Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman provides members of the public with a vital complaints resolution service for when things go wrong with the public services they rely on. Their investigations provide the public with personal redress and improve the delivery of these services by local authorities. Most of their complaints are about key public services, such as children’s services, adult social care and homelessness.

The Government has no plans to bring town and parish councils within the Ombudsman’s scope. Parish and town councils are accountable through local complaints procedures, audit arrangements and elections.

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman provides members of the public with a vital complaints resolution service for when things go wrong with the public services they rely on. Their investigations provide the public with personal redress and improve the delivery of these services by local authorities. Most of their complaints are about key public services, such as children’s services, adult social care and homelessness.

The Government has no plans to bring town and parish councils within the Ombudsman’s scope. Parish and town councils are accountable through local complaints procedures, audit arrangements and elections.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) leads the Government’s work to support and engage faith and belief groups, and coordinates the Government’s work to tackle religious hatred. While the Minister for Homelessness, Democracy, Communities and Faith in MHCLG holds primary responsibility for faith and belief policy, they will work with other Ministers from across government who develop policy and make decisions that may impact faith and belief communities. For example, the Office for Equality and Opportunity is responsible for the Equality Act 2010, including its protections against discrimination and harassment on the basis of religion or belief.

We have committed to update Parliament on the review of the Local Government Reorganisation programme when Parliament returns in October. We recognise the need for clarity and will set out next steps as soon as possible.

The Department will continue to work closely with local government and other government departments to understand specific pressures facing local government ahead of the Budget and other fiscal events.

The Government is committed to returning the local government sector to a sustainable position. We are delivering fairer funding, targeting money where it is needed most through the first multi-year Settlement in a decade. By the end of the multi-year Local Government Finance Settlement, the government will have made available a 24.3% increase in Core Spending Power for local authorities in England, worth £16.6 billion, since coming into power in 2024-25.

The government is investing in service areas with escalating costs. We have made over £4.6 billion of additional funding available to adult social care in 2028-29 compared to 2025-26, and invested investing £2.4 billion in children’s social care prevention and de-escalation.

The Government encourages organisations across the public, private and third sectors to consider how the definition may be applied in their own contexts in ways that are useful and lawful. As part of our next steps, we will work with sectors to consider practical, proportionate approaches to provide guidance and support effective implementation.

The Government’s response to the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement Consultation is available on gov.uk here. This sets out a summary of the responses received. Individual consultation responses are not routinely published by the Department.

It will be for Mayors and local leaders to decide whether to introduce a visitor levy, as they best understand which investments can support local economic development, including the visitor economy. This may include passing on receipts to local authorities.

Our approach balances local flexibility with simplicity and consistency for business.

Local decisions on the levy rate, any local exemptions and spending priorities will be informed by consultations, and will need to balance local priorities, affordability, and certainty for businesses. The precise impacts will depend on these local decisions.

These decisions will be made within a national framework which includes that levies must be set as a percentage rate, meaning low-cost stays stay low cost. Government will also work with Strategic Authorities as they develop their plans to drive further consistency and simplicity for business.

Our approach to caps is set out in the consultation response: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/overnight-visitor-levy-in-england.

It will be for Mayors and local leaders to decide whether to introduce a visitor levy, as they best understand which investments can support local economic development, including the visitor economy. This may include passing on receipts to local authorities.

Our approach balances local flexibility with simplicity and consistency for business.

Local decisions on the levy rate, any local exemptions and spending priorities will be informed by consultations, and will need to balance local priorities, affordability, and certainty for businesses. The precise impacts will depend on these local decisions.

These decisions will be made within a national framework which includes that levies must be set as a percentage rate, meaning low-cost stays stay low cost. Government will also work with Strategic Authorities as they develop their plans to drive further consistency and simplicity for business.

Our approach to caps is set out in the consultation response: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/overnight-visitor-levy-in-england.

It will be for Mayors and local leaders to decide whether to introduce a visitor levy, as they best understand which investments can support local economic development, including the visitor economy. This may include passing on receipts to local authorities.

Our approach balances local flexibility with simplicity and consistency for business.

