRA has a management strategy and a locally determined risk-based inspection programme for enforcing compliance with the provisions of the FSO. It is for each local FRA to determine how best to allocate its resources based on an evaluation of local risks. His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) independently assesses the effectiveness and efficiency of fire and rescue services. HMICFRS provides a rounded assessment of every fire and rescue service, including an assessment of its protection function, which undertakes this enforcement role. The Government has made available £10 million in protection uplift grant funding for 2025/26. This funding enables fire and rescue services to bolster the operational capability and capacity to fulfil their vital fire protection function to keep the public safe from fire including in high-rise buildings. The Building Safety Act 2022 established the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) which regulates higher-risk buildings (7 storeys or 18m+ with at least two residential units) in England. In 2025/26, the Government provided up to £4.4 million to support Fire and Rescue Services to recruit and train technical fire safety staff to support this work.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 2 February 2026 to Question 107987 on Planning Permission, whether his Department holds a list of (a) councils with Article 4 directions in force and (b) types of development Article 4 directions apply to.

While Local Planning Authorities are required to send a copy of all Article 4 directions to the Secretary of State when made, my Department does not hold a record of those currently in force. A full list of permitted development rights is set out in Schedule 2 to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 19 January 2026 to Question 104964 on Elections, whether there are any other (a) prospectus documents, (b) calls for evidence, (c) bidding documents, (d) consultations and (e) pilot invitations sent to local authorities that have not been published on in the last 6 months.

There are no such documents relating to the flexible voting pilots that have not been published in the last six months.The Government is exploring ways to make voting in person more efficient, more convenient, and better aligned with the expectations of today’s electors and the pilots are a part of this wider work. The Electoral Commission is responsible for carrying out an independent, statutory evaluation of the pilot schemes and will publish its findings.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 19 January 2026 to Question 104668 on council tax, what the monetary amount is of that national average Band D rate in 2025-26.

As set out in the response to the Fair Funding Review 2.0, the level of notional council tax is calculated based on the England average rather than the Band D average. The average band D council tax level in England, including parishes in 2025-26 is £2,280. This is available to view here Council Tax levels set by local authorities in England 2025 to 2026 (revised) - GOV.UK. The notional council tax values are set out in the Fair Funding share calculator.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 13 January 2026 to Question 105228 on Community Infrastructure Levy, whether he plans to amend (a) planning practice guidance and (b) legislation in response to the High Court decision; and whether local planning authorities still have discretion to waive CIL payments to householders.

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 105228 on 21 January 2026. Any announcements will be made to Parliament in the usual way.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 12 February 2025 to Question 26030 on Radicalism, when he plans to publish the minutes of the steering group.

The terms of reference for the Communities and Recovery Steering Group (Ministerial) were published on GOV.UK in March 2025. As referenced in the answer given to Question UIN 33045 on 10 March 2025, in keeping with general practice, we do not currently intend to place minutes in the Library.

Communities and Local Government, whether local billing authorities will be compensated for the cost of the new 15% pub relief if they grant the pub relief to the (a) business rate supplements levied by the Mayor of London and (b) business improvement district levies on business rates over and above the main business rate liability.

The department will publish the cost of compensating local authorities for the relief as part of the 2026-27 NNDR3 outturn data reconciliation, following the end of the 2026-27 financial year. Local authorities will be fully compensated for the loss of income associated with granting the pubs and live music venues relief they award against the main business rates liability. The Greater London Authority is not reimbursed for the lost revenue arising from government funded discretionary reliefs awarded under section 47 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988, such as the 15% Pubs and Live Music Venues Relief, when this relief is applied to a Business Rates Supplement (BRS). While these reliefs are applied on a parallel basis to reliefs on Non-Domestic Rates, the Greater London Authority bears the entire cost in respect of the resulting reduction in BRS revenues. Business Improvement District (BID) levies are established under separate legislation from the business rates system and are payable in addition to non-domestic rates. Business rates reliefs granted under section 47 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988, such as the Pubs and Live Music Venues Relief, apply only to a ratepayer’s liability for non-domestic rates and do not apply to BID levies. These reliefs therefore reduce a ratepayer’s liability to non-domestic rates only. Individual BIDs may allow for a reduction in a levy in line with their own schemes but this is a matter for individual BIDs to determine. Where a billing authority grants discretionary business rates reliefs (including reliefs under section 47 of the 1988 Act), the authority is compensated for the resulting loss of non-domestic rates income via grant paid under section 31 of the Local Government Act 2003. This compensation relates solely to reductions in non-domestic rates liability and does not extend to BID levies. Accordingly, there is no provision for central reimbursement in respect of BID levy amounts.

Communities and Local Government, whether he discussed Departmental business at the Labour YIMBY dinner on 28 October 2025.

It has not proved possible to respond to the Rt. Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the capacity of the Planning Inspectorate to deal with (a) national planning policy framework changes and (b) measures in the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025.

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 112059 on 24 February 2026.

Communities and Local Government, whether Birmingham City Council receives Pride in Place funding.

