Written questions by Hollinrake.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to her speech at the Local Government Association Conference of 24 October 2024, whether she plans to end the allocation of funding to local government by bidding.

The government is committed to pursuing a comprehensive set of reforms for public services to return the local government sector to a sustainable position. This will be done in partnership with local government and on the principle of giving forward notice and certainty to allow time for councils to plan.To further support the sector, we will end time-consuming competitive bidding processes and cut burdensome reporting requirements around government grants - allowing local authorities to focus on delivering services for their residents. We will also reduce the number of restrictive grants, and consolidate them into the Local Government Finance Settlement wherever possible.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the extent to which local authorities are meeting their obligations under the Local Government Transparency Code to publish up to date information.

The purpose of the Local Government Transparency Code 2015 (the Code) is to make it easier for the public to directly hold their councils to account, not as a means for central government to check up on local authorities. Therefore, the government does not monitor compliance with the Code.If there were concerns about a local authorities’ compliance with the Code, a complaint could be made to the local authority’s Monitoring Officer, or via their complaints procedure. It is possible to make a complaint to the Local Government Ombudsman where the usual complaints procedures have been exhausted, or to make a Freedom of Information request if local authorities continue to fail in fulfilling their duties under the Code.

Communities and Local Government, for what reason an impact assessment for the Renters’ Rights Bill was not published at (a) First Reading and (b) Second Reading; and if she will make it her policy to ensure impact assessments for all future Bills are published at First Reading.

The government published its Impact Assessment for the Renters’ Rights Bill on 22 November 2024, following scrutiny from the Regulatory Policy Committee. The Impact Assessment received a ‘green’ rating, indicating it is ‘fit for purpose’. The Impact Assessment can be found on gov.uk here.

Communities and Local Government, what information her Department holds on the level of selective licensing fees charged by each local authority with such a scheme; and what the average fee is in England.

Local authorities set fees for their selective licensing schemes based on a number of factors including the set-up costs of the scheme, the cost of assessing applications and issuing licences, and the cost of inspecting properties where necessary.The government expects local authorities to make details of these fees, along with the rationale behind their determination to be transparent and readily accessible. Money raised through enforcement sanctions should be used to enforce high standards in private rented properties.Selective licensing and the Private Rented Sector Database have different purposes. The database is not designed to replace selective licensing. Selective licensing schemes aim to target specific local issues by enabling more intensive proactive enforcement strategies. Selective licensing is a valuable tool enabling local authorities to drive better outcomes for local residents, tenants, and responsible landlords. We will continue to review the use of selective licensing as we develop the Private Rented Sector Database and will look to refine the way the two systems work together including through sharing data.

What recent estimate her Department has made of the (a) cost of preparing and (b) length of the environmental impact assessment for the Lower Thames Crossing development consent order application.

Due to the level of interdependency between the large number of different elements of the Lower Thames Crossing Development Consent Order (DCO) application, it is not possible to accurately attribute costs to the production of the individual documents within it. However, the total amount spent on the planning process is £295.1million. The Environmental Impact Assessment information submitted in 2022 as part of the Lower Thames Crossing DCO application comprised of approximately 12,000 pages.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to her speech at the Local Government Association Conference of 24 October 2024, what deliverable plans councils will need to put in place.

Councils under statutory intervention are directed to develop and implement clear, deliverable plans for reform and recovery that address their specific governance and financial challenges and protect local taxpayers. The six councils under statutory intervention are supported in driving progress by Commissioners or Panels appointed by the Secretary of State, who provide written updates on the latest position of each council. I refer the Hon Member to Written Ministerial Statements made on 20 November 2024 (HCWS235) and 22 October 2024 (HCWS155). Through this approach, we are committed to resetting the relationship between local and regional government to establish partnerships built on mutual respect, genuine collaboration and meaningful engagement.

Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department issues to local authorities on whether councillors should declare ownership of property which is (a) rented out to their local authority at a commercial rate and (b) used by their local authority at a commercial rate via a third party.

Local authority members must register and disclose pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests with their authority.This includes contracts where a member is providing a service to their local authority, as well as any land interests they may have in the local authority area.The government guidance ‘Openness and transparency on personal interests: guidance for councillors’ provides practical information to councillors about how to be open and transparent about their personal interests.

Communities and Local Government, whether the new Property Portal requirements on the private rented sector will be in addition to selective licensing requirements, where such selective licensing requirement is in effect.

Local authorities set fees for their selective licensing schemes based on a number of factors including the set-up costs of the scheme, the cost of assessing applications and issuing licences, and the cost of inspecting properties where necessary.The government expects local authorities to make details of these fees, along with the rationale behind their determination to be transparent and readily accessible. Money raised through enforcement sanctions should be used to enforce high standards in private rented properties.Selective licensing and the Private Rented Sector Database have different purposes. The database is not designed to replace selective licensing. Selective licensing schemes aim to target specific local issues by enabling more intensive proactive enforcement strategies. Selective licensing is a valuable tool enabling local authorities to drive better outcomes for local residents, tenants, and responsible landlords. We will continue to review the use of selective licensing as we develop the Private Rented Sector Database and will look to refine the way the two systems work together including through sharing data.

