Found: Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Transport relating to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the report entitled Annual Shared Micromobility Report 2024 published by CoMoUK.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

We are committed to growing shared micromobility in Great Britain. The Government continues to trial rental e-scooters so we can learn what works, and on 21 July I announced these trials will be extended to May 2028, and for the first time since the trials began, I am offering new towns and cities the opportunity to join.

Cycle sharing is already here and growing, as highlighted by this report. The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill introduced on 10 July included a measure to regulate on-street micromobility services which will give our local leaders the powers to regulate shared micromobility so they can shape these schemes around their needs, connect people to public transport, and ensure they are used safely and responsibly.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2025 to Question 31879 on Councillors: Data Protection, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to amend the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill to include the reforms to the Localism Act 2011 on councillor’s home addresses.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Our continued aim is to remove the requirement for councillors’ home addresses to be published. We intend to legislate when parliamentary time allows.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the proposed prohibition of upwards-only rent reviews in all commercial property leases contained in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill on (a) institutional finance markets and (b) speculative development funding sources in the context of (i) large scale urban regeneration projects and (ii) other development projects.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government conducted extensive research and engagement before deciding to ban upwards only rent reviews. In the last quarter of 2024, 1 in 7 high street properties were vacant. Whilst we recognise the ban removes a guarantee of return from investors, it will support growth overall by making rents fairer and allowing businesses to access and invest in our High Streets.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill and her Department's document entitled English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, whether she will bring forward legislative proposals for (a) Mayors to have a statutory role in (i) governing, (ii) managing and (iii) planning railways, and (b) an option for Mayors to control local railway stations and (c) the right for Mayors to request rail devolution.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

These subjects will be addressed in the Railways Bill, to be introduced later in this parliamentary session, and with accompanying guidance on the right to request. Guidance will outline the process for Established Mayoral Strategic Authorities to make this request and the criteria that will be considered, such as national and regional network implications.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to bring forward pilot zoning schemes to provide easier planning for commercial development in financial and professional service hubs in the East of England.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government recognises a local zonal approach where upfront planning permission is granted for certain types of commercial development can be a useful tool to attract new investment to specific places.

Local planning authorities already have the power to make Local Development Orders to do this, and the National Planning Policy Framework encourages them to use this tool.

Through the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, we are also now giving mayors a similar power to make Mayoral Development Orders, enabling them to bring forward proactively new strategic sites for commercial development in their area.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department has published on the maximum of deputy mayors that may be appointed by the (a) Greater London Authority and (b) combined authority mayors; and whether she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to amend these limits.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The maximum number of deputy mayors for the Greater London Authority (GLA), combined authorities, or combined county authorities is set out in relevant legislation – that being the Greater London Authority Act 1999, the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009, and the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023.

There are several positions that may be referred to as ‘deputy mayor’. In the GLA, this includes the statutory deputy mayor, the mayor’s appointees under section 67(1)(b) of the 1999 Act, and the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime. In combined authorities and combined county authorities, there is the statutory deputy mayor and, where applicable, the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime. The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill will, if passed, introduce the position of ‘commissioner’, whom the Mayor can appoint to help deliver on one or more areas of competence.

The Mayor of London may appoint up to 11 ‘deputy mayors’ under section 67(1)(b) of the 1999 Act. In combined and combined county authorities, mayors can appoint one statutory deputy mayor and one Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime. As currently drafted, they will be able to appoint up to seven commissioners. There are no plans to amend these limits.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to abolish directly elected council mayors once directly elected strategic authority mayors are introduced in localities.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

As part of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, subject to Parliamentary agreement, we will legislate to prevent the creation of any new local authority directly elected Mayors. However, to prevent any further disruption, we accept the continuation of the 13 legacy directly elected Mayors currently in post.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government what guidance they have given to local authorities about the specific democratic decision-making processes they should adopt; and under which legislation has such guidance been given.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

We have provided no current guidance to local authorities on their decision-making processes; within the governance models provided for in legislation, the precise nature of each council’s constitutional arrangements is for that council to decide.

As part of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill we intend that in future any council operating under the committee system will be required to operate with the leader and cabinet form of governance, and that leader and cabinet will be the only option, for councils currently operating with a directly elected mayor, should they determine to change governance arrangements.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether statutory guidance on Community Right to Buy provisions in the English Devolution Bill will recognise environmental impact when determining the value of community assets.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government recognises the vital role of community spaces and wants to see them thriving again. Community Right to Buy will empower local people to bring community spaces back into community ownership.

These provisions were introduced on 10 July in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. Subject to parliamentary passage, statutory guidance will be introduced in due course.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department is taking steps to help increase the number of community (a) pubs and (b) social clubs.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

This Government recognises the crucial role that pubs and social clubs play in our communities, supporting local economies, providing a sense of community pride, and fostering belonging and connection.

We want to support communities to take ownership of assets that are important to them. Community Right to Buy, introduced in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, will help local people acquire valued community spaces, such as pubs and social clubs, if they come up for sale, keeping these assets in the hands of the community.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to (a) reduce the number of empty retail units and (b) help regenerate high streets in (i) Eastbourne and (ii) other towns.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

This government is taking several steps to reduce empty retail units and regenerate high streets in Eastbourne and other towns across the country. Eastbourne will benefit from up to £20 million over 10 years through the £1.5 billion Plan for Neighbourhoods programme announced in March, which aims to regenerate local areas, including high streets in deprived areas.

Additionally, the government is tackling vacancy with High Street Rental Auctions, giving local authorities the power to auction rental rights of persistently vacant commercial properties. We are also legislating through the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill for a new Community Right to Buy, enabling communities to acquire valued assets. These measures will help revive footfall, boost local economies, and empower communities.

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