The Government’s Pride in Place Programme will provide up to £5.8 billion over 10 years to 284 places, with each receiving up to £20 million in funding and support. This will serve as the cornerstone of this Government’s support for communities.Eight neighbourhoods within Birmingham City Council’s area have been selected under Phase 2 of the Pride in Place Programme, each receiving up to £20 million over 10 years. The neighbourhoods are Hawkesley, Druids Heath, Glebe Farm, Kingstanding South East, Woodgate, Sparkbrook North, Fox Hollies and Nechells. In each area, a Neighbourhood Board made up of local residents will determine how this funding is spent, working with the local MP and Birmingham City Council to agree a Pride in Place Plan that reflects local priorities. Birmingham City Council will act as the accountable body for the funding.Birmingham City Council has also been awarded £1.5 million through the Pride in Place Impact Fund over two years. In total, the Government has announced up to £161.5 million funding for Birmingham through the Pride in Place Programme and the Pride in Place Impact Fund. This investment will help build stronger communities, create thriving places, and enable residents to take back control of their neighbourhoods. Funding will support locally led Pride in Place plans shaped around local priorities, with each area guided by a Neighbourhood Board representing the local community to ensure that investment reflects local needs and ambitions. The Pride in Place Impact Fund will provide more immediate support over the next two years, helping to revitalise high streets and community spaces while visible improvements are delivered on the ground.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2026 to Question 108227 on Combined Authorities: Surrey, whether other strategic authorities will be given the transport and adult skill functions held by county councils; and whether its role will include adult social care.

The English Devolution framework and legislation set out the powers and functions to be held by strategic authorities. Where they exist, strategic authorities become the Local Transport Authority and exercise some public transport functions, including bus franchising and responsibility for developing and implementing an area-wide Local Transport Plan. Local Authorities remain the Highways Authority for their areas. Strategic authorities are also responsible for the core Adult Skills Fund. When a new strategic authority is created, they will be conferred with the relevant functions and funding. In some cases there is a transition period where functions are held concurrently between the SA and LAs for a period. The devolution framework does not confer any social care powers on strategic authorities. Local authorities will retain responsibility for social care provision and the changes brought about by the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill will not alter this in any way.

Communities and Local Government, what business rate reliefs and multipliers apply to pubs in the City of London from 2026-27.

From April 2026, the government is introducing two lower business rates multipliers for qualifying Retail, Hospitality and Leisure properties (including pubs) with rateable values below £500,000. As a Special Authority, the City of London is able to levy an additional premium on top of the national multipliers. It is for the City of London to determine the additional levy. In addition, the Greater London Authority is levying a business rate supplement of £0.02 on all properties with a rateable value of more than £92,000 from 1 April 2026, in relation to its contribution to the Crossrail project. More information on this and the city premium can be found on here: How your bill is calculated - City of London. Pubs in the City of London will be eligible to receive the 15% Pubs and Live Music Venues Relief in 2026/27 if they meet the eligibility criteria. Further information on this relief can be found here: Business rates: Pubs and live music venues relief - GOV.UK Pubs in the City of London may also be eligible for other reliefs. Further information on business rates reliefs can be found on GOV.UK - Business rates relief: Types of business rates relief - GOV.UK.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the written statement of 9 February 2026 on Local Government Finance Settlement 2026-27 to 2028-29, what the profile is of the additional £740 million in grant funding over each year of the settlement; whether the funding has come from (a) unallocated budgets for the Spending Review period, (b) a reduction in other funding programmes and (c) additional Exchequer funding; and whether there will be Barnett consequentials.

The final 2026-27 to 2028-29 Local Government Finance Settlement confirmed £740 million in new grant funding additional to the provisional Settlement, taking the total new grant funding delivered through the multi-year Settlement to over £4 billion. Local authority funding allocations across the three years can be found here: Core Spending Power table: final local government finance settlement 2026-27 to 2028-29 - GOV.UK.The £740 million of additional funding is comprised of unallocated budgets for the Spending Review period and additional Exchequer funding. The Barnett formula applies to all increases or decreases to UK Government Departmental Expenditure Limits (DEL).

Communities and Local Government, how much business rates revenue is placed into business rates pools in (a) 2024-25, (b) 2025-26 and (c) 2026-27.

As part of the Business Rates Retention scheme, local authorities can formally seek designation as a pool. Business rates revenue is not placed separately for these authorities, rather they are treated as a single body with the Business Rates Retention system. This allows sharing of risk and reward across a group of local authorities. In 2024-25, there were 24 pools composed of 183 authorities. In 2025-26, there were 25 pools composed of 188 authorities. No pools have been designated for 2026-27. National Non-Domestic Rating income for each authority in England, including those in business rates pools, is published here. Key information tables are also available for 2024-25 and 2025-26, setting out details on adjustments in the Business Rates Retention system for each pool.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 11 February 2026 to Question 111126 on Licensing Premises: Business Rates, whether there is a statutory basis for the application of the pubs and live music rate relief.

The 2026/27 Pubs and Live Music Venues Relief is administered by local authorities using the powers they have to provide discretionary rate relief under section 47 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988. As set out in the local authority guidance published on 18 February 2026, the government will fully reimburse billing authorities and major precepting authorities for their loss of income under the business rates retention scheme as a result of awarding the relief.