Written questions by McMurdock.

Communities and Local Government, whether he has made an assessment of the risk to voters from the holding and postponement of elections in the same area.

There are approximately 650 councillors whose terms will be extended as a result of local election postponements. This does not take into account any by-elections. The exact length of the term of the office will vary, including depending on the election cycle in each local authority and whether elections in 2025 were postponed. In areas with two-tier local government, there is money wasted on duplication and it is confusing about who does what and who is responsible. Through local government reorganisation, we will remove the patchwork of local elections and voters will be able to cast their ballot in a single set of local elections where one council is responsible for all local services.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to his Department's press release entitled Councils granted flexibility to finish reorganisation published on 22 January 2026, whether he plans to issue guidance to Thurrock Council on planning 2027 local elections.

As per the Secretary of State’s statement on 22 January, the necessary legislation will be laid shortly to postpone a minority of local elections in 2026, including Thurrock Council.The Department has had a range of discussions with councils across the country in recent weeks about local government reorganisation and elections, including with Basildon Council and Essex County Council.In relation to local elections in 2027, we anticipate that in Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock these will be for any new unitary authorities that are announced following the recent statutory consultation. Once a decision is taken on which final proposal for unitary local government, if any, is to be implemented, we will bring forward a Structural Changes Order as soon as possible to give councils certainty. Officials in my Department, alongside the Electoral Commission and other sector bodies, support Returning Officers with some aspects of election preparation to ensure they are progressing effectively.

Communities and Local Government, how many councillors’ terms will be extended as a result of the postponement of the elections in May 2026.

There are approximately 650 councillors whose terms will be extended as a result of local election postponements. This does not take into account any by-elections. The exact length of the term of the office will vary, including depending on the election cycle in each local authority and whether elections in 2025 were postponed. In areas with two-tier local government, there is money wasted on duplication and it is confusing about who does what and who is responsible. Through local government reorganisation, we will remove the patchwork of local elections and voters will be able to cast their ballot in a single set of local elections where one council is responsible for all local services.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to his Department's press release entitled Councils granted flexibility to finish reorganisation published on 22 January 2026, how many councils had a request for postponing elections denied.

I refer the hon. Member to the Secretary of State’s statement on 22 January 2026. Many councils gave the view that their elections should go ahead, and many asked us to consider postponing. Some councils did not seek postponement, and two did not provide sufficient evidence to support a postponement decision. Prior to reaching his decisions, the Secretary of State wrote to the leaders of Essex County Council, Norfolk County Council, Oxford City Council and Southampton City Council in relation to their position on 2026 local elections. These letters are published on gov.uk.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to his Department's press release entitled Councils granted flexibility to finish reorganisation published on 22 January 2026, whether his Department sought any further information from (a) Basildon, (b) Thurrock, and (c) any other councils requesting election postponements.

I refer the hon. Member to the Secretary of State’s statement on 22 January 2026. Many councils gave the view that their elections should go ahead, and many asked us to consider postponing. Some councils did not seek postponement, and two did not provide sufficient evidence to support a postponement decision. Prior to reaching his decisions, the Secretary of State wrote to the leaders of Essex County Council, Norfolk County Council, Oxford City Council and Southampton City Council in relation to their position on 2026 local elections. These letters are published on gov.uk.

Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to consider representations from councillors at (a) Thurrock and (b) Basildon councils on alleged procedural improprieties before he decides on cancelling those local elections.

The Secretary of State announced his decisions to the House on 22 January. We plan to bring forward legislation to postpone Thurrock Council’s 2026 elections. In reaching his decisions, the Secretary of State carefully considered all the representations made.

Communities and Local Government, when he plans to lay Statutory Instruments for councils whose elections will be postponed.

The Secretary of State announced his decisions to the House on 22 January. We plan to bring forward legislation to postpone Thurrock Council’s 2026 elections. In reaching his decisions, the Secretary of State carefully considered all the representations made.

Communities and Local Government, when he plans to update (a) Basildon, (b) Thurrock and (c) other councils who have requested election postponements.

The Secretary of State announced his decisions to the House on 22 January. We plan to bring forward legislation to postpone Thurrock Council’s 2026 elections. In reaching his decisions, the Secretary of State carefully considered all the representations made.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to his letter to Essex County Council leader Kevin Bentley, dated 19 January 2026, whether he has received correspondence from (a) any Essex County Councillor and (b) any borough council in Essex requesting a postponement of the Essex County Council elections.

On 29 January 2026, the Secretary of State wrote to the Leader of Essex County Council to confirm that he would not be including the election to Essex County Council in legislation to postpone local elections. A copy of that letter was deposited in the House library. In reaching his decisions on 2026 elections, as set out to the House on 22 January 2026, the Secretary of State adopted a locally led approach and carefully considered all the representations made, including those from the Leader of Essex County Council and other councils in Essex.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to his letter to Essex County Council leader Kevin Bentley dated 19 January 2026, if he will make it his policy that elections for Essex County Council will proceed as scheduled if Essex County Council does not explicitly request a postponement.