Local decisions on the levy rate, any local exemptions and spending priorities will be informed by consultations, and will need to balance local priorities, affordability, and certainty for businesses. The precise impacts will depend on these local decisions.

These decisions will be made within a national framework which includes that levies must be set as a percentage rate, meaning low-cost stays stay low cost. Government will also work with Strategic Authorities as they develop their plans to drive further consistency and simplicity for business.

Our approach to caps is set out in the consultation response: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/overnight-visitor-levy-in-england.

It will be for Mayors and local leaders to decide whether to introduce a visitor levy, as they best understand which investments can support local economic development, including the visitor economy. This may include passing on receipts to local authorities.

Our approach balances local flexibility with simplicity and consistency for business.

Local decisions on the levy rate, any local exemptions and spending priorities will be informed by consultations, and will need to balance local priorities, affordability, and certainty for businesses. The precise impacts will depend on these local decisions.

These decisions will be made within a national framework which includes that levies must be set as a percentage rate, meaning low-cost stays stay low cost. Government will also work with Strategic Authorities as they develop their plans to drive further consistency and simplicity for business.

Our approach to caps is set out in the consultation response: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/overnight-visitor-levy-in-england.

The amount of grant a council receives is unaffected by the level of tax it charges. Instead, the government's approach via the resources adjustment better takes into account of the council tax raising ability of each authority, not the level of council tax set by each council, through the use of a measure of the council tax base. To account for differing council tax raising ability, we multiply each council’s tax base (the number and band of properties) by a notional level of council tax. The technical annex on the resources adjustment published at the final Local Government Finance Settlement 2026-27 sets out how the band D equivalent council tax base is calculated which can be found, here.

More detail on Fair Funding Allocations can be found here.

A council’s actual Band D level in 2025-2026 was the basis for calculating their Core Spending Power for 2026-27 to 2028-29, with the response to UIN 20159 setting out the methodology for the each of the six councils. The actual level of council tax remains a local decision for individual councils, taking into consideration a range of local factors including the impact on taxpayers.

The Government is committed to fixing the foundations of local government, redirecting funding towards the services and places that need it most. The final 2026-27 Local Government Finance Settlement makes available £78 billion in Core Spending Power for local authorities in England in 2026-27, a 6.1% increase compared to 2025-26. In parallel, we delivered the fair funding review reforms through the first multi-year Settlement in a decade. As a result, nine in ten councils will now receive funding that broadly matches their assessed relative need by the end of the multi-year Settlement, up from around a third before our reforms.

Last month, the Government announced £91 million in additional funding to accelerate local councils’ transformation plans in areas such as homelessness, adult social care, children’s services and SEND. This investment reflects a turning point in how the Government intends to support councils to manage their financial position, with an emphasis on long-term prevention over short-term fixes.

The Government’s Pride in Place Programme will provide up to £5.8 billion over 10 years to support 284 neighbourhoods experiencing the highest levels of deprivation. In each place, the local Neighbourhood Board will work with the community to decide how this funding is spent, ensuring investment reflects local priorities.

The Government is committed to fixing the foundations of local government, redirecting funding towards the services and places that need it most. The final 2026-27 Local Government Finance Settlement makes available £78 billion in Core Spending Power for local authorities in England in 2026-27, a 6.1% increase compared to 2025-26. In parallel, we delivered the fair funding review reforms through the first multi-year Settlement in a decade. As a result, nine in ten councils will now receive funding that broadly matches their assessed relative need by the end of the multi-year Settlement, up from around a third before our reforms.

Last month, the Government announced £91 million in additional funding to accelerate local councils’ transformation plans in areas such as homelessness, adult social care, children’s services and SEND. This investment reflects a turning point in how the Government intends to support councils to manage their financial position, with an emphasis on long-term prevention over short-term fixes.

The Government’s Pride in Place Programme will provide up to £5.8 billion over 10 years to support 284 neighbourhoods experiencing the highest levels of deprivation. In each place, the local Neighbourhood Board will work with the community to decide how this funding is spent, ensuring investment reflects local priorities.

