Written questions by Simmonds.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 18 September 2024 to Question 5232 on Local Government: Elections, if she will publish the (a) council and (b) mayoral elections that are (i) scheduled and (ii) expected to take place subject to the passage of the necessary secondary legislation in May (A) 2025 and (B) 2026.

The department publishes our understanding of the years in which each council’s elections will be held. That list can be found here.In accordance with legislation, councils are required to post notice of any election or by-election taking place which they administer, and this can be found on council websites.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's guidance entitled Outdoor advertisements and signs: a guide for advertisers, published on 18 June 2007, what guidance her Department issues on advertisements displayed inside a courtyard but visible from a public highway; and whether such advertisements would be categorised as an outdoor advertisement.

The department has not issued any further guidance on advertisements displayed inside a courtyard but visible from a public highway beyond that contained in the Outdoor advertisements and signs: a guide for advertisers. General guidance on the advertisement control regime can be found at Advertisements - GOV.UK.The control of advertisements is governed by the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007. Class 6 of Schedule 3 to the Regulations grants deemed consent subject to certain conditions and limitations for advertisements on the forecourt of business premises. It is for local planning authorities to decide whether a particular advertisement requires consent or not having regard to the Regulations.

Communities and Local Government, what data her Department holds on the maximum Right to Buy discount (a) in London and (b) outside London in each year since 1997.

Financial information on Right to Buy sales in England was not collected prior to 1998-99. Average discounts from 1998-99 onwards at England level are available in Live Table 682 at the following link.Figures for numbers of sales and total discounts given are available from 2011-12 onwards by local authority at the following link.Prior to 2011-12, reliable financial data that is consistent with the numbers of sales is not held at regional or local authority level, so for these years it is not possible to provide a geographic breakdown of average discounts beyond the England level available at the above link.The maximum Right to Buy discounts for the various regions since the inception of the scheme are published in the technical notes of the department’s Right to Buy sales and replacements statistical release at the following link, under section 4.4 “Discounts”.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 11 September 2024 to Question 4069 on Local Government: Hampshire, whether she plans to introduce multi-year Local Government Finance Settlements.

This Government is committed to resetting the relationship between local and central government and working in partnership in the interests of working people. A key part of this is our commitment to moving towards multi-year Local Government Finance Settlements.

Communities and Local Government, what data her Department holds on the average Right to Buy discount (a) in London and (b) outside London in each year since 1997.

Financial information on Right to Buy sales in England was not collected prior to 1998-99. Average discounts from 1998-99 onwards at England level are available in Live Table 682 at the following link.Figures for numbers of sales and total discounts given are available from 2011-12 onwards by local authority at the following link.Prior to 2011-12, reliable financial data that is consistent with the numbers of sales is not held at regional or local authority level, so for these years it is not possible to provide a geographic breakdown of average discounts beyond the England level available at the above link.The maximum Right to Buy discounts for the various regions since the inception of the scheme are published in the technical notes of the department’s Right to Buy sales and replacements statistical release at the following link, under section 4.4 “Discounts”.