Written questions by McMurdock.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to his decision letter to council leaders in Essex on local government reorganisation, dated 25 March 2026, whether the debt acquired by Basildon council over the last two years was considered when deciding it should merge with Thurrock.

All proposals for local government reorganisation were considered carefully, on a case‑by‑case basis, against the criteria set out in the statutory guidance, alongside responses to the consultation, representations made, and all other relevant information. This included evidence on the estimated costs and benefits of each proposal. The five unitary model met the criteria on being the right size to achieve efficiencies, improve capacity and withstand financial shocks.The Government has committed to repay in-principle £200m of debt repayment support to Thurrock Council in 2026-27. This is a significant and unprecedented commitment given the historic capital practices at the Council and is a decision that has not been taken lightly, reflecting the value for money case for protecting taxpayers from the spiralling costs of ever-increasing debt. This is a first tranche of debt repayment support, and we will continue to explore what further debt support is required at a later point.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to his decision letter to Essex council leaders on local government reorganisation, dated 25 March 2026, what assessment he made of the expected level of debt of Basildon Council by 2028 in determining the creation of South West Essex Council.

All proposals for local government reorganisation were considered carefully, on a case‑by‑case basis, against the criteria set out in the statutory guidance, alongside responses to the consultation, representations made, and all other relevant information. This included evidence on the estimated costs and benefits of each proposal. The five unitary model met the criteria on being the right size to achieve efficiencies, improve capacity and withstand financial shocks.The Government has committed to repay in-principle £200m of debt repayment support to Thurrock Council in 2026-27. This is a significant and unprecedented commitment given the historic capital practices at the Council and is a decision that has not been taken lightly, reflecting the value for money case for protecting taxpayers from the spiralling costs of ever-increasing debt. This is a first tranche of debt repayment support, and we will continue to explore what further debt support is required at a later point.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to his decision letter to council leaders in Essex on local government reorganisation, dated 25 March 2026, whether he made an assessment of the potential merits of bringing the 2027 Basildon council elections forward to 2026.

Subject to Parliamentary approval, the Government intends to implement its decision to create five new unitary councils in Essex through a Structural Changes Order. It is anticipated that this Order will be considered by Parliament in the autumn. As set out in the summary of the local government reorganisation process published in July 2025, and consistent with previous reorganisations including the approach taken for Surrey, that Order will make transitional and electoral arrangements. This will include replacing scheduled elections to councils that are to be abolished with elections to the new unitary councils. Where elections would otherwise take place, councillors’ terms are instead extended for a short, defined period, ensuring continuity of democratic representation while avoiding elections that would result in very short terms of office. Replacing those elections with all‑out elections to the new councils supports an orderly transition and provides clarity about future governance arrangements. Until the Structural Changes Order comes into force and the existing councils are abolished on 1 April 2028, current councils will remain responsible for services in their areas, and the usual arrangements, including for by‑elections where vacancies arise, will continue to apply. In taking these decisions, the Secretary of State had regard to all representations received, including consultation responses, and all other relevant information available.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to his decision letter to council leaders in Essex on local government reorganisation, dated 25 March 2026, what were the reasons for his decision to cancel the 2027 local elections in Basildon.

Subject to Parliamentary approval, the Government intends to implement its decision to create five new unitary councils in Essex through a Structural Changes Order. It is anticipated that this Order will be considered by Parliament in the autumn. As set out in the summary of the local government reorganisation process published in July 2025, and consistent with previous reorganisations including the approach taken for Surrey, that Order will make transitional and electoral arrangements. This will include replacing scheduled elections to councils that are to be abolished with elections to the new unitary councils. Where elections would otherwise take place, councillors’ terms are instead extended for a short, defined period, ensuring continuity of democratic representation while avoiding elections that would result in very short terms of office. Replacing those elections with all‑out elections to the new councils supports an orderly transition and provides clarity about future governance arrangements. Until the Structural Changes Order comes into force and the existing councils are abolished on 1 April 2028, current councils will remain responsible for services in their areas, and the usual arrangements, including for by‑elections where vacancies arise, will continue to apply. In taking these decisions, the Secretary of State had regard to all representations received, including consultation responses, and all other relevant information available.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to his decision letter to council leaders in Essex on local government reorganisation, dated 25 March 2026, whether there will be any public consultation on what the names of the five new Essex councils should be.

A statutory consultation has already been undertaken on the proposal for five new unitary councils, which will now be implemented.It is intended that the secondary legislation establishing the new councils will name them in line with that proposal.Once established, new councils will have the same powers as other local authorities to change their name if they choose to do so. It will be for the councils themselves to determine whether they wish to pursue a different name and whether to engage the public as part of that process.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to his decision letter to Essex council leaders on local government reorganisation, dated 25 March 2026, what assessment he made of the potential merits of the three-council model advocated by Essex County Council.