Sections 9F(2)(a) and 9F(4) of the Local Government Act 2000 set out how local authorities should make sure their respective scrutiny committees have the power to review and scrutinise decisions made by the executive, commonly referred to as ‘call-in’ procedures. Guidance on ‘call-in’ procedures was published in 2000 alongside the Act. More recent guidance funded by central government was published in 2023 by the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny.

Enfield Council has not received additional guidance from HMG on the use of call-in powers. Local authorities are responsible for setting their own rules on how call-in should be used, including the thresholds and procedures for using it, whilst ensuring they comply with their obligations under the Local Government Act 2000.

The Cabinet Statement, “Rewiring the State”, set out the Government’s ambition is to ensure every area in England has, or is in the process of establishing, a strategic authority by the end of 2027, with strategic authorities in place everywhere by the end of 2028.

The statutory process for the establishment of new strategic authorities requires the consent of all upper-tier Local Authorities within the footprint of the proposed Authority. It is for local areas to propose a devolution geography that can support strong partnership working, and the Government is committed to working with all areas to establish the right partnerships and to empower leaders across the country to deliver good growth in every postcode.

It would not be appropriate to comment on individual measures ahead of the Budget. The Chancellor will take decisions through the usual Budget process and set out the Government’s fiscal plans at the Budget.

The Department will continue to work closely with local government and other government departments to understand specific pressures facing local government ahead of the Budget and other fiscal events.

The government is committed to ensuring the local government funding system is fair for taxpayers across the country. We have removed referendum principles for six areas to provide the councils with flexibility to manage their financial position. It is for the councils to decide which level of council tax to set.

The six councils that will have referendum principles removed for two years currently have extremely low bills - band D taxpayers are paying £450-£1280 less than the average in England.

This policy has enabled the government to allocate over £250 million more funding to public services in places with higher need, rather than effectively subsidising low bills for 500,000 households in these areas.

Council tax becomes payable on a new dwelling when the local authority determines that it has been substantially completed, or will be substantially completed within three months. It will issue a Completion Notice to confirm its decision.

Once a dwelling becomes liable for council tax, the normal council tax rules apply. Whether a property has been sold does not in itself affect its council tax status. Council tax is due on all properties, and if the property is unoccupied liability will fall to the owner. Council tax liability may be affected by a range of discounts, exemptions or premiums. Whether these apply will depend on the particular circumstances.

The Government has no plans to change these arrangements, and it is for councils to administer the council tax system. The Government remains committed to keeping all taxes and elements of the local government finance system under review.

The survey formed part of targeted stakeholder engagement and was not a public consultation. The Government intends to place a copy of the survey in the Library of the House.

To date, town and parish councils’ precepts have not been subject to referendum principles. This position applies to town and parish councils generally, including those established following local government restructuring. The Government determines referendum principles on an annual basis, considering relevant prevailing factors. No decisions have been taken in respect of future years.

The Department, together with the National Resilience lead authority, is currently in the process of undertaking procurement for the replacement of the bulk of the HVP fleet. Once this is completed, we would work with the national resilience leads and the sector to establish a comprehensive delivery schedule for rollout of the replacement pumps to HVP-hosting services.

The £97 million New Dimensions 2 programme is a comprehensive capital asset replacement programme to review, refresh and upgrade the National Resilience assets used by fire and rescue authorities in response to the largest and most complex incidents.

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service currently host an HVP capability and, accordingly, will be receiving a range of new vehicles and equipment which will replace and upgrade their current assets.

The Government has no current plans to review section 13 of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade Act 1865.

The Government is committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050 and recognises that embodied carbon can account for a significant portion of a building’s whole life carbon emissions. As steps to reduce operational carbon take effect, the share of whole life carbon emissions taken up by embodied carbon will increase.

My Department has commissioned research to build understanding of the impacts of measuring and reducing embodied carbon, summarise the data currently available, and to identify where any gaps or challenges lie. We have published the final report, Consideration of embodied carbon in new buildings, to share the insights with industry. The Government is considering its next steps on this matter carefully.

The Disabled Facilities Grant is administered by local authorities who determine their own application processes in line with their statutory duties.