Communities and Local Government, how many premises applied for a pavement licence under the Business and Planning Act 2020.

The department does not collect data on the number of pavement licences applied for. It is up to local authorities to determine pavement licencing applications.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 4 November 2024 to Question 11493 on Buildings and Housing: Solar Power, whether she is taking planning-related steps to facilitate the fitting of solar panels in conservation areas.

To facilitate the take up of renewable energy, nationally set permitted development rights enable the installation of solar equipment on or within the curtilage of buildings, including in conservation areas, without the need to submit a planning application. The rights are subject to certain conditions and limitations to protect local amenity. Proposals which go beyond what is allowed under the rights will require a planning application. Any such applications will be considered on their individual merits. We will continue to keep permitted development rights under review.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to footnote 2 of her Department's Guidance on the implementation of the council tax premiums on long-term empty homes and second homes, published on 1 November 2024, what steps she plans to take to prevent local authorities from disregarding the requirement to advertise in at least one newspaper circulating in its area.

The government’s published guidance clearly set out the responsibilities of councils when making a determination to charge a council tax premium. The time limited exceptions to council tax premiums can be applied in succession where the dwelling is eligible.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the press release entitled CCC advises 81% reduction in emissions by 2035, published by the Climate Change Committee on 26 October 2024 and the letter from the Committee of that date to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero on the National Determined Contribution, what steps she is taking to remove planning barriers for (a) heat pumps and (b) electric vehicle chargers.

Nationally set permitted development rights enable the installation of air and ground source heat pumps and electric vehicle charge points without the need to submit a planning application. The rights are subject to certain conditions and limitations to protect local amenity.The previous government consulted on proposed changes to these rights, and on 21 November we announced our intention to amend the existing permitted development right for air source heat pumps to allow more flexibility in installation and size of heat pumps. Further information is available at: Warm Homes Plan and heat pumps – MHCLG in the Media.Further announcements on electric vehicle charge points will be made in due course.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 30 October 2024 to Question 10435 on Government Departments: Trade Unions, what the check-off arrangements in her Department are.

The Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government honours the historic contractual rights of employees to pay subscriptions via a check off arrangement. Existing payroll mechanisms are in place to facilitate this.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to her speech at the Local Government Association Conference of 24 October 2024, what the terms of reference of the Workforce Development Group are.

The Local Government Workforce Development Group will provide a central-local partnership on local government capacity and capability challenges. It will try to identify the priority cross-cutting issues impacting the local government workforce as a whole and seek creative solutions to address them.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's Guidance on the implementation of the council tax premiums on long-term empty homes and second homes, published on 1 November 2024, which of the exclusions across Classes F to M can be applied cumulatively to other exclusions at the end of initial exclusion.

The government’s published guidance clearly set out the responsibilities of councils when making a determination to charge a council tax premium. The time limited exceptions to council tax premiums can be applied in succession where the dwelling is eligible.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has received representations on the call for a boycott of Israel’s book industry and Israeli cultural institutions.

No records of such representations have been located.

How many hereditaments in England have a rateable value over £500,000 broken down by Special Category Code.

The VOA publishes official statistics on Non-Domestic Rating on gov.uk. The number of properties over £500,000 in rateable value broken down by property sector is published. This can be found in table 2.2 here:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66695d2cf5e751f1b786db07/ndr_stock_of_properties_2024.xlsx The total rateable value by special category code and area of properties with a rateable value over £51,000 is published here at table ‘SOP_SCAT_LA_rv_51000_plus.csv’: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6662e0a8a8f98e4a64ca94d9/ndr_stock_scat_la_2024.zip

Whether value significant codes are used by the Valuation Office Agency in the Automated Valuation Model for Wales.

Value Significant Codes (VSCs) indicate the existence of specific features that are likely to affect the value of a property either positively or negatively. The Automated Valuation Model utilises some VSCs, as published in PQ UIN 19500.

What estimate her Department has made of revenues to the Exchequer from business rates in England in each of the next five financial years.

The Office for Budget’s Responsibility’s (OBR) October 2024 Economic and Fiscal Outlook includes forecasts for UK business rates receipts. This is available online: https://obr.uk/docs/dlm_uploads/OBR_Economic_and_fiscal_outlook_Oct_2024.pdf.

If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of changes to the level of employer's National Insurance contributions at the Autumn Budget 2024 on the average cost of a pint of beer in a pub.

A Tax Information and Impact Note on the changes to employer NICs was published on 13 November alongside the legislation when it was introduced to Parliament. The latest forecasts for tax revenues were published alongside the Office for Budget Responsibility’s (OBR) October 2024 Economic and Fiscal Outlook. These forecasts are based on economic determinants, including wage growth and employment levels. Pubs and breweries make an enormous contribution to our economy and society, and this is recognised in the tax system. At the Budget, the Chancellor cut alcohol duty on qualifying draught products – approximately 60% of the alcoholic drinks sold in pubs. This represents an overall reduction in duty bills of over £85m a year and is equivalent to a 1p duty reduction on a typical pint. This reduction increased the relief available on draught products to 13.9%.