Every parliamentary written question tabled by Kevin Hollinrake this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 2,321–2,340 of 2,858 · this parliament
Communities and Local Government, if she will commence the street votes programme through the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023.
The government continues to review its policy inheritance from the last government, including in relation to specific provisions of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act that have not been brought into force.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Statement of 16 December 2024, HCWS317, on Development and the environment, what assessment she has been of the potential impact of nutrient mitigation funding requirements on (a) Community Infrastructure Levy and (b) Section 106 affordable housing payments; and whether nutrient mitigation funding will be subject to an economic viability test.
I refer the hon. Member to my answer to Question UIN 22914 on 29 January 2025
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 25 November 2024 to Question 15985 on Planning Permission: Publicity, if she will make an assessment with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of the income generated by publishing statutory notices on the financial viability of independent local newspapers.
The government has no plans to assess the impact of income generated from statutory notices on the viability of local newspapers.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 5 December 2024 to Question 16948 on Planning Permission, what guidance the National Planning Casework Unit provided on the processes and administrative arrangements for the decision on whether to call-in the Chinese Embassy planning application in London.
The decision to call in these applications was made on the basis of the policy set out in the Written Ministerial Statement of 26 October 2012 (Official Report, Colum 72WS).In dealing with any application, Ministers and officials will act in accordance with published propriety guidance on planning casework decisions. More information can be found on gov.uk here.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Statement of 17 December 2024 on Development and the environment, HCWS317, how the new Environmental Outcome Reporting regime will differ from the EU legacy (a) Environment Impact Assessment and (b) Strategic Environmental Assessment regimes; and whether the Environmental Outcome Reporting regime will include carbon reporting.
As set out in my answer to Question UIN 26559 on 6 February 2025, the detail of the new system will be set out in secondary legislation through regulations as well as in guidance.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2024 to Question 17563 on Chinese Embassy: Planning Permission, what guidance her Department has issued to planning decision-makers on how planning applications which have (a) previously been refused and (b) been resubmitted without any substantive changes should be considered.
The relevant Planning Practice Guidance can be found on gov.uk here.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2024 to Question 18957 on Devolution: East of England, for what reason planning powers are being transferred to a regional level.
The government does not intend to transfer planning powers to a regional level. The English Devolution White Paper, Power and Partnership: Foundations for Growth, published in December 2024, confirmed our commitment to implement strategic planning at a sub-regional level through the production of Spatial Development Strategies (SDSs).
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2024 to Question 18960 on Council of the Nations and Regions: National Identity, what definition of (a) regions and (b) nations her Department uses within the English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024.
The United Kingdom comprises four constituent nations. The English Devolution White paper sets out how powers will be devolved within England, to regions whose boundaries are to be agreed with local stakeholders.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department’s policy paper entitled Development and Nature Recovery, published on 15 December 2024, what steps is she taking to ensure new housebuilding is prioritised over the protection of newts.
When it comes to development and the environment, we know we can do better than the status quo, which too often sees both sustainable housebuilding and nature recovery stall. Instead of environmental protections being seen as a barrier to growth, we want to unlock a win-win for the economy and for nature.Proposals for a Nature Restoration Fund are under development for inclusion in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. Further information will be set out when the Bill is introduced.
Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of ending the New Homes Bonus on the funding of district councils.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 19760 on 20 December 2024.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 16 December 2024 on English Devolution, HCWS316, if she will place in the Library a copy of each substantive response by local authorities to the invitation sent to places without devolution in July 2024.
As has been the case under successive administrations, we do not generally publish private letters of correspondence sent to Government Ministers.
Communities and Local Government, what requests she has received from local authorities to set a council tax referendum threshold for 2025-26 above the draft Local Government Finance Settlement.
I refer the hon Member to the written ministerial made by the Secretary of State (HCWS413) on 3 February 2025.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department’s policy paper entitled Development and Nature Recovery, published on 15 December 2024, whether she plans to (a) amend and (b) repeal the assimilated EU Habitat Regulation Assessment regulations.
The government does not consider it necessary to repeal environmental legislation to take forward the approach set out in the Development and Nature Planning Reform Working Paper to accelerate housing and infrastructure development whilst going beyond offsetting harm to drive forward nature recovery, although targeted changes may be required. As set out in the King’s Speech, we will only act in legislation where we can confirm to Parliament that the steps we are taking will deliver positive environmental outcomes.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to page 64 of the English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, what assessment she has made of the impact of the (a) abolition of district councils with existing Local Plans, (b) requirement of new unitaries to develop new Local Plans and (c) development of Spatial Development Strategies on the viability of the delivery of the 1.5 million homes target in this Parliament.
Where an area is going through local government reorganisation, it is essential that individual local authorities continue to deliver services and statutory duties as these remain unchanged up until such time as the re-organisation process is complete.The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended) requires all local planning authorities to identify strategic priorities for the development and use of land in the authority’s area and set out policies to address these in their development plan.New unitary authorities agree to take on this responsibility when they reorganise, and the government expects to see them playing their part in delivering universal coverage of local development plans as soon as possible.The production of Spatial Development Strategies will improve housing delivery by facilitating effective cross-boundary cooperation and enabling the most beneficial use to be made of sustainable development sites with the appropriate infrastructure either present or planned.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 16 December 2024 on English Devolution, HCWS316, how many areas will be in the first wave of local government restructuring.
On 16th December, I wrote to all councils in two-tier areas and to neighbouring small unitaries alongside the White Paper, to set out our plans. I intend to write soon to formally invite unitary proposals from all these councils. As set out in the White Paper we will deliver an ambitious first wave of reorganisation in this Parliament.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 3.2 of the Devolution White Paper, CP 1218, if she will make an estimate of the average change in Band D council tax in England from proposed changes to mayoral precepts.
Mayoral precepts are a matter for mayors, who are accountable to local taxpayers. Successive governments have not put in place measures to limit mayoral precepts. The measures in the English Devolution White Paper seek to provide consistent powers between Mayoral Combined Authorities.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to para 4.2.3 of the English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, how the (a) debts and (b) surpluses of individual councils will be divided up in areas with local government restructuring; and whether debt liability will be transferred to all the taxpayers in the new unitary.
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. Local government re-organisation does not change this. Previous Secretaries of State used statutory powers to intervene in a small number of councils failing their Best Value Duty partly associated with high levels of unsustainable debt.We will work with local leaders to explore how best to support local government reorganisation where there has been failure. We will continue to work with Best Value Commissioners in these councils to support the councils’ financial recovery.
Communities and Local Government, how many times the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs has made a representation to her Department on the call-in of a planning application in the last ten years.
Officials do not monitor or track the number of representations made by particular organisations or parties over time. As such, the department does not hold such statistics.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 18 December 2024, to Question 18953, on Chinese Embassy: Planning Permission, whether 10 Downing Street asked the Deputy Prime Minister to call in the planning application, further to the Prime Minister’s conversation with President Xi on the matter.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 17009 on 6 December 2024.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to Written Statement of 18 December 2024 on the Local Government Finance Settlement, HCWS342, what the real terms increase in core spending power is for each local authority.
The Settlement for 2025-26 makes available over £69 billion for local government. This is a 6.8% cash terms increase or 4.3% real terms increase in councils’ Core Spending Power on 2024-25.