A summary of the decision on local government reorganisation in Essex, Southend-on Sea and Thurrock has been provided. The Department has no plans to publish the advice to Ministers, or minutes of meetings. All proposals were considered carefully, on a case-by-case basis, against the criteria, alongside the responses to the consultation, representations made and all other relevant information. This includes evidence to support the delivery of high-quality public services and estimated costs/benefits of each proposal. The Government has made an unprecedented in-principle commitment of £200m to support Thurrock’s debt repayment and is confident that the five unitary model will be delivered on a financially sustainable basis.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to his decision letter to council leaders in Essex on local government reorganisation, dated 25 March 2026, whether the councils will be able to change the name from those currently proposed.

A statutory consultation has already been undertaken on the proposal for five new unitary councils, which will now be implemented.It is intended that the secondary legislation establishing the new councils will name them in line with that proposal.Once established, new councils will have the same powers as other local authorities to change their name if they choose to do so. It will be for the councils themselves to determine whether they wish to pursue a different name and whether to engage the public as part of that process.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to his decision letter to Essex council leaders on local government reorganisation, dated 25 March 2026, what assessment he made of the potential merits of the four-council model advocated by Thurrock Council.

A summary of the decision on local government reorganisation in Essex, Southend-on Sea and Thurrock has been provided. The Department has no plans to publish the advice to Ministers, or minutes of meetings. All proposals were considered carefully, on a case-by-case basis, against the criteria, alongside the responses to the consultation, representations made and all other relevant information. This includes evidence to support the delivery of high-quality public services and estimated costs/benefits of each proposal. The Government has made an unprecedented in-principle commitment of £200m to support Thurrock’s debt repayment and is confident that the five unitary model will be delivered on a financially sustainable basis.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to his decision letter to council leaders in Essex on local government reorganisation, dated 25 March 2026, what assessment he has made of the financial viability of each of the five proposed Essex councils.

A summary of the decision on local government reorganisation in Essex, Southend-on Sea and Thurrock has been provided. The Department has no plans to publish the advice to Ministers, or minutes of meetings. All proposals were considered carefully, on a case-by-case basis, against the criteria, alongside the responses to the consultation, representations made and all other relevant information. This includes evidence to support the delivery of high-quality public services and estimated costs/benefits of each proposal. The Government has made an unprecedented in-principle commitment of £200m to support Thurrock’s debt repayment and is confident that the five unitary model will be delivered on a financially sustainable basis.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to his decision letter to council leaders in Essex on local government reorganisation, dated 25 March 2026, whether minutes and records were kept of meetings relating to the decision set out in his letter.

A summary of the decision on local government reorganisation in Essex, Southend-on Sea and Thurrock has been provided. The Department has no plans to publish the advice to Ministers, or minutes of meetings. All proposals were considered carefully, on a case-by-case basis, against the criteria, alongside the responses to the consultation, representations made and all other relevant information. This includes evidence to support the delivery of high-quality public services and estimated costs/benefits of each proposal. The Government has made an unprecedented in-principle commitment of £200m to support Thurrock’s debt repayment and is confident that the five unitary model will be delivered on a financially sustainable basis.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the press release entitled Ministers rip up consultation culture, published on 26 March 2026, what research his Department have conducted of the efficiencies that will be gained by replacing Environmental Impact Assessments with Environmental Outcomes Reports; and whether this will be published.

I refer the hon. Member to the Environmental Outcomes Reports: Roadmap to reform published on 13 March 2026, which can be found on gov.uk here, and the response to the previous government’s March 2023 consultation on Environmental Outcomes Reports, which can be found on gov.uk here.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the press release entitled Ministers rip up consultation culture, published on 26 March 2026, what differences will exist between Environmental Impact Assessments and Environmental Outcomes Reports in terms of scope and scrutiny.

I refer the hon. Member to the Environmental Outcomes Reports: Roadmap to reform published on 13 March 2026, which can be found on gov.uk here, and the response to the previous government’s March 2023 consultation on Environmental Outcomes Reports, which can be found on gov.uk here.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to his decision letter to council leaders in Essex on local government reorganisation, dated 25 March 2026, whether he sought legal advice before deciding to cancel the 2027 Basildon election.

