Written questions by Wrigley.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 23/04/20225 to Question 45236 on private parking sector, if she will publish the minutes of her upcoming meetings with both private parking trade associations.

The Department does not usually publish minutes between Ministers and stakeholders. However, my officials would be happy to share a note of the meeting with your office after it takes place.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of allowing EU citizens with settled status in the UK the right to vote in local and parliamentary elections.

EU citizens who were legally resident in the UK prior to withdrawal from the EU, or whose countries have a bilateral reciprocal voting rights agreement with the UK, can vote in local elections in England and Northern Ireland. Citizens of EU Member States have never been able to vote in UK general election based on that citizenship. The Government has no plans to change this. The franchise for local and devolved government elections in Scotland and Wales is a matter for the Scottish Parliament and Senedd Cymru respectively.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of private parking companies on motorists in Devon.

The Government recognises that the matter of private parking enforcement of local authority land is a complex issue that affects local authorities, private operators and motorists. I can confirm that the Government is looking into this matter, and will be able to provide a definitive response in due course. The Government recognises the need for high standards in the private parking industry and is committed to delivering a Code of Practice, in accordance with The Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019. We are progressing with plans to protect and support all motorists and to help us further understand the potential impacts of the Code, we will be launching a consultation in due course.

Communities and Local Government, what information her Department holds on the number and proportion of local authorities that have transitioned to using private parking companies for local parking enforcement.

The Government recognises that the matter of private parking enforcement of local authority land is a complex issue that affects local authorities, private operators and motorists. I can confirm that the Government is looking into this matter, and will be able to provide a definitive response in due course. The Government recognises the need for high standards in the private parking industry and is committed to delivering a Code of Practice, in accordance with The Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019. We are progressing with plans to protect and support all motorists and to help us further understand the potential impacts of the Code, we will be launching a consultation in due course.

Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps to ensure Teignbridge District Council receives additional funding for the building of social homes.

My Department published an update on targets in the 2021-26 Programme on 30 July 2024 which can be found on gov.uk here. At Spring statement, the government announced an immediate injection of £2 billion to support delivery of the biggest boost in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation and contribute to our ambitious Plan for Change milestone of building 1.5 million safe and decent homes in this Parliament. Further detail can be found in the Written Ministerial Statement made on 25 March 2025 (HCWS549). The investment made at Spring statement follows the £800 million in new in-year funding which has been made available for the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme and that will support the delivery of up to 7,800 new homes, with more than half of them being Social Rent homes. Exact funding to different places and the locations of homes that will be built will depend on the bids received from local authorities and housing associations. The government encourages social housing providers in all areas to come forward with bids for new ambitious projects, including those ready to commence quickly. We will set out set details of new investment to succeed the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme at the Spending Review. This new investment will deliver a mix of homes for sub-market rent and homeownership, with a particular focus on delivering homes for social rent.

Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of local licensing fees for outdoor seating on small hospitality businesses.

The Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 made caps to the fees charged for pavement licences permanent. These caps were designed to allow administration costs borne by local authorities to be recovered whilst ensuring the cost to business is proportionate. They also grant local authorities discretion to align costs to local needs. The Government supports a thriving hospitality sector. In April, we announced the formation of a licensing policy taskforce which aims to create a more enabling and agile approach to licensing with a greater focus on growth. The Government will consider the recommendations of the taskforce and announce any decisions in due course.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2025 to Question 37400, if she will publish the (a) minutes and (b) attendees of meetings with private parking companies before the Westminster Hall debate on 6 May 2025.

Pursuant to my answer to Question UIN 39208 on 25 March 2025, as part of the government’s ongoing work to introduce a Code of Practice for Private Parking Operators, officials speak regularly with the two Private Parking Trade Associations.I am due to have meetings with the two parking Trade Associations next month.

Communities and Local Government, whether she has plans to repeal part 1, Schedule 13 of the Elections Act 2022.

I refer the hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 23541 on 22 January 2025.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of using the Single Transferrable Vote system in English local elections.

I refer the hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 23541 on 22 January 2025.

