Written questions by Morello.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Local Government Finance Settlement 2025-26 on fire and rescue services provision in West Dorset constituency.

For Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Authority, the final Settlement makes available a total of up to £74.9 million in 2025-26, representing an increase in Core Spending Power of up to £2.4 million.The government will continue to work closely with stakeholders across the sector to ensure Fire and Rescue services have the resources they need to protect communities. Decisions on how their resources are best deployed to meet their core functions are a matter for each fire and rescue authority.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to help improve the clarity of (a) deferred event fees documentation and (b) other documentation. .

Once commenced, measures in the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 will ensure all leaseholders receive minimum key financial and non-financial information on a regular basis, including introducing a standardised service charge demand form and an annual report, so that leaseholders can scrutinise and better challenge costs if they are considered unreasonable.As per my Written Ministerial Statement of 21 November 2024 (HCWS2440), the government will consult on the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act’s provisions on service charges this year, bringing these measures into force as quickly as possible thereafter.We are giving careful consideration to the recommendations in the final report of the Older People’s Housing Taskforce, including that government should implement the Law Commission’s 2017 recommendations to regulate event fees.

Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps to help ensure that asset management plans are made available to prospective property buyers.

Providing essential information upfront during the home buying and selling process is important in supporting potential buyers to make informed decisions about whether a property is suitable for them.There is already a requirement under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 that any property information that would help a prospective homebuyer to make an informed decision is not hidden or omitted.On 9 February 2025, the government announced action to improve the availability of property information. Improving access to key home buying and selling data will help transactions run more smoothly by ensuring all parties are able to access the information they need at the right time.We recognise the benefits to leaseholders of Asset Management Plans. As per my Written Ministerial Statement of 21 November 2024 (HCWS2440), the government will consult on new reforms to the section 20 ‘major works’ procedure that leaseholders must go through when they face large bills for such works.    We continue to work with stakeholders across industry, government, and the public sector to understand the most effective way of supporting buyers to make the right decisions.

Communities and Local Government, what funding is available to local authorities to help improve parking infrastructure in areas with significant seasonal influxes of visitors.

Parking is the responsibility of local authorities, and it is for them to determine what is appropriate in their own area.To support this, the majority of funding in the Local Government Finance Settlement is un-ringfenced recognising that local leaders are best placed to identify local priorities.Where authorities raise income from parking services, which are often influenced by increased seasonal visitors, they are able to reinvest this in additional parking capacity as they see fit.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of parking provisions in rural towns during peak tourist seasons.

Parking is the responsibility of local authorities, and it is for them to determine what is appropriate in their own area.To support this, the majority of funding in the Local Government Finance Settlement is un-ringfenced recognising that local leaders are best placed to identify local priorities.Where authorities raise income from parking services, which are often influenced by increased seasonal visitors, they are able to reinvest this in additional parking capacity as they see fit.

Communities and Local Government, what support she is providing to coastal communities to help improve parking facilities in areas with increasing domestic tourism.

Parking is the responsibility of local authorities, and it is for them to determine what is appropriate in their own area.To support this, the majority of funding in the Local Government Finance Settlement is un-ringfenced recognising that local leaders are best placed to identify local priorities.Where authorities raise income from parking services, which are often influenced by increased seasonal visitors, they are able to reinvest this in additional parking capacity as they see fit.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle parking challenges associated with seasonal tourism surges in West Dorset constituency.

Parking is the responsibility of local authorities, and it is for them to determine what is appropriate in their own area.To support this, the majority of funding in the Local Government Finance Settlement is un-ringfenced recognising that local leaders are best placed to identify local priorities.Where authorities raise income from parking services, which are often influenced by increased seasonal visitors, they are able to reinvest this in additional parking capacity as they see fit.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to (a) prevent the establishment of pop-up campsites in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and (b) ensure that such developments do not negatively impact the local environment and biodiversity.

A nationally set permitted development right allows for the temporary use of land for recreational campsites for up to 60 days per calendar year.Where it is necessary to protect the local amenity of an area, the local planning authority can consult the local community on removing a permitted development right by making an Article 4 direction. Planning applications would then be required, and the local planning authority can determine them in accordance with its local plan and in consultation with neighbours.The government continues to keep permitted development rights under review.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to (a) support residential mobility and (b) ensure adequate housing in areas with high rates of under-occupation.

