Written questions by Hollinrake.

Communities and Local Government, if she will publish the (a) substantive petition text and (b) Government response to each campaign referred to in paragraph 7.4 of the Explanatory Memorandum to the Local Authorities (Changes of Years of Ordinary Elections) (England) Order 2025.

My Department has no plans to publish the correspondence or substantive text of the petitions mentioned in paragraph 7.4 of the Explanatory Memorandum to the Local Authorities (Changes of Years of Ordinary Elections) (England) Order 2025, or to publish the Government’s responses. The period a new unitary council exists in shadow form before assuming all council functions will depend on the nature of proposals for local government reorganisation and progress on development of those proposals. The typical period for the recent local government reorganisations has been around one year.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's correspondence entitled Local government reorganisation: invitation to local authorities in two-tier areas, published on 6 February 2025, whether there are requirements for district and county councils in a two-tier area to agree on a single proposal before submitting it to her Department.

The formal invitations to submit unitary proposals were sent to the leaders of all the councils in two tier areas and their neighbouring small unitaries. These letters have been published on gov.uk. The letters set out the criteria for the development of unitary proposals, as well as the process that will be followed. The letter asks areas to provide an interim plan to Government on or before 21 March 2025, and provides guidance as to what areas should include in their interim plans. The letters set out expectations that areas jointly develop and submit a single proposal however there will be some cases when it is not possible for all councils in an area to jointly develop and submit a proposal and Government will consider any suitable proposals submitted by the relevant local authorities. It is for councils to respond to the invitation letters, having developed robust and sustainable proposals that are in the best interests of their whole area. They should engage their Members of Parliament, and ensure there is wide engagement with local partners and stakeholders, residents, workforce and their representatives, and businesses in working up their proposals. The letter sets out that once a proposal has been submitted, it will be for the Secretary of State to decide on taking a proposal forward and will consult on proposals, as required by statute.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the correspondence entitled Local government reorganisation: invitation to local authorities in two-tier areas, published on 6 February 2025, whether members of the public can respond to the invitation letters; and what weight will be given to representations from organisations other than the (a) principal authorities and (b) town and parish councils.

The formal invitations to submit unitary proposals were sent to the leaders of all the councils in two tier areas and their neighbouring small unitaries. These letters have been published on gov.uk. The letters set out the criteria for the development of unitary proposals, as well as the process that will be followed. The letter asks areas to provide an interim plan to Government on or before 21 March 2025, and provides guidance as to what areas should include in their interim plans. The letters set out expectations that areas jointly develop and submit a single proposal however there will be some cases when it is not possible for all councils in an area to jointly develop and submit a proposal and Government will consider any suitable proposals submitted by the relevant local authorities. It is for councils to respond to the invitation letters, having developed robust and sustainable proposals that are in the best interests of their whole area. They should engage their Members of Parliament, and ensure there is wide engagement with local partners and stakeholders, residents, workforce and their representatives, and businesses in working up their proposals. The letter sets out that once a proposal has been submitted, it will be for the Secretary of State to decide on taking a proposal forward and will consult on proposals, as required by statute.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's correspondence entitled Local government reorganisation: invitation to local authorities in two-tier areas, published on 6 February 2025, what specific content needs to be provided in the interim plans to be submitted by 21 March 2025.

The formal invitations to submit unitary proposals were sent to the leaders of all the councils in two tier areas and their neighbouring small unitaries. These letters have been published on gov.uk. The letters set out the criteria for the development of unitary proposals, as well as the process that will be followed. The letter asks areas to provide an interim plan to Government on or before 21 March 2025, and provides guidance as to what areas should include in their interim plans. The letters set out expectations that areas jointly develop and submit a single proposal however there will be some cases when it is not possible for all councils in an area to jointly develop and submit a proposal and Government will consider any suitable proposals submitted by the relevant local authorities. It is for councils to respond to the invitation letters, having developed robust and sustainable proposals that are in the best interests of their whole area. They should engage their Members of Parliament, and ensure there is wide engagement with local partners and stakeholders, residents, workforce and their representatives, and businesses in working up their proposals. The letter sets out that once a proposal has been submitted, it will be for the Secretary of State to decide on taking a proposal forward and will consult on proposals, as required by statute.

What information her Department holds on when the Valuation Office Agency plans to publish the draft Rateable Values for all hereditaments in England as part of the 2026 business rates revaluation.

In line with Section 41 of The Local Government Finance Act 1988, the VOA will publish the 2026 rating lists in draft on Gov.uk by 31 December 2025.

Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department has issued to local authorities on (a) public participation and (b) engagement with hon. Members in (i) council and (ii) combined authority meetings.

We have not issued guidance on public participation or engagement with MPs in council meetings.In 2014 the Department for Communities and Local Government published a plain English guide to open and accountable local government. This guidance addressed the public’s right to attend and report on council meetings, and related matters such as access to meeting documents.

Pursuant to the Answer of 5 December 2024 to Question 16486 on Public Houses: Business Rates and Employer Contributions, what methodology her Department used to estimate that the average pub has a rateable value of £16,800; and how this relates to special category codes used by the Valuation Office Agency.

The Transforming Business Rates consultation notes that the average pub has a rateable value (RV) of £16,800. This is based on the median RV of properties under special category 226: "Public Houses/Pub Restaurants" on the 2023 compiled rating list.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the abolition of the £110,000 relief cap on (a) the level of retail, hospitality and leisure rate relief under the new 2026-27 multiplier system and (b) (i) SME and (ii) chain firms.

As set out at Autumn Budget 2024, the Government intends to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties, including those on the high street, from 2026-27. This permanent tax cut will ensure that they benefit from much-needed certainty and support. The Government intends to fund this by introducing a higher multiplier on all properties with a rateable value (RV) of £500,000 and above. The Government will confirm the rates for the new multipliers at Budget 2025, taking account of the outcomes of the 2026 revaluation as well as the broader economic and fiscal context. Tax policy and legislation is not subject to the Better Regulation Framework Guidance which requires an Impact Assessment to accompany policy decisions. Nevertheless, when the new multipliers are set at Budget 2025 – to take effect in the 2026-27 billing year – HM Treasury intends to publish analysis of the effects of the new multiplier arrangements.

Whether the Valuation Office Agency considers (a) the level of taxes and (b) other changes to fiscal policy when determining the valuation of a (i) pub and (ii) other hereditament.

The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) assesses non-domestic properties in line with legislation. This will be based on a set date, called the Antecedent Valuation Date (AVD). For the current rating list, this is 1 April 2021. The VOA’s valuations are based on the level of rent the property could earn at the AVD. Should the level of taxation and fiscal policy affect rents paid in the open market at that specific point in time, they will be reflected in any rental evidence that is used. Any change in the level of taxation or fiscal policy that occurs after the AVD, or would not have been known at the AVD, would not be considered until a subsequent non-domestic revaluation.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's correspondence entitled Local government reorganisation: invitation to local authorities in two-tier areas, published on 6 February 2025, if she will launch a full public consultation.

The formal invitations to submit unitary proposals were sent to the leaders of all the councils in two tier areas and their neighbouring small unitaries. These letters have been published on gov.uk. The letters set out the criteria for the development of unitary proposals, as well as the process that will be followed. The letter asks areas to provide an interim plan to Government on or before 21 March 2025, and provides guidance as to what areas should include in their interim plans. The letters set out expectations that areas jointly develop and submit a single proposal however there will be some cases when it is not possible for all councils in an area to jointly develop and submit a proposal and Government will consider any suitable proposals submitted by the relevant local authorities. It is for councils to respond to the invitation letters, having developed robust and sustainable proposals that are in the best interests of their whole area. They should engage their Members of Parliament, and ensure there is wide engagement with local partners and stakeholders, residents, workforce and their representatives, and businesses in working up their proposals. The letter sets out that once a proposal has been submitted, it will be for the Secretary of State to decide on taking a proposal forward and will consult on proposals, as required by statute.

What information the Valuation Office Agency holds on the number of supermarkets that have a rateable value of above £500,000 in England.

This information is published by special category code (Scat) here: www.gov.uk/government/publications/non-domestic-rating-property-counts-and-rateable-value-rv-for-properties-in-england-with-rv-over-500000 The VOA consider Scat codes 139 Hypermarkets/superstores (over 2500 m2) and 152 Large food stores (750-2500 m2) as supermarkets.

Pursuant to the Answer of 20 December 2024 to Question 19711 on Airports: Business Rates, whether any changes have been made to (a) using profitability metrics and (b) other processes since the last revaluation to the Valuation Office Agency's methodology for valuing business rates.

If by “profitability metrics” and “other processes” the question is referring to the method of valuation adopted by the Valuation Office Agency for airports, then there has been no change since the last revaluation.

Whether HM Revenue and Customs holds data on the (a) number of employees, (b) salaries and (c) aggregate revenue of National Insurance contributions collected from local councils.