On 29 January 2026, the Secretary of State wrote to the Leader of Essex County Council to confirm that he would not be including the election to Essex County Council in legislation to postpone local elections. A copy of that letter was deposited in the House library. In reaching his decisions on 2026 elections, as set out to the House on 22 January 2026, the Secretary of State adopted a locally led approach and carefully considered all the representations made, including those from the Leader of Essex County Council and other councils in Essex.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answers of 14 January 2026 and 13 October 2025 to Questions 102364 and 77631 on Local Government: Reorganisation, whether his Department has conducted research comparing the average cost effectiveness of providing public services in (a) unitary and (b) two-tier councils.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 77631 on 13 October 2025.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Housing Sec pledges to 'go further than ever before' to hit 1.5 million homes, published on 16 December 2025, what estimate his Department has made of the number of applications refused by councillors in England in each year since 2020.

My Department does not collect data on rates of refusal for planning applications made at planning committees.

Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to introduce a statutory requirement in Building Regulations for the provision of Changing Places toilets in new developments.

The Government has no plans to mandate Changing Places toilets in new developments. Statutory guidance accompanying the Building Regulations (Approved Document M Vol.2 paragraphs 5.6 and 5.7) has already been updated, in January 2021, and includes provision for Changing Places toilets in new non-dwelling developments.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 12 January 2026 to Question 102432 on Council Housing: Basildon and Thurrock, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of Government support on the number of additional council houses that will be constructed in (a) Basildon and (b) Thurrock in the next five years.

My Department does not carry out assessments of the impact of government support on the potential number of additional council houses that might be delivered in each local area.

Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the number of (a) leaseholders and b) residential developments in England affected by ground rent clauses.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 74455 on 15 September 2025.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to reform the process for public consultations on redrawing local council electoral ward boundaries.

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England is responsible for delivering fair electoral and boundary arrangements for English councils. The Commission’s main focus is a rolling programme of electoral reviews, and they produce a range of guidance and resources which are available on their website, setting out the detail of how they conduct electoral reviews, including their process of consultation.As an independent body, responsible to Parliament, the process for public consultation on redrawing local council electoral ward boundaries is a matter for the Commission in line with its statutory duties. The Department has no plans to reform this.

Communities and Local Government, how national housing targets are balanced against local transport constraints in rural areas.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) makes clear that planning policies and decisions should be responsive to local circumstances in rural areas. To promote sustainable development, housing should be located where it will support and enhance the vitality of rural communities, especially where this will support local services. The Framework is also clear that significant development should be focused on locations which are, or can be made, sustainable, through limiting the need to travel and offering a genuine choice of transport modes. It also notes that opportunities to maximise sustainable transport solutions will vary between urban and rural areas, and this should be taken into account in both plan-making and decision-making. The Framework sets out that development should only be prevented or refused on highways grounds if there would be an unacceptable impact on highway safety, or the residual cumulative impacts on the road network, following mitigation, would be severe, taking into account all reasonable future scenarios. The government is currently consulting on a new NPPF that includes clearer, ‘rules based’ policies for decision-making and plan-making. The consultation includes policies on housing and sustainable transport. The consultation can be found on gov.uk here and will remain open for responses until 10 March 2026.

Communities and Local Government, what guidance is issued to local planning authorities on approving housing developments in areas where existing rural road infrastructure cannot be expanded.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) makes clear that planning policies and decisions should be responsive to local circumstances in rural areas. To promote sustainable development, housing should be located where it will support and enhance the vitality of rural communities, especially where this will support local services. The Framework is also clear that significant development should be focused on locations which are, or can be made, sustainable, through limiting the need to travel and offering a genuine choice of transport modes. It also notes that opportunities to maximise sustainable transport solutions will vary between urban and rural areas, and this should be taken into account in both plan-making and decision-making. The Framework sets out that development should only be prevented or refused on highways grounds if there would be an unacceptable impact on highway safety, or the residual cumulative impacts on the road network, following mitigation, would be severe, taking into account all reasonable future scenarios. The government is currently consulting on a new NPPF that includes clearer, ‘rules based’ policies for decision-making and plan-making. The consultation includes policies on housing and sustainable transport. The consultation can be found on gov.uk here and will remain open for responses until 10 March 2026.

Communities and Local Government, whether public petitions for elections to proceed in Basildon and Thurrock will factor into his decision on whether to cancel elections.

The Secretary of State will consider all representations received, including any public petitions, before making a decision on whether to postpone elections. He will consider the position of each council individually, weighing up the evidence received. No decisions have been made at this stage.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of ground rent escalation clauses on leaseholders.

I refer the hon. Members to the answer given to Question UIN 74455 on 15 September 2025. In addition, measures in the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, which came into effect in December, will prevent long leases with grounds rents of £250 (or £1,000 in London) from repossession under provisions in the 1988 Housing Act.