The government’s Plan for Change includes a hugely ambitious milestone of building 1.5 million new homes in England in this Parliament. We intend to deliver housing of all tenures in the right places, supporting our towns and cities to grow, and providing the homes people want near to businesses and employment opportunities.We also want to see efficient use of existing housing stock. When it comes to social housing, local authorities and housing associations are encouraged to support under-occupiers to transfer to smaller properties, including through mutual exchanges. We are also empowering local authorities to bring empty properties back into use. Where funding, tax, and informal approaches are ineffective, local authorities can use formal enforcement levers to bring homes back into use. The government is also considering recommendations from the Older People’s Housing Taskforce on how to improve housing choices for older people.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to help older residents in rural areas to downsize.

The updated National Planning Policy Framework is clear that local authorities should assess the size, type and tenure of housing needed for different groups in the community, including older people, and reflect this in planning policies.As the needs of older people can range from accessible and adaptable general needs housing to specialist housing with a high level of care and support, it is up to each local authority to decide how to prioritise particular types or tenures of new housing in order to meet needs.The Framework is also clear that planning policies and decisions should be responsive to local circumstances in rural areas.The government have committed to considering further how policy can promote rural affordable housing, and to the recommendations set out in the report of the Older People’s Housing Taskforce, published on 26 November 2024.

Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of changes in the level of living costs on homelessness rates; and what steps she is taking to mitigate tha

Homelessness levels are far too high. This government recognises the devastating impact this can have on those at risk of, or affected by, homelessness.The Household Support Fund (HSF) is a scheme providing discretionary support to those most in need towa...

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help provide accommodation for homeless people in rural areas.

Homelessness levels are far too high. This Government recognises the devastating impact this can have on those affected. We are already taking the first steps to get back on track to ending homelessness. As announced at the Budget, funding for homelessnes...

Communities and Local Government, what recent steps she has taken with cabinet colleagues to tailor homelessness prevention strategies for (a) West Dorset constituency and (b) other rural communities.

Homelessness levels are far too high. This Government recognises the devastating impact this can have on those affected. We are already taking the first steps to get back on track to ending homelessness. As announced at the Budget, funding for homelessnes...

Communities and Local Government, what assessment has her department made of the potential impact of the operation of the new waste incinerator on Portland on public transport in West Dorset constituency.

Full reasons for the decision are set out in the published decision letter and Inspector’s Report. The Inspector’s Report provides a complete list of the evidence which was before the Inquiry. Having issued this decision, the Secretary of State has no fur...

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to promote cross-departmental collaboration to strengthen rural communities following recent riots.

The Government has made £15 million available to the places most severely affected by disorder through the Community Recovery Fund to support the immediate recovery. Officials from my department have also carried out an extensive engagement process with t...

Communities and Local Government, if she will make it her policy to review the funding formula for local authorities to increase the distribution of funding provided to communities in rural areas, in the context

After years of delaying much needed fair funding reform, we will update and improve the approach to funding allocations within the Local Government Finance Settlement by redistributing funding to ensure that it reflects an up-to-date assessment of need an...

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to support local authorities in sparsely populated regions, in the context of varying levels of per capita costs for delivering services.

We have announced £1.3 billion of new grant funding in 2025/26 for local government to deliver core services, of which at least £600 million is for social care.After years of delaying much needed fair funding reform, we will update and improve the approac...

Communities and Local Government, if her Department will take steps to provide additional (a) support and (b) guidance to the owners of listed buildings in West Dorset constituency on her proposed changes to the

Further to my answer to Question UIN 10200 on 29 October 2024, as the Government takes forward its programme of planning reform we will consider the need for guidance to support listed building owners and look for opportunities to improve the heritage pla...

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the consultation entitled Proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system, published on 24 September 2024, i

Further to my answer to Question UIN 10200 on 29 October 2024, as the Government takes forward its programme of planning reform we will consider the need for guidance to support listed building owners and look for opportunities to improve the heritage pla...

Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of providing more clarity to Local Plans and Design Codes in order for Community Land Trusts to develop land for t

The Government intends to introduce a package of plan-making reforms next year which will make the process of preparing local development plans clearer and more transparent, as well as making it easier for communities and stakeholders, including Community...