Written questions by Cleverly.

Communities and Local Government, further to the oral evidence by the Deputy Director, Local Government Accountability and Audit, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, at the Public Accounts Committee, Oral evidence: Whole of Government Accounts 2023-24, HC 1243, 11 December 2025, Question 25, and the objective to complete reorganisation by April 2028, on what date will elections be held for the new unitary councils other than Surrey.

The Secretary of State will consider the position of each council individually, weighing up the evidence received. This means that different decisions may be taken for different councils within the same local government reorganisation invitation area that have local elections scheduled, depending on the representations received. As I set out in my Written Ministerial Statement of 18 December (HCWS1215), I remain committed to the indicative timetable that was published in July, that sees elections to new councils in May 2027 and those councils going live in April 2028.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 17 December 2025, to Question HL12631, on Universal Studios: Bedfordshire, who is the designated Planning Minister for the Chinese Embassy called-in planning application decision.

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 62966 on 7 July 2025.

Communities and Local Government, how much funding his Department or Homes England for the Lancaster West Estate refurbishment; and what assessment he has made of the estimated £85 million shortfall in funding identified the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

The government is committed to supporting the community affected by the Grenfell Tower tragedy for the long term.In the aftermath of the tragedy, the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government agreed to provide c£25m towards the refurbishment of the Lancaster West estate on the assumption that this funding was to be matched by Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and that no further funding would be required from Government.My officials have been engaging with RBKC, who lead on the refurbishment of the estate, to fully understand the cause of the shortfall and the Council’s plans for delivery.

With reference to the Valuation Office Agency's Council Tax: practice notes, Basis of Valuation- Valuation Assumptions, Section 4.3: Tenure, what assessment has the Agency made of the typical difference between a sale price and a council tax valuation as a consequence of the assumptions on leasehold flats.

I refer the hon member to the answer on UIN 99866.

If she will itemise which Valuation Office Agency special category code hereditaments are eligible for the 2026-27 Retail, Hospitality and Leisure multipliers.

I refer the hon member to the answer given on UIN 99861. In addition, the relevant guidance and regulations set out here may be of interest:Business Rates Multipliers: Qualifying Retail, Hospitality or Leisure - GOV.UKThe Non-Domestic Rating (Definition of Qualifying Retail, Hospitality or Leisure Hereditament) Regulations 2025.

What is the timetable for business rate bills to be issued for 2026-27, and what is the timetable for appeals against the new draft valuations published on 25 November 2025.

I refer the hon member to the answer given to UIN99864.

What is the estimated annual cost of the retail, hospitality and leisure multiplier in 2026-27, and how many hereditaments will be eligible in England according to her Department’s estimates.

The retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) multipliers being introduced from April are worth nearly £900 million per year, and they will benefit over 750,000 properties in England.

With reference to the Valuation Office Agency's publication, VOA rating list downloads, whether the Unique Address Reference Number (UARN) matches individual hereditaments on the 2026 draft non-domestic rating list with their previous entry on the 2023 non-domestic rating list; and how are properties matched if they do not have an UARN.

I refer the hon member to the answer given on UIN 99863.

With reference to paragraph 4.38 of the OBR, Economic and Fiscal Outlook, November 2025, CP1439, 26 November 2025, and to the HMT document, Effects of the business rates retail, hospitality and leisure multipliers and high value multiplier of 26 November 2025, whether according to information held by HM Treasury, if she will break down the 10.2 per cent increase across the effects of (i) the new high-value surcharge, (ii) the rates revaluation and (iii) the higher multipliers.

The Government does not hold data on the breakdown of business rates revenue.

Whether an Electric Vehicle chargepoint within the curtilage of a domestic dwelling is deemed to be a material consideration by the Valuation Office Agency when a property is valued or revalued for council tax, including the new surcharge.

I refer the hon member to the answer given on UIN 99865.

What the estimated annual cost is of the retail, hospitality and leisure multiplier in 2026-27; and how many hereditaments will be eligible in England.

At the Budget, the VOA announced updated property values from the 2026 revaluation. This revaluation is the first since Covid, which has led to significant increases in rateable values for some properties as they recover from the pandemic. To support with bill increases, the Government has introduced a generous support package worth £4.3 billion over the next 3 years, including support to help ratepayers to transition to their new bill. As a result, over half of all ratepayers will see no bill increases, including 23% seeing their bills go down. This means most properties seeing increases will see them capped at 15% or less next year, or £800 for the smallest. More broadly, the Government is delivering a long overdue reform to rebalance the business rates system and support the high street, as promised in our manifesto. The Government is doing this by introducing new permanently lower tax rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties. These new tax rates are worth nearly £900 million per year, and will benefit over 750,000 properties in England. The Government is paying for this tax cut through higher rates on the top one per cent of most expensive properties, including distribution warehouses used by online giants. The new RHL tax rates replace the temporary RHL relief that has been winding down since Covid. Unlike RHL relief, the new rates are permanent, giving businesses certainty and stability, and there will be no cap, meaning all qualifying properties on high streets across England will benefit.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the letter entitled 5/2025: Confirmation of Budget package and the Non-Domestic Rating Multipliers for 2026/2027, of 26 November 2025, whether the calculation of the amount and capping of transitional relief is based on the previous business rates bill which includes the value of the previous Retail, Hospitality and Leisure relief in 2025-26.

