Written questions by Hollinrake.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the document entitled MHCLG: spending over £25,000, March 2025, published on 28 April 2025, what consultancy services were commissioned from CFE Research and Consulting Ltd.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government appointed a consortium of organisations, led by CFE Research and including Cordis Bright, Revolving Doors, and the Sheffield Centre for Health and Related Research (SCHARR) at The University of Sheffield, to undertake an independent evaluation of the Changing Futures programme. The spend in March was for research and evaluation activity for this programme evaluation. The Changing Futures programme is an initiative between the UK Government and The National Lottery Community Fund, running from 2021 to 2026. All evaluation publications to date are available at: Evaluation of the Changing Futures programme - GOV.UK.

Communities and Local Government, what status local designations have under the National Planning Policy Framework.

Locally designated sites have no special status within the National Planning Policy Framework. However, under the Framework local plans are expected to identify, map and safeguard locally designated sites of importance for biodiversity, including Local Wildlife Sites. As a result, locally designated sites will be considered by local planning authorities when assessing proposals for development.

Communities and Local Government, whether she received representations from the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire on the Non Domestic Ratings (Multipliers and Private Schools) Act 2025 prior to the Bill receiving Royal assent.

The Non-Domestic Rating (Multipliers and Private Schools) Bill was introduced to Parliament on 13 November 2024 and received Royal Assent on 3 April 2025. The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government did not receive representations from the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire on the Act prior to the Bill receiving Royal assent.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the transparency data entitled MHCLG: spending over £25,000, April 2025, published on 30 May 2025, what services were commissioned from the Economic and Social Research Council with reference WWC LEG Payment 24-25.

MHCLG make an annual financial contribution to the Economic and Social Research Council to part fund the What Works Centre for Local Economic Growth.

Communities and Local Government, whether a dwelling subject to a Class G exemption on a second homes council tax premium can apply for a Class H exemption after 12 months of applying a Class G exemption; and whether the reverse is the case.

Exceptions to council tax premiums may apply in succession where the dwelling meets the necessary criteria as set out in regulations. It is for individual councils to assess whether an exception applies to a dwelling

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 14 May 2025 to Question 50172 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Trade Union Officials, whether her Department has made an assessment of the value for money of providing trade union facility time in local government since 2013.

Local authorities are independent employers and MHCLG does not make an assessment of the value for money of providing trade union facility time in local government. As public sector organisations, councils are required to publish data relating to the use of facility time in their organisation.

Communities and Local Government, what her planned timetable is for making a decision on local government restructuring in Essex; when she plans to hold a formal consultation process on the number of new unitary councils to be created; when she plans to publish the proposed council (a) wards and (b) divisions for the new unitary councils; and whether the date of election for the new unitary councils will be in the (i) same year or (ii) different year from the election to the combined authority mayor for Greater Essex.

On 5 February 2025 councils in Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock were invited to submit proposals for unitary local government by 26 September 2025. Once a proposal has been submitted it will be for the government to decide on taking a proposal forward and to consult as required by statute. The exact timings and detail will depend on the proposals received and the decision taken on which proposal, if any, to implement. Decisions on the most appropriate option for each area will be judgements in the round, having regard to the statutory guidance and the available evidence.The government's consultation on Devolution Priority Programme areas closed on 13 April. We are now carefully considering the evidence collected to decide whether to establish mayoral institutions in each of the areas, including Greater Essex. It is expected that elections to new unitary authorities in Devolution Priority Programme areas undergoing local government reorganisation will take place in May 2027, with those new unitary authorities going live in April 2028. Legislation implementing a proposal for unitarisation will include provision for warding or divisional arrangements for the inaugural council elections.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answers of (a) 4 June 2025 to Question 54046 on Waste Disposal: Birmingham and (b) 7 May 2025 to Question 48129 on Birmingham City Council, what information (i) her Department and (ii) Best Value Commissioners hold on legal injunctions successfully awarded by Birmingham City Council against Unite the Union on refuse collection industrial action.