Government collects Disabled Facilities Grant data from local authorities through a voluntary annual data collection. This includes information on average delivery times at key stages of the grant process. Nearly 97% of councils reported that their average time frame for approving valid applications was within the 6-month legal timeframe. Nearly 98% of councils reported that their average time to complete works was within the 12-month deadline.

The Government recognises the importance of ensuring that the Disabled Facilities Grant application process is accessible and responsive to applicants’ needs. Government guidance encourages local authorities to meet faster best practice timelines and provides information on making the application process accessible and responsive.

The Government continues to work with local authorities and the national body for Disabled Facilities Grants and Home Improvement Agencies, currently Foundations, to support effective delivery of the Disabled Facilities Grant.

The Disabled Facilities Grant is administered by local authorities who determine their own application processes in line with their statutory duties.

Government collects Disabled Facilities Grant data from local authorities through a voluntary annual data collection. This includes information on average delivery times at key stages of the grant process. Nearly 97% of councils reported that their average time frame for approving valid applications was within the 6-month legal timeframe. Nearly 98% of councils reported that their average time to complete works was within the 12-month deadline.

The Government recognises the importance of ensuring that the Disabled Facilities Grant application process is accessible and responsive to applicants’ needs. Government guidance encourages local authorities to meet faster best practice timelines and provides information on making the application process accessible and responsive.

The Government continues to work with local authorities and the national body for Disabled Facilities Grants and Home Improvement Agencies, currently Foundations, to support effective delivery of the Disabled Facilities Grant.

The Disabled Facilities Grant is administered by local authorities who determine their own application processes in line with their statutory duties.

Government collects Disabled Facilities Grant data from local authorities through a voluntary annual data collection. This includes information on average delivery times at key stages of the grant process. Nearly 97% of councils reported that their average time frame for approving valid applications was within the 6-month legal timeframe. Nearly 98% of councils reported that their average time to complete works was within the 12-month deadline.

The Government recognises the importance of ensuring that the Disabled Facilities Grant application process is accessible and responsive to applicants’ needs. Government guidance encourages local authorities to meet faster best practice timelines and provides information on making the application process accessible and responsive.

The Government continues to work with local authorities and the national body for Disabled Facilities Grants and Home Improvement Agencies, currently Foundations, to support effective delivery of the Disabled Facilities Grant.

All 12 Freeports across the UK are now operational, with tax sites designated through secondary legislation. Freeports are attracting private investment, creating jobs and supporting local growth.

The Government continues to review the programme through ongoing monitoring and assurance arrangements and plans to evaluate and assess the impact to inform any future changes or enhancements.

All 12 Freeports across the UK are now operational, with tax sites designated through secondary legislation. Freeports are attracting private investment, creating jobs and supporting local growth.

The Government continues to review the programme through ongoing monitoring and assurance arrangements and plans to evaluate and assess the impact to inform any future changes or enhancements.

In September, the government announced £91m to accelerate local councils’ transformation plans in areas such as homelessness, adult social care, children’s services and SEND.

This investment reflects a turning point in how the government intends to support councils to manage their financial position, with an emphasis on long-term prevention over short-term fixes. It also provides an opportunity to build evidence on the types of service reform that can improve financial sustainability in authorities facing acute pressures.

On 15 September, the government issued a Written Ministerial Statement (HCWS347) to provide an update on its approach to Exceptional Financial Support in 2026-27, including further background and detail on the objectives of the new £91m grant to support targeted transformation in 14 local councils.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 60080 on 24 June 2025.

My Department does not routinely publish responses received to public consultations.

The levy will apply to short-term, commercially let overnight accommodation. Decisions on whether to introduce a levy will be for strategic authorities, subject to local consultation. Strategic authorities will also have the option to exempt certain types of accommodation in their areas, such as tent pitches, touring caravan pitches and dormitory-style accommodation like hostels in their areas. This approach gives local leaders the tools to respond to local challenges and opportunities, including any affordability concerns.

Under the statutory framework for mayoral planning powers, there is no requirement for a public planning hearing before a mayor can direct refusal of applications of potential strategic importance.

