Written questions by Hollinrake.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the written statement of 18 December 2024 on Local Government Finance Settlement, HCWS342, whether the Local Audit Office will itself undertake local government audits; and whether local audit will be undertaken by the private or public sector.

The government’s local audit strategy is seeking views on whether and how to grow public provision, including how to ensure that provision achieves overall growth without reducing private sector capacity.Consideration is also being given as to whether the Local Audit Office (LAO) should have the power to provide some level of public provision or if the provision should sit separately, and to the role of the Secretary of State and LAO in determining the appropriate proportion of public provision for the market.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 19 December 2024 to Question 20283 on Chinese Embassy: Planning Permission, on what date officials met representatives of the People’s Republic of China; whether special advisers were in attendance; whether representatives of other Departments were in attendance; and whether minutes were kept of the meeting.

MHCLG officials attended meetings with representatives of the People’s Republic of China in January, April and December 2024, alongside officials from the FCDO. No special advisers were in attendance.The purpose of attending these meetings was to explain the operation of the UK planning system and answer related queries. The merits of the proposed application for a new embassy were not discussed. Other clarification meetings took place with London-based embassy staff between May and October 2024.

Communities and Local Government, from what source the £2.5 million released for Eden Project North in July 2024 came; and whether the decision to release the funding was taken by the previous administration.

I can confirm that in November 2024 the department approved the Full Business Case for the £50 million of HM Government funding.We are all keen to see the delivery impact of this investment as soon as possible. Funding will be released in line with delivery milestones.The £2.5 million relates to the development phase funding to assist in detailed design and other activities that enable Lancaster City Council to progress delivery. This development funding decision was made in February 2024 and forms part of the approved grant for the project.Lancaster City Council are currently progressing with the detailed design and cost assessment of the project. Key resources such as design teams and projects managers have been procured, and the project is progressing in line with key milestones. My officials continue to work closely with Lancaster City Council to support delivery.

Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the additional cost to Eden Project North of delays to that project.

I can confirm that in November 2024 the department approved the Full Business Case for the £50 million of HM Government funding.We are all keen to see the delivery impact of this investment as soon as possible. Funding will be released in line with delivery milestones.The £2.5 million relates to the development phase funding to assist in detailed design and other activities that enable Lancaster City Council to progress delivery. This development funding decision was made in February 2024 and forms part of the approved grant for the project.Lancaster City Council are currently progressing with the detailed design and cost assessment of the project. Key resources such as design teams and projects managers have been procured, and the project is progressing in line with key milestones. My officials continue to work closely with Lancaster City Council to support delivery.

Communities and Local Government, what the average grant per unit was for a social rent dwelling in the 2015-18 Affordable Housing Programme.

The Affordable Housing Programme for 2015-2018 was extended to 2020 at the Autumn Statement 2014.However, the programme was interrupted at the 2015 Spending Review and the remaining programme budget was consolidated into the Affordable Homes Programme for 2016-2023.Delivery data for the 2015-18 programme is set out in the National Audit Office (NAO) Report: The Affordable Homes Programme since 2015. The report can be found on the NAO website here.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2024 to Question 18951 on Local Government Finance, whether the debt of Woking Borough Council will be redistributed to a new unitary local authority covering Woking.

The English Devolution White Paper published on 16 December announced that the Government will facilitate local government reorganisation for two-tier areas and for unitary councils where there is evidence of failure, or where their size or boundaries may be hindering their ability to deliver sustainable and high-quality public services.Previous Secretaries of State used statutory powers to intervene in a small number of councils failing their Best Value Duty partly associated with high levels of unsustainable debt. We will work with local leaders to explore how best to support local government reorganisation where there has been failure. We will continue to work with Best Value Commissioners in these councils to support the councils’ financial recovery.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the policy paper entitled Oxford-Cambridge Arc, published 18 February 2021, whether that policy paper remains her policy.

This government has put sustained economic growth at the heart of its agenda and recognises that Oxford to Cambridge has a key role to play in delivering on these ambitions. The Oxford to Cambridge region adds over £110 billion to the economy each year, which is underpinned by the area’s world class research, development and innovation strengths. I recognise the region’s potential to make even more of a contribution to the UK economy and government is determined to make this happen. Our commitment to deliver East West Rail, which will connect Oxford, Milton Keynes, and Cambridge, will be central to this ambition.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department’s policy paper entitled Planning Reform Working Paper: Development and Nature Recovery, published on 15 December 2024, and pursuant to the Answer of 3 January 2025 to Question 20226 on Environmental Impact Assessment, whether Environmental Outcomes Reports will involve carbon reporting of (a) proposed new construction and (b) embedded carbon in existing buildings.

The powers secured through the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 would allow Strategic Environmental Assessment and Environmental Impact Assessment to be replaced with a new framework of Environmental Outcomes Reports.The government is committed to securing better environmental outcomes alongside securing the development we need and will consider how best to reform environmental assessment with this objective in mind. Alongside, reforming building regulations, we will carefully consider how Environmental Outcomes Reports can be used to support our wider carbon reduction targets. In the meantime, the current legislation on environmental assessment and its supporting guidance continues to apply.

Communities and Local Government, what data her Department collects on resident satisfaction with local government.

The Local Government Association carries out a triannual survey of resident satisfaction with local government across Great Britain. The data is published and available here.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2024 to Question 18960 on Council of the Nations and Regions: National Identity, if she will make it her policy to champion (a) the English national identity and (b) pride in England as a constituent nation of the United Kingdom.

