Written questions by Hollinrake.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 5.15 of the Explanatory Memorandum to the Local Authorities (Changes of Years of Ordinary Elections) (England) Order 2025, published on 10 February 2025, how long will new unitary councils exist in shadow form before they are established as full councils.

My Department has no plans to publish the correspondence or substantive text of the petitions mentioned in paragraph 7.4 of the Explanatory Memorandum to the Local Authorities (Changes of Years of Ordinary Elections) (England) Order 2025, or to publish the Government’s responses. The period a new unitary council exists in shadow form before assuming all council functions will depend on the nature of proposals for local government reorganisation and progress on development of those proposals. The typical period for the recent local government reorganisations has been around one year.

What steps is her Department taking to help reopen Hammersmith Bridge to vehicular traffic; and what responsibilities (a) central government, (b) Transport for London and (c) the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham have to finance the repairs.

My Department is continuing to work productively with both the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham (LBHF) and Transport for London (TfL) to explore possible next steps for the Hammersmith Bridge restoration project. As the asset owner, LBHF is ultimately responsible for the repair and maintenance of Hammersmith Bridge. Given the challenging fiscal environment, the Department is clear that any further funding consideration is contingent upon an agreed engineering solution and cost sharing approach between partners.

Whether HM Revenue and Customs holds data on the (a) number of employees, (b) salaries and (c) aggregate revenue of National Insurance contributions collected from local councils.

HM Revenue and Customs holds data on employee earnings and deductions, provided by employers in Full Payment Submissions to HMRC. However, local councils are not separately identified in HMRC data, so the requested figures are not available.

Pursuant to the Answer of 20 December 2024 to Question 19711 on Airports: Business Rates, whether any changes have been made to (a) using profitability metrics and (b) other processes since the last revaluation to the Valuation Office Agency's methodology for valuing business rates.

If by “profitability metrics” and “other processes” the question is referring to the method of valuation adopted by the Valuation Office Agency for airports, then there has been no change since the last revaluation.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2025, to Question 21621 on Unitary Councils, what the average (a) population size, (b) number of electoral wards, (c) total number of councillors and (d) residents per councillor were for each unitary council on 21 February 2025.

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England collects electorate data from local authorities on an annual basis, and the latest data collection exercise was carried out in 2024. Where an authority has been subject to a completed electoral review which has not been implemented yet, the incoming council size and ward data has been used rather than existing.From this data, for existing unitary authorities (including the Isles of Scilly), the total average is as follows:Average total number of wards/divisions: 31Average total number of councillors: 58Population data is collected and published by the ONS. The latest data available is from 2023, and indicates that the average population in existing unitary authorities is 265,028. Based on this population, the average population per councillor in existing unitary authorities can be calculated to be approximately 4,600 people per councillor.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Local Authorities (Changes of Years of Ordinary Elections) (England) Order 2025, whether elections for specified councils will happen if local government restructuring takes place in those areas.

The date of elections to new unitary authorities will depend on the nature of proposals and progress on development of those proposals.The position remains that elections to authorities specified in the Local Authorities (Changes of Years of Ordinary Elections) (England) Order 2025 will take place on the date to which they have been postponed, in May 2026.Any local authority dissolved as a result of local government restructuring will cease to exist on the date specified in the legislation providing for that restructuring; that date will depend on the nature of proposals and progress on development of those proposals.The arrangements for by-elections to councils whose elections have been postponed in May 2025 are as set out in the Explanatory Memorandum to the Local Authorities (Changes of Years of Ordinary Elections) (England) Order 2025:“Vacancies arising in the six-month period prior to the May 2025 elections would ordinarily have been filled at the May 2025 elections rather than by by-elections. The requirement for by-elections to fill such vacancies is reinstated by the postponement and this ensures there are no long-term vacancies on a council. For clarity, the instrument specifies that such by-elections must take place in the period between the coming into force of the instrument on 4 March 2025 and 1 May 2025.”That Explanatory Memorandum can be found here.Vacancies arising after 1 May 2025 will be filled at by-elections in the usual way, with any vacancies arising in the six month period before the May 2026 elections being filled at those elections.

Communities and Local Government, what the final date is for by-elections for councils with cancelled elections in May 2025.