The power to direct refusal will be subject to statutory tests, and an applicant will be able to appeal this decision to the Secretary of State.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has not directly allocated funding to Walsall Council for brownfield housing development.

Grant funding has been provided to West Midlands Combined Authority as part of the housing pillar of its Integrated Settlement. Further detail in respect of funding for 2025/26 is available on gov.uk here and in respect of funding for 2026/27 to 2028/29 on gov.uk here. Walsall Council is eligible to bid for this funding.

Outcomes are agreed and published through the Integrated Settlement Outcomes Framework, which can be found on gov.uk here.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has not directly allocated funding to Walsall Council for brownfield housing development.

Grant funding has been provided to West Midlands Combined Authority as part of the housing pillar of its Integrated Settlement. Further detail in respect of funding for 2025/26 is available on gov.uk here and in respect of funding for 2026/27 to 2028/29 on gov.uk here. Walsall Council is eligible to bid for this funding.

Outcomes are agreed and published through the Integrated Settlement Outcomes Framework, which can be found on gov.uk here.

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to policies PM2(1)(c), PM12, PM15(1), GB8(2) and HC1 of the new National Planning Policy Framework published on 17 August.

The government will review the feasibility of changes to council tax disregards ahead of the next spending review.

As set out in the government’s response to the consultation, it aims to introduce changes to collection and enforcement of council tax from April 2027 and amend billing so that newly liable households are liable for 12-month billing by default from April 2027.

On his first day in office, the Prime Minister launched an urgent national drive to end rough sleeping. We have announced £442 million new funding to support this ambition, taking total investment in homelessness and rough sleeping services over the next three years to over £4 billion.

The Government recognises that women experiencing rough sleeping are often less visible and may be at greater risk of violence, abuse and exploitation. Local areas are encouraged to work proactively with specialist women’s services, domestic abuse and violence against women and girls services, health partners and community organisations to identify and support women who may be sleeping rough or at risk of doing so. Further guidance on how local authorities are expected to support women through the Rough Sleeping Programme can be found here: Rough Sleeping Programme Guidance - GOV.UK

You can find data about the number of women sleeping rough in England on gov.uk here. Since June 2025 we have included a question on the number of women sleeping rough in our monthly rough sleeping survey. The annual rough sleeping snapshot also includes data on the number of women estimated to be sleeping rough on a single night in England. In addition to our official rough sleeping statistics, we continue to gather information from a variety of sources to understand women’s rough sleeping, including the Women’s Census.

Through the Ending Homelessness in Communities Fund, we are providing £37 million over three years to support specialist organisations that work with women facing some of the greatest barriers to accessing support.

On his first day in office, the Prime Minister launched an urgent national drive to end rough sleeping. We have announced £442 million new funding to support this ambition, taking total investment in homelessness and rough sleeping services over the next three years to over £4 billion.

The Government recognises that women experiencing rough sleeping are often less visible and may be at greater risk of violence, abuse and exploitation. Local areas are encouraged to work proactively with specialist women’s services, domestic abuse and violence against women and girls services, health partners and community organisations to identify and support women who may be sleeping rough or at risk of doing so. Further guidance on how local authorities are expected to support women through the Rough Sleeping Programme can be found here: Rough Sleeping Programme Guidance - GOV.UK

You can find data about the number of women sleeping rough in England on gov.uk here. Since June 2025 we have included a question on the number of women sleeping rough in our monthly rough sleeping survey. The annual rough sleeping snapshot also includes data on the number of women estimated to be sleeping rough on a single night in England. In addition to our official rough sleeping statistics, we continue to gather information from a variety of sources to understand women’s rough sleeping, including the Women’s Census.

Through the Ending Homelessness in Communities Fund, we are providing £37 million over three years to support specialist organisations that work with women facing some of the greatest barriers to accessing support.

On his first day in office, the Prime Minister launched an urgent national drive to end rough sleeping. We have announced £442 million new funding to support this ambition, taking total investment in homelessness and rough sleeping services over the next three years to over £4 billion.