We want to see all of England access devolved power by establishing Strategic Authorities that can make key decisions to drive economic growth, preferably with a Mayor. This will ensure that all parts of England have the powerful voice they need in national policymaking through attending the Council of Nations and Regions and the Mayoral Council for England’s Mayors.

Communities and Local Government, whether the Regulator of Social Housing has provided guidance to registered providers of social housing on translation of guidance into foreign languages.

All registered providers of social housing are required to deliver the outcomes of the regulatory standards set by the independent Regulator of Social Housing. In particular, under the Transparency, Influence and Accountability standard, all registered providers must ensure that communication with and information for tenants is clear, accessible and appropriate to the diverse needs of their tenants.The regulator’s consumer standards Code of Practice states that providers should make tenants aware of the different ways in which services are tailored to meet their needs. It provides examples of ways in which providers could achieve this, including by informing tenants that information can be supplied in different languages on request.

Communities and Local Government, what steps the Government is taking to support energy efficiency in domestic dwellings through the replacement of single glazed windows with double or triple glazing; and in what circumstances is planning permission required for such replacements.

Forthcoming changes to the energy performance model underpinning Energy Performance Certificates will ensure that fabric improvements made by consumers, such as installing double or triple glazing, are suitably recognised and rewarded by the model.In most cases the replacement of windows of similar appearance can be undertaken without the need for a planning application. However, there may be some local exceptions, and other consents such as listed building consent may be required.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Provisional local government finance settlement: England, 2025 to 2026, published on 18 December 2024, what estimate she has made of the expected increase in average Band D council tax in England in (a) cash and (b) percentage terms between 2024-25 and 2025-26 when calculating the core spending power increase.

Growth in council tax revenue is calculated using two factors, growth in the size of the tax base, and levels of taxation. Council tax levels are assumed to increase in line with the principles set out at the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement. More detail on the methodology including assumptions about the growth in the size of the tax base is available here.The methodology used to calculate the expected increase in average Band D council tax in England is available in the Explanatory Note on Core Spending Power for the Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement 2025-26.

Communities and Local Government, how the allowances of combined authority mayors will be determined.

Decisions on allowances for Combined Authority mayors is a matter for each individual Combined Authority. The process to follow is set out in regulation 20 of the of the Local Authorities (Members’ Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003. This requires them to consider a report from an independent remuneration panel established by the Combined Authority or by one or more of their constituent councils.

Communities and Local Government, what her policy is on the frequency at which local authorities can issue local newspapers.

The Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity provides guidance to local authorities on the appropriate use of publicity. This includes the frequency of newsletters, newssheets or similar communications which seek to emulate commercial newspapers in style or content. Councils should not issue such communications more frequently than quarterly, apart from parish councils which should issue them no more frequently than monthly.Local authorities are required to have regard to this guidance in coming to any decision on publicity.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 27 November 2024 to Question 15001 on Local Government Finance and with reference to the Provisional local government finance settlement: England, 2025 to 2026, published on 18 December 2024, what estimate her Department has made of the (a) value of locally retained business rates in 2025-26 and (b) the proportion of core spending power comprised by those rates.

Local authorities have not yet submitted their estimates of business rates income for 2025-26. The Department will publish local authority estimates of locally retained business rates for 2025-26 on 19th February.Core Spending Power, published alongside the settlement, includes Settlement Funding Assessment which is comprised of Revenue Support Grant and a component linked to business rates - Baseline Funding Levels. Baseline Funding Levels represent an authority’s need that is funded via business rates and will increase to £16.1 billion for 2025-26. In addition, Core Spending Power includes an adjustment for compensation for under-indexing the business rates multipliers of £2.7 billion. In total, business rates elements make up £18.8 billion, or 27% of core spending power.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Answer of 19 December 2024 to Question HL3240 on Chinese Embassy: Planning Permission, which (a) local authorities and (b) public bodies have submitted representations to the planning inquiry.

Representations have been submitted to the planning inquiry by The London Borough of Tower Hamlets. No representations have been submitted to the Planning Inspectorate by public bodies. Some public bodies have submitted representations direct to the Local Planning Authority. Representations can be viewed in the inquiry library which can be found here.

Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department has issued on how the proposed Community Right to Buy will (a) operate and (b) differ from the community rights provisions of the Localism Act 2011.

Community Right to Buy will be introduced in the English Devolution Bill, providing stronger powers for local people who wish to purchase valued community spaces. We are considering what changes need to be made to the Localism Act 2011 to better support community ownership, while respecting the rights of asset owners. We will provide more details on the planned measures in due course.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Statement of 16 December 2024, Official Report, HCWS316, on the Devolution White Paper, whether devolution by default will include the devolution of local taxation powers by default.

We have published a new, enhanced devolution framework, expanding and deepening the powers available to Mayors and Strategic Authorities. Mayors of Established Mayoral Strategic Authorities will, for the first time, have a right to request further devolution of specific functions and powers which the government will have to respond to. The government keeps all taxes under review and is focused on standardising existing tax powers which are currently uneven across Mayoral areas.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 16 December 2024 to Question 16954 on New Towns, what discussions she has had with local authorities on participation in the New Towns programme.

As per its Terms of Reference which can be found on gov.uk here, in developing recommendations to ministers, the New Towns Taskforce will engage with local stakeholders, including local authorities. The Taskforce will report in the summer.