The date of elections to new unitary authorities will depend on the nature of proposals and progress on development of those proposals.The position remains that elections to authorities specified in the Local Authorities (Changes of Years of Ordinary Elections) (England) Order 2025 will take place on the date to which they have been postponed, in May 2026.Any local authority dissolved as a result of local government restructuring will cease to exist on the date specified in the legislation providing for that restructuring; that date will depend on the nature of proposals and progress on development of those proposals.The arrangements for by-elections to councils whose elections have been postponed in May 2025 are as set out in the Explanatory Memorandum to the Local Authorities (Changes of Years of Ordinary Elections) (England) Order 2025:“Vacancies arising in the six-month period prior to the May 2025 elections would ordinarily have been filled at the May 2025 elections rather than by by-elections. The requirement for by-elections to fill such vacancies is reinstated by the postponement and this ensures there are no long-term vacancies on a council. For clarity, the instrument specifies that such by-elections must take place in the period between the coming into force of the instrument on 4 March 2025 and 1 May 2025.”That Explanatory Memorandum can be found here.Vacancies arising after 1 May 2025 will be filled at by-elections in the usual way, with any vacancies arising in the six month period before the May 2026 elections being filled at those elections.

What information the Valuation Office Agency holds on the number of supermarkets that have a rateable value of above £500,000 in England.

This information is published by special category code (Scat) here: www.gov.uk/government/publications/non-domestic-rating-property-counts-and-rateable-value-rv-for-properties-in-england-with-rv-over-500000 The VOA consider Scat codes 139 Hypermarkets/superstores (over 2500 m2) and 152 Large food stores (750-2500 m2) as supermarkets.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 14 January 2025 to Question 22038 on Council Tax: Probate, what the minimum length of time is that a property has to be empty for, before which an empty homes council tax premium can be applied by a local authority, in cases where the dwelling is put on sale or let immediately on becoming empty.

Local authorities have the discretionary power to charge a council tax premium on homes which have been left unoccupied and substantially unfurnished for one or more years. The government has published guidance which sets out that certain classes of dwellings including those actively marketed for sale or let may be excepted from the premium. This exception will apply provided the dwelling has not been marketed for sale or let for more than one year. Where a property has been marketed for more than one year it would not be eligible for this exception.

Pursuant to the Answer of 5 December 2024 to Question 16486 on Public Houses: Business Rates and Employer Contributions, what methodology her Department used to estimate that the average pub has a rateable value of £16,800; and how this relates to special category codes used by the Valuation Office Agency.

The Transforming Business Rates consultation notes that the average pub has a rateable value (RV) of £16,800. This is based on the median RV of properties under special category 226: "Public Houses/Pub Restaurants" on the 2023 compiled rating list.

Whether the Valuation Office Agency considers (a) the level of taxes and (b) other changes to fiscal policy when determining the valuation of a (i) pub and (ii) other hereditament.

The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) assesses non-domestic properties in line with legislation. This will be based on a set date, called the Antecedent Valuation Date (AVD). For the current rating list, this is 1 April 2021. The VOA’s valuations are based on the level of rent the property could earn at the AVD. Should the level of taxation and fiscal policy affect rents paid in the open market at that specific point in time, they will be reflected in any rental evidence that is used. Any change in the level of taxation or fiscal policy that occurs after the AVD, or would not have been known at the AVD, would not be considered until a subsequent non-domestic revaluation.

Pursuant to the Answers of 19 December 2024 to Questions 19709 and 19710s on Nurseries: Business Rates and Private Education: Business Rates, whether the inclusion of a nursery in an independent school increases the Rateable Value of that school.

Yes. Where part of the independent school setting includes nursery provision within the same occupation, that accommodation will be included within the valuation and therefore form part of the Rateable Value.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's correspondence entitled Local government reorganisation: invitation to local authorities in two-tier areas, published on 6 February 2025, what specific content needs to be provided in the interim plans to be submitted by 21 March 2025.

The formal invitations to submit unitary proposals were sent to the leaders of all the councils in two tier areas and their neighbouring small unitaries. These letters have been published on gov.uk. The letters set out the criteria for the development of unitary proposals, as well as the process that will be followed. The letter asks areas to provide an interim plan to Government on or before 21 March 2025, and provides guidance as to what areas should include in their interim plans. The letters set out expectations that areas jointly develop and submit a single proposal however there will be some cases when it is not possible for all councils in an area to jointly develop and submit a proposal and Government will consider any suitable proposals submitted by the relevant local authorities. It is for councils to respond to the invitation letters, having developed robust and sustainable proposals that are in the best interests of their whole area. They should engage their Members of Parliament, and ensure there is wide engagement with local partners and stakeholders, residents, workforce and their representatives, and businesses in working up their proposals. The letter sets out that once a proposal has been submitted, it will be for the Secretary of State to decide on taking a proposal forward and will consult on proposals, as required by statute.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the Answers of 23 January 2025, to Questions 25270 and 25269, on Candidates: Expenditure, whether the Electoral Committee has had discussions with (a) the Cabinet Office and (b) the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government on the issue of (i) notional invoices and (ii) declarations of value of notional spending.