Communities and Local Government, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to ensure all planning decisions do not impact the UK’s climate and nature targets.

As set out in Paragraph 7 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), the purpose of the planning system is to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development, including the provision of homes, commercial development and supporting infrastructure in a sustainable manner. The Framework makes clear that the planning system should support the transition to net zero by 2050 and take full account of all climate impacts including overheating, water scarcity, storm and flood risks and coastal change. The need to mitigate and adapt to climate change should also be considered in preparing and assessing planning applications, taking into account the full range of potential climate change impacts. The Framework also makes clear that planning policies and decisions should contribute to and enhance the natural and local environment. The revised NPPF published on 12 December 2024 included changes designed to enhance and protect the environment. For example, it expects developments to provide net gains for biodiversity, including through incorporating features which support priority or threatened species such as swifts, bats, and hedgehogs. Biodiversity Net Gain requires development to deliver improvements for nature, while the Nature Restoration Fund proposed in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill would allow development to fund nature recovery in a simpler and more strategic manner, creating a win-win outcome for both the economy and nature.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 7 March 2025 to Question 34688 on Parking: Private Sector, if she will list (a) the names of organisations from the private parking industry with whom (i) ministers and (ii) officials from her Department have held meetings since 5 July 2024, and (b) the dates on which each of those meetings took place.

As per my 19 March answer, I have not yet held any meetings with the private parking industry, these are to take place shortly. However, my officials have regular meetings with the industry stakeholders. The organisations and meeting dates that took place since the 5 of July 2024 are listed below:23 July 2024 meeting with the International Parking Community (IPC);22 August 2024 meeting with the British Parking Association (BPA);08 October 2024 meeting with the BPA;04 December 2024 joint meeting with the BPA & IPC;10 December 2024 joint meeting with the BPA and IPC;16 December 2024 meeting with Agena Group;08 January 2025 meeting with the BPA;14 January 2025 meeting with the BPA;16 January 2025 meeting with the BPA;28 January 2025 meeting with the IPC;29 January 2025 joint meeting with the BPA and IPC;6 February 2025 joint meeting with the BPA and IPC;20 February 2025 joint meeting with the BPA and IPC;25 February 2025 joint meeting with the BPA and IPC.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 17 February 2025 to Question 29983 on Parking: Fees and Charges, whether she has had discussions with parking companies on the potential impact of a parking code of practice on (a) those companies' profit models (b) the number of parking charge notices issued and (c) contracts based on the financial model of profits from the number of FPN notices issued.

My officials have regular meetings with both parking Trade Associations and representatives for motorists. Meetings with the Trade Associations are scheduled monthly, and meetings with the motorist group are quarterly. In addition to regular meetings, my officials also have ad hoc meetings with both groups dependent on the business needs. Dates for my meetings have not been confirmed. On representations on the potential impacts of implementing a Private Parking Code of Practice on businesses and operations, in 2023 the Department published a draft Private Parking Code of Practice Impact Assessment, alongside a Call for Evidence to improve the evidence base within the draft Impact Assessment. Both are available online from https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/private-parking-code-of-practice-call-for-evidence My officials have used the responses to the Call for Evidence to review previous proposals and develop new ones on which, as per my previous answer, we intend to consult shortly. A Final Impact Assessment will be published following the consultation.

Communities and Local Government, if she will list the stated legal reasons her predecessor Department withdrew the private parking code of practice in 2022.

The government recognises the need for high standards in the private parking industry and is committed to delivering a Code of Practice, in accordance with The Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019.The previous government introduced the Private Parking Code of Practice in February 2022 but chose to temporarily withdraw the Code following legal challenges brought by the parking industry to review its decisions to cap the levels of parking charges and debt recovery fees.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 7 March 2025 to Question 34688 on Parking: Private Sector, if she will list the dates of each meeting her officials have had with parking (a) trade associations and (b) consumer groups since 4 July 2024; and when the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Local Growth and Building Safety is due to meet with these organisations.