A negotiated outcome is in everyone’s interest and the government remains committed to supporting Birmingham’s long-term transformation, for the benefit of residents. The details of the civil injunction are a matter for Birmingham City Council. Following the issuance of the Section 114 notice in 2023, the government appointed commissioners to exercise certain functions of the council, including governance, finance, and recruitment. Commissioners are working to ensure the council is meeting the requirements of the Best Value Duty and operate independently within the framework of their statutory responsibilities.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 6 June 2025 to Question 53925 on Green Belt: Planning, what definition her Department uses for a built-up area; and what level of density or rurality provides that development on residential gardens is considered construction on brownfield land.

The definition of Previously Developed Land is set out in Annex 2: Glossary of the National Planning Policy Framework. It excludes land in built-up areas such as residential gardens, parks, and allotments. The National Planning Policy Framework, and associated Green Belt guidance, do not introduce a definition of a built-up area.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the press release entitled Rooftop solar for new builds to save people money, published on 6 June 2025, what estimate her Department has made of the capital cost of installing solar panels on a new build family home.

As part of the previous government’s consultation on the Future Homes Standard, an impact assessment estimating the costs and wider impacts of the proposals, including solar installations, was published. It can be found on gov.uk here.This government intend to introduce a Future Homes Standard in autumn this year and will publish an updated impact assessment alongside it.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 6 June 2025 to Question 53912 on Asylum: Housing, if she will make it her policy to issue planning practice guidance on changing hotels to asylum hostel accommodation.

My Department has no plans to issue such guidance.

Communities and Local Government, whether the Cities and Local Growth Unit has been closed.

The Cities and Local Growth Unit, a joint Unit with the Department for Business and Trade, ended on 31 March 2025.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 3 June 2025 to Question 54410 on Mo Baines, if she will publish that declaration.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 50166 on 14 May 2025.

Communities and Local Government, what the average (a) cash grant and (b) subsidy per unit is for a unit of (i) social rent housing, (ii) affordable rent and (iii) affordable home ownership.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to questions UIN 15764 on 3 December 2024, UIN 23794 on 22 January 2025, UIN 31045 on 25 February 2025 and UIN 31046 on 25 February 2025.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2025 to Question 48129 on Birmingham City Council, what information her Department holds on which contractors are collecting domestic rubbish from households in Birmingham.

The government has been working intensively with Birmingham City Council to tackle the backlog and clean up the streets in the interests of Birmingham residents and public health. Birmingham City Council believe the amount of waste on the streets is broadly back to 'normal' for the city, with households receiving one collection per week per household. Details about operational arrangements in relation to the waste service are a matter for Birmingham City Council.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the transparency data entitled MHCLG: spending over £25,000, April 2025, published on 30 May 2025, if she will publish the specification of the research commissioned from the Department for Education on research services.

No such payment exists in the transparency data entitled MHCLG: spending over 25,000, April 2025, published on 30 May 2025.

Communities and Local Government, who the members of the Reorganisation Advisory Group in her Department are; and what the terms of reference for that group are.

The Department has convened a Local Government Reorganisation Advisory Group. It is made up of a number of senior sector representatives to provide expert advice relating to the Local Government Reorganisation Programme. It has an advisory role. We will publish further details on the group’s membership and terms of reference shortly.

Communities and Local Government, what funding her Department has provided to Greater Manchester Combined Authority's Housing Investment Loans Fund; and whether (a) guidance and (b) conditions were attached to that funding.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) provided Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) with a £300m Housing Investment Loan Fund in 2015, as part of its devolution deal. The requirements of the fund, including the conditions, are set out in a Facility Agreement – executed as a deed – between MHCLG and GMCA. Summaries of how the fund operates are publicly available at gov.uk https://democracy.manchester.gov.uk/Data/Executive/20150318/Agenda/21_GMHousingInvestmentFund_2.pdf and https://democracy.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=34289 On 17 June 2025 we announced that the fund will be extended to deliver thousands of new homes over the next ten years.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the changes to the Local Government Pension Scheme on levels of industrial action by municipal firefighters.

Proposed changes to the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) are not expected to lead to industrial action by firefighters. Non-uniformed staff of local fire and rescue services are members of the LGPS but firefighters have their own separate pension scheme, the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's transparency data entitled MHCLG: spending over £25,000, March 2025, published on 28 April 2025, what the spending to Livewire Consultancy Limited on Research Services was for.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 59139 on 16 June 2025.