HM Revenue and Customs holds data on employee earnings and deductions, provided by employers in Full Payment Submissions to HMRC. However, local councils are not separately identified in HMRC data, so the requested figures are not available.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Local Authorities (Changes of Years of Ordinary Elections) (England) Order 2025, whether elections for specified councils will happen if local government restructuring takes place in those areas.

The date of elections to new unitary authorities will depend on the nature of proposals and progress on development of those proposals.The position remains that elections to authorities specified in the Local Authorities (Changes of Years of Ordinary Elections) (England) Order 2025 will take place on the date to which they have been postponed, in May 2026.Any local authority dissolved as a result of local government restructuring will cease to exist on the date specified in the legislation providing for that restructuring; that date will depend on the nature of proposals and progress on development of those proposals.The arrangements for by-elections to councils whose elections have been postponed in May 2025 are as set out in the Explanatory Memorandum to the Local Authorities (Changes of Years of Ordinary Elections) (England) Order 2025:“Vacancies arising in the six-month period prior to the May 2025 elections would ordinarily have been filled at the May 2025 elections rather than by by-elections. The requirement for by-elections to fill such vacancies is reinstated by the postponement and this ensures there are no long-term vacancies on a council. For clarity, the instrument specifies that such by-elections must take place in the period between the coming into force of the instrument on 4 March 2025 and 1 May 2025.”That Explanatory Memorandum can be found here.Vacancies arising after 1 May 2025 will be filled at by-elections in the usual way, with any vacancies arising in the six month period before the May 2026 elections being filled at those elections.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has commissioned research into local government restructuring in the last two years.

My department has not commissioned research into local government restructuring in the last two years, of which over a year of that period was covered by the previous government.

Communities and Local Government, on what date councils with cancelled elections in May 2025 will cease to exist as legal entities.

The date of elections to new unitary authorities will depend on the nature of proposals and progress on development of those proposals.The position remains that elections to authorities specified in the Local Authorities (Changes of Years of Ordinary Elections) (England) Order 2025 will take place on the date to which they have been postponed, in May 2026.Any local authority dissolved as a result of local government restructuring will cease to exist on the date specified in the legislation providing for that restructuring; that date will depend on the nature of proposals and progress on development of those proposals.The arrangements for by-elections to councils whose elections have been postponed in May 2025 are as set out in the Explanatory Memorandum to the Local Authorities (Changes of Years of Ordinary Elections) (England) Order 2025:“Vacancies arising in the six-month period prior to the May 2025 elections would ordinarily have been filled at the May 2025 elections rather than by by-elections. The requirement for by-elections to fill such vacancies is reinstated by the postponement and this ensures there are no long-term vacancies on a council. For clarity, the instrument specifies that such by-elections must take place in the period between the coming into force of the instrument on 4 March 2025 and 1 May 2025.”That Explanatory Memorandum can be found here.Vacancies arising after 1 May 2025 will be filled at by-elections in the usual way, with any vacancies arising in the six month period before the May 2026 elections being filled at those elections.

When his Department plans to acknowledge the Freedom of Information Act request made by the hon. Member for Thirsk and Malton, contained in the letter to the Prime Minister of 26 January 2025.

The referenced Freedom of Information request has been received, and a response will be issued in line with the Freedom of Information Act in due course.

Communities and Local Government, whether Surrey will have (a) mayoral combined authority and (b) unitary council elections in (i) 2026 and (ii) 2027.

Surrey will not have a mayoral election in 2026 as it has not been included in the Devolution Priority Programme; decisions on subsequent devolution have not yet been taken. The date of any unitary council elections will depend on the nature of proposals for local government reorganisation and progress on development of those proposals.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the end of the statutory override for the Dedicated Schools Grant on the ability of local authorities to set General Fund Accounts.

The government recognises the impact that Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) deficits are having on councils’ finances and will continue to work with the sector on a way forward.The government intends to set out plans for reforming the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) system in further detail this year. This will include details of how we will support local authorities to deal with their historic and accruing deficits and any transition period from the current SEND system to the reformed system. This will inform any decision to remove the DSG statutory override.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the ending of the statutory override for the Dedicated Schools Grant on the financial viability of local authority budgets.

The government recognises the impact that Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) deficits are having on councils’ finances and will continue to work with the sector on a way forward.The government intends to set out plans for reforming the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) system in further detail this year. This will include details of how we will support local authorities to deal with their historic and accruing deficits and any transition period from the current SEND system to the reformed system. This will inform any decision to remove the DSG statutory override.