The 2026 Supporting Small Business Relief Scheme provides support for ratepayers losing certain reliefs including the current 40% relief for Retail, Hospitality and Leisure. This means most properties seeing increases will see them capped at 15% or less next year, or £800 for the smallest.The Supporting Small Businesses Relief is calculated from a base liability that takes into account the effect of eligible reliefs – Small Business Rate Relief, Rural Rate Relief, 2025/26 Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Relief, or 2023 Supporting Small Business Relief. The government published guidance for local authorities on the administration of the scheme on 15 December. This can be found on gov.uk here.

With reference to the Valuation Office Agency's publication, VOA rating list downloads, whether the Unique Address Reference Number matches individual hereditaments on the 2026 draft non-domestic rating list with their previous entry on the 2023 non-domestic rating list; and how are properties matched if they do not have an Unique Address Reference Number.

All properties in the rating list are assigned a Unique Address Reference Number (UARN). The UARN for each property is the same between both lists and will continue into the compiled list, due to come into effect on 1 April 2026.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 16 September 2025 to Question 75987 on Local Government: Reorganisation, whether he has a policy on the area that Charter Trustees should cover.

Government policy is to work with local leaders to ensure ceremonial rights are maintained through local government reorganisation.Charter trustees are one of the mechanisms available. Their role is simply to protect ceremonial rights and civic traditions, not to exercise wider powers. They may be established in unparished areas following the abolition of a council to ensure that historic property is maintained for an area where there is no parish or town council to take on those historic charters. Their area is therefore limited to the former chartered area.Further detail on charter trustees and how they work is set out in the Charter Trustee Regulations 2009. We will continue to work with local councils throughout reorganisation to consider if these are an appropriate mechanism for each area at the appropriate time.

Which Valuation Office Agency special category code hereditaments are eligible for the 2026-27 Retail, Hospitality and Leisure multipliers.

VOA Special Category codes do not determine eligibility for RHL multipliers. Local authorities are responsible for administering the business rates multipliers for qualifying Retail, Hospitality and Leisure properties.

What her planned timetable is for business rate bills to be issued for 2026-27; and what is the timetable for appeals against the new draft valuations published on 25 November 2025.

Local councils are responsible for the timing and issuing of business rates bills, typically these are sent in February or March for the following tax year. New valuations cannot be formally challenged until they come into force on 1 April 2026. Until then valuations are draft. Ratepayers can let the VOA know now if any of the information used to calculate the valuation is wrong, and if necessary, the valuation will be corrected.

With reference to the Valuation Office Agency's Council Tax: practice notes, Basis of Valuation- Valuation Assumptions, Section 4.3: Tenure, what estimate the Agency has made of the average difference between sale prices and council tax valuations.

The Valuation Office Agency values properties in line with legislation. It is not required to provide estimates relating to the difference between sales prices and Council Tax valuations to carry out this work.

Whether an Electric Vehicle chargepoint within the curtilage of a domestic dwelling is deemed to be a material consideration by the Valuation Office Agency when a property is valued or revalued for council tax, including the new surcharge.

The Valuation Office Agency considers a range of factors when valuing domestic properties, including property attribute details, sales data, and the valuations of similar properties.

Communities and Local Government, further to the Local Authority Housing Fund: Round 4 prospectus and guidance, of 19 November 2025, what is the profile of the spending in each year; and what is the profile of competition of the units.

The £950 million fourth round of Local Authority Housing Fund will primarily support local authorities in England to increase the supply of better-quality temporary accommodation and drive down the use of Bed and Breakfasts for families with children.It will also provide safe and suitable housing for those on the Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP), to fulfil the UK’s humanitarian duties to assist those who assisted British efforts in Afghanistan and are at risk of homelessness.The fund will run for four years (2026/27 - 2029/30) and it will support delivery of up to 5,000 homes.We have written to councils to inform them of their initial allocation offers. We will agree allocations and delivery profiles ahead of delivery commencing in April 2026.

Media and Sport, whether her Department holds data on the number of recreational campsites in England.

DCMS recognises the significant value campsites and holiday parks provide in supporting our rural and coastal economies and their contribution to the wider visitor economy.Whilst DCMS has not conducted a formal assessment of the number of recreational campsites in England the UK Caravan & Camping Club's (UKCCA) 2024 "Pitching the Value" report, states in 2023 there were 4,754 holiday parks and campsites in England, offering around 320,901 pitches.