My officials have regular meetings with both parking Trade Associations and representatives for motorists. Meetings with the Trade Associations are scheduled monthly, and meetings with the motorist group are quarterly. In addition to regular meetings, my officials also have ad hoc meetings with both groups dependent on the business needs. Dates for my meetings have not been confirmed. On representations on the potential impacts of implementing a Private Parking Code of Practice on businesses and operations, in 2023 the Department published a draft Private Parking Code of Practice Impact Assessment, alongside a Call for Evidence to improve the evidence base within the draft Impact Assessment. Both are available online from https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/private-parking-code-of-practice-call-for-evidence My officials have used the responses to the Call for Evidence to review previous proposals and develop new ones on which, as per my previous answer, we intend to consult shortly. A Final Impact Assessment will be published following the consultation.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 17 February 2025 to Question 29983 on Parking: Fees and Charges, whether her Department has received representations on the potential impact of implementing a parking code of practice on businesses.

My officials have regular meetings with both parking Trade Associations and representatives for motorists. Meetings with the Trade Associations are scheduled monthly, and meetings with the motorist group are quarterly. In addition to regular meetings, my officials also have ad hoc meetings with both groups dependent on the business needs. Dates for my meetings have not been confirmed. On representations on the potential impacts of implementing a Private Parking Code of Practice on businesses and operations, in 2023 the Department published a draft Private Parking Code of Practice Impact Assessment, alongside a Call for Evidence to improve the evidence base within the draft Impact Assessment. Both are available online from https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/private-parking-code-of-practice-call-for-evidence My officials have used the responses to the Call for Evidence to review previous proposals and develop new ones on which, as per my previous answer, we intend to consult shortly. A Final Impact Assessment will be published following the consultation.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 17 February 2025 to Question 29983 on Parking: Fees and Charges, whether her Department has received representations from businesses on the potential impact of implementing a parking code of practice on their operations.

My officials have regular meetings with both parking Trade Associations and representatives for motorists. Meetings with the Trade Associations are scheduled monthly, and meetings with the motorist group are quarterly. In addition to regular meetings, my officials also have ad hoc meetings with both groups dependent on the business needs. Dates for my meetings have not been confirmed. On representations on the potential impacts of implementing a Private Parking Code of Practice on businesses and operations, in 2023 the Department published a draft Private Parking Code of Practice Impact Assessment, alongside a Call for Evidence to improve the evidence base within the draft Impact Assessment. Both are available online from https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/private-parking-code-of-practice-call-for-evidence My officials have used the responses to the Call for Evidence to review previous proposals and develop new ones on which, as per my previous answer, we intend to consult shortly. A Final Impact Assessment will be published following the consultation.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the level of (a) training, (b) standards and (c) pay required for (i) staff and (ii) clerks following local government restructuring.

There has been no assessment made of the level of: (a) training, (b) standards and (c) pay required for (i) staff and (ii) clerks following local government restructuring. Local authorities are independent employers, responsible for the management and organisation of their own workforces, including training, management and pay, and all reorganisation proposals must be led and implemented by individual councils concerned.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department made an assessment of the potential merits of holding a public consultation prior to the passing of the 2022 Private Parking Code of Practice.

The Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 places a duty on the Government to prepare a code of practice containing guidance about the operation and management of private parking facilities. This includes a duty to consult with relevant stakeholders on the measures within this Code. This government is determined to drive up standards in the private parking sector and will announce its plans for the new Code and related consultation in due course.

Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps to establish a single code of practice for private parking.

The Government is committed to delivering a single Code of Practice for private parking companies to follow, as part of this process we will undergo a public consultation to assess the impact of the Code. We are currently reviewing all options and will announce our plans regarding the code in due course. My officials meet regularly with the two private parking trade associations and consumer groups and I am due to meet with them soon.

Communities and Local Government, if she will publish an impact assessment for the private parking code of practice.

The Government is committed to delivering a single Code of Practice for private parking companies to follow, as part of this process we will undergo a public consultation to assess the impact of the Code. We are currently reviewing all options and will announce our plans regarding the code in due course. My officials meet regularly with the two private parking trade associations and consumer groups and I am due to meet with them soon.