The Government recognises that women experiencing rough sleeping are often less visible and may be at greater risk of violence, abuse and exploitation. Local areas are encouraged to work proactively with specialist women’s services, domestic abuse and violence against women and girls services, health partners and community organisations to identify and support women who may be sleeping rough or at risk of doing so. Further guidance on how local authorities are expected to support women through the Rough Sleeping Programme can be found here: Rough Sleeping Programme Guidance - GOV.UK

You can find data about the number of women sleeping rough in England on gov.uk here. Since June 2025 we have included a question on the number of women sleeping rough in our monthly rough sleeping survey. The annual rough sleeping snapshot also includes data on the number of women estimated to be sleeping rough on a single night in England. In addition to our official rough sleeping statistics, we continue to gather information from a variety of sources to understand women’s rough sleeping, including the Women’s Census.

Through the Ending Homelessness in Communities Fund, we are providing £37 million over three years to support specialist organisations that work with women facing some of the greatest barriers to accessing support.

On his first day in office, the Prime Minister launched an urgent national drive to end rough sleeping. We have announced £442 million new funding to support this ambition, taking total investment in homelessness and rough sleeping services over the next three years to over £4 billion.

The Government recognises that women experiencing rough sleeping are often less visible and may be at greater risk of violence, abuse and exploitation. Local areas are encouraged to work proactively with specialist women’s services, domestic abuse and violence against women and girls services, health partners and community organisations to identify and support women who may be sleeping rough or at risk of doing so. Further guidance on how local authorities are expected to support women through the Rough Sleeping Programme can be found here: Rough Sleeping Programme Guidance - GOV.UK

You can find data about the number of women sleeping rough in England on gov.uk here. Since June 2025 we have included a question on the number of women sleeping rough in our monthly rough sleeping survey. The annual rough sleeping snapshot also includes data on the number of women estimated to be sleeping rough on a single night in England. In addition to our official rough sleeping statistics, we continue to gather information from a variety of sources to understand women’s rough sleeping, including the Women’s Census.

Through the Ending Homelessness in Communities Fund, we are providing £37 million over three years to support specialist organisations that work with women facing some of the greatest barriers to accessing support.

On his first day in office, the Prime Minister launched an urgent national drive to end rough sleeping. We have announced £442 million new funding to support this ambition, taking total investment in homelessness and rough sleeping services over the next three years to over £4 billion.

The Government recognises that women experiencing rough sleeping are often less visible and may be at greater risk of violence, abuse and exploitation. Local areas are encouraged to work proactively with specialist women’s services, domestic abuse and violence against women and girls services, health partners and community organisations to identify and support women who may be sleeping rough or at risk of doing so. Further guidance on how local authorities are expected to support women through the Rough Sleeping Programme can be found here: Rough Sleeping Programme Guidance - GOV.UK

You can find data about the number of women sleeping rough in England on gov.uk here. Since June 2025 we have included a question on the number of women sleeping rough in our monthly rough sleeping survey. The annual rough sleeping snapshot also includes data on the number of women estimated to be sleeping rough on a single night in England. In addition to our official rough sleeping statistics, we continue to gather information from a variety of sources to understand women’s rough sleeping, including the Women’s Census.

Through the Ending Homelessness in Communities Fund, we are providing £37 million over three years to support specialist organisations that work with women facing some of the greatest barriers to accessing support.

During the 2025 calendar year, 4,475 individuals were directly employed on the Department's payroll at some point. Of these, 147 (3.3%) were on home-working contracts.

Civil Service (CS) Masterclasses received accreditation as a formal life chances scheme at the end of January 2025. The CS Masterclasses offers a 2-week face to face programme for individuals from areas of lower social mobility. The scheme is designed to recruit individuals who would typically face barriers when applying for Civil Service roles and focuses on enhancing social mobility for the Civil Service.

Since then, we have run 15 cohorts; 10 in Liverpool City Region and 5 in Greater Manchester. ​

359 people who completed the CS Masterclass are now either in a Civil Service post (301) or currently being onboarded into the Civil Service (58). The departments who have recruited through this scheme are DBS, DWP, HMCTS, Home Office, and MHCLG.