Subject to Parliamentary approval, the Government intends to implement its decision to create five new unitary councils in Essex through a Structural Changes Order. It is anticipated that this Order will be considered by Parliament in the autumn. As set out in the summary of the local government reorganisation process published in July 2025, and consistent with previous reorganisations including the approach taken for Surrey, that Order will make transitional and electoral arrangements. This will include replacing scheduled elections to councils that are to be abolished with elections to the new unitary councils. Where elections would otherwise take place, councillors’ terms are instead extended for a short, defined period, ensuring continuity of democratic representation while avoiding elections that would result in very short terms of office. Replacing those elections with all‑out elections to the new councils supports an orderly transition and provides clarity about future governance arrangements. Until the Structural Changes Order comes into force and the existing councils are abolished on 1 April 2028, current councils will remain responsible for services in their areas, and the usual arrangements, including for by‑elections where vacancies arise, will continue to apply. In taking these decisions, the Secretary of State had regard to all representations received, including consultation responses, and all other relevant information available.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to his decision letter to council leaders in Essex on local government reorganisation, dated 25 March 2026, if he will list who he consulted before deciding to cancel the 2027 Basildon council election.

Subject to Parliamentary approval, the Government intends to implement its decision to create five new unitary councils in Essex through a Structural Changes Order. It is anticipated that this Order will be considered by Parliament in the autumn. As set out in the summary of the local government reorganisation process published in July 2025, and consistent with previous reorganisations including the approach taken for Surrey, that Order will make transitional and electoral arrangements. This will include replacing scheduled elections to councils that are to be abolished with elections to the new unitary councils. Where elections would otherwise take place, councillors’ terms are instead extended for a short, defined period, ensuring continuity of democratic representation while avoiding elections that would result in very short terms of office. Replacing those elections with all‑out elections to the new councils supports an orderly transition and provides clarity about future governance arrangements. Until the Structural Changes Order comes into force and the existing councils are abolished on 1 April 2028, current councils will remain responsible for services in their areas, and the usual arrangements, including for by‑elections where vacancies arise, will continue to apply. In taking these decisions, the Secretary of State had regard to all representations received, including consultation responses, and all other relevant information available.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to his decision letter to council leaders in Essex on local government reorganisation, dated 25 March 2026, what contingency measures will be in place to ensure the delivery of public services if existing local authorities fail to adequately prepare for the transition to the new local authorities.

My officials are in regular contact with councils to support them in undertaking preparatory work to ensure readiness for any transition to new authorities.It is essential that councils continue to deliver their business-as-usual services and duties, which remain unchanged until reorganisation is complete.There is a suite of general continuity regulations for local government reorganisation made under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, which ensure an orderly transfer to new unitary councils. These regulations provide transitional and supplementary arrangements enabling councils to undertake specific functions to support a successful move to a single tier of local government. These provisions relate to continuity of services and functions, staffing, local authority plans and schemes, transfer of assets, property and reserves.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of grey belt policy on a) biodiversity and b) access to green spaces.

I refer the hon. Member to Paragraphs 156 and 193 of the National Planning Policy Framework and to the answer given to Question UIN 103589 on 14 January 2026.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to his Department’s letter to Essex councils dated 26 March 2026, for what reason it was decided that South West Essex and South East Essex councils’ Joint Committees will automatically be chaired by a unitary council councillor, rather than allowing the Joint Committee to decide as in the rest of Essex.

Joint Committees are temporary, implementation‑focused bodies intended to support the transition to the new unitary councils. They will be replaced by shadow councils in May 2027. As such, all existing councils are to be involved in the relevant joint committee, so that implementation is a shared endeavour. In South West Essex and South East Essex, where there are existing unitary authorities, the Joint Committees is to be chaired by a councillor from those existing unitaries, reflecting their existing unitary expertise. In both areas, this operates alongside equal 50 per cent representation on the Joint Committees for councillors from the other predecessor councils. Guidance on the role of Joint Committees was circulated to all Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock councils in the Department’s letter of 26 March.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of grey belt policy on small settlement villages.

I refer the hon. Member to Paragraphs 156 and 193 of the National Planning Policy Framework and to the answer given to Question UIN 103589 on 14 January 2026.

Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the cost to developers of installing solar panels on new homes under the Future Homes Standard.

The Government has not estimated a single standalone cost for installing solar PV on new homes under the Future Homes Standard. The published Impact Assessment instead considers solar PV as part of the overall package of measures required to meet the Standard.The Department intends to monitor impacts on developers following implementation.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the impact of the Future Homes Standard on housing affordability.

The Future Homes Standard (FHS) has now been published and will come into force on 24 March 2027.The Department is intending to monitor the impacts of the standard following implementation, including impacts on developers and housing affordability.