The Commission is not currently discussing notional spending laws with either the Cabinet Office of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.In recent years, the Commission has discussed notional spending with the Cabinet Office and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, when the UK Government introduced changes to the notional expenditure regime in the Elections Act 2022.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 5 February 2025 to Question 26838 on Local Government: Debts, whether councils which are (a) in two-tier areas and (b) have high levels of unsustainable debt will have those debts ringfenced during local government restructuring to the council area which originally generated the debt.

It is the responsibility of councils to manage their budgets, and it is standard for councils to borrow and to hold debt, which they will do in the normal course of business. In general, as with previous restructures including those very recently, there is no proposal for council debt to be addressed centrally or written off as part of reorganisation. For areas where there are exceptional circumstances where there has been failure linked to capital practices, proposals should reflect the extent to which the implications of this can be managed locally, including as part of efficiencies possible through reorganisation. We will work in partnership with local areas to work through the implications of this.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Statement of 12 February 2025 on Further support for social and affordable housebuilding and next steps on supported housing, HCWS447, what the estimated average grant subsidy per unit is by tenure type for the Local Authority Housing Fund third round.

The amount of grant provided under the third round of the Local Authority Housing Fund is calculated relative to local property prices. We provide a grant of 40% of the median house price in the local authority area, or 50% for larger homes.On the 12 February the government committed a further £50 million in new funding and around £30 million of reallocated funds taking the total funding available to £530 million. Based on the total expected commitment and outcomes, the average grant rate for each home delivered will be c. £196k.We do not provide different grant rates for tenures under the Local Authority Housing Fund, but we do require that all homes delivered under the fund are affordable.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to her oral statement on 5 February 2025 on English Devolution and Local Government, Official Report, Column 766, what the upfront costs are of local government reorganisation in each of the next three years.

The upfront costs of local government reorganisation will be a matter for local councils to consider as they develop their proposals for reorganisation. As set out in the English Devolution White Paper, a PWC 2020 report estimated that reorganisation of the then 25 two-tier areas to a single unitary would have a one-off cost of £400 million, with the potential to realise £2.9 billion over five years, with an annual post-implementation net recurring saving of £700 million.It will be for the new councils to achieve the efficiencies identified in reorganisation proposals and subsequent detailed implementation and transformation plans while delivering high quality and sustainable public services to local residents and businesses. We are working with areas to understand the costs of taking forward proposals and implementation of new unitary structures.

Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with the Mayor of London on the potential impact of regulatory requirements (a) in the London Plan and (b) nationally on levels of housebuilding in London.

The Secretary of State meets with the Mayor of London regularly to discuss a range of matters, including regulatory requirements and housing delivery.The Mayor of London has commenced work on the next London Plan which will be submitted to the Secretary of State in due course.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to streamline (a) planning policy and (b) planning guidance.

The government published a revised National Planning Policy Framework on 12 December 2024.Last week, the government published revising Planning Practice Guidance to support local planning authorities in their plan making. Further details can be found in the Written Ministerial Statement I made on 27 February (HCWS480).The government intends to take further steps to streamline the delivery of homes and infrastructure through the Planning and Infrastructure Bill which will be introduced in the coming months.We also intend to produce a set of national policies for decision making this year that will make national policy more accessible and understandable. We will consult on these in the Spring and further details will be set out in due course.

Pursuant to the Answer of 27 January 2025 to Question 27600 on Electric Vehicles: Charging Points, what steps her Department has taken to introduce a unified consent regime for all street charging point (a) consents and (b) permits since 5 July 2024.

The Government is committed to accelerating the roll-out of charging infrastructure so that everyone, no matter where they live or work, can make the transition to an electric vehicle. Several changes have been made over time to simplify and accelerate the installation of public chargepoints, such as local authorities being able to appoint operators to install chargepoints on-street without applying for planning permission. In December, the Government announced that it will legislate to allow chargepoint operators access to street works permits and Street Manager, which is the DfT’s online service for planning and managing works in use by every authority and utility company in England. This will remove the need for them to obtain costly and time-consuming licences. The Government also confirmed further changes to permitted development rights, cutting costs and required permissions for chargepoint installation. These changes will speed up public and private EV chargepoint deployment in England, ensuring a rapidly expanding and available network.