Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

There are a number of reasons individuals may need to discuss and agree an exception with their manager. Exceptions can be long-term if the reason is enduring, for example a disability related matter, or short-term, for example an unexpected issue or need but all must be subject to review and none represent contractual employment changes under this policy.

The department engages closely on asylum and resettlement matters with the Local Government Association (LGA) alongside the Home Office. This includes a quarterly ministerial and local government forum with both MHCLG and Home Office ministers, and regular working level meetings. MHCLG and Home Office ministers also recently attended the LGA’s annual conference to discuss asylum and resettlement.

The government is committed to working with local government to test-locally led models and ending the reliance on hotel use for asylum accommodation. We will continue to engage closely with the Home Office and the LGA as this work progresses.

The Working Group is an independent, non-statutory body which will provide advice to ministers on a definition of anti-Muslim hatred/islamophobia. Ministers will consider the advice that the independent working group provides.

Per the Terms of Reference for the Working Group, the Working Group is supported by a secretariat based within the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and group members are able to claim expenses for travel and/or costs incurred whilst carrying out their role. No other costs have been incurred.

The Secretary of State has not had any discussions with the Secretary of State for Department for Transport on this matter. The Department for Transport held a public consultation in 2020 and has been considering all the views expressed in response to the consultation and is currently working through the policy options and the appropriate means of delivering them. In the meantime, local authorities can make use of existing powers to restrict and enforce pavement parking.

Local Authorities are being actively supported to improve social cohesion through a range of national initiatives. This includes the recently announced communities funding for up to 350 places, incorporating the existing 75 Plan for Neighbourhoods, announced in March, and the 25 trailblazer neighbourhoods announced at Spending Review, who will receive up to £20 million each over the next decade. This funding will support improvements people can see on their doorstep, champion local leadership, foster community engagement and strengthen social cohesion.

To deliver this programme of neighbourhood-level support, the government will work in partnership with local communities and local authorities to support delivery.

Per the Terms of Reference for the Working Group, the Group is supported by a small secretariat function based within the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, with Senior Civil Servant-level oversight provided in the usual manner.

Per the Terms of Reference for the Working Group, the Group is supported by a small secretariat function based within the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, with Senior Civil Servant-level oversight provided in the usual manner.

The government has no plans to introduce a compulsory requirement to vote.

The health and wellbeing of firefighters is of the utmost importance. The government recognises the risks that firefighters face and is grateful to them for their bravery. Fire and Rescue Authorities (FRAs) are ultimately responsible for the health and wellbeing of firefighters and the government-issued National Framework directs that all Fire and Rescue Authorities should have a people strategy which sets out the mental and physical health and wellbeing support available to firefighters.

National organisations such as The Fire Fighters Charity and Mind also offer valuable support to individuals and services. Their resources can assist Fire and Rescue Authorities in developing local approaches to managing mental health risks and promoting the wellbeing of their workforce.

The health and wellbeing support provided by Fire and Rescue services is considered by the fire inspectorate (His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services) in the course of their work.

The health and wellbeing of firefighters is of the utmost importance. The government recognises the risks that firefighters face and is grateful to them for their bravery. Fire and Rescue Authorities (FRAs) are ultimately responsible for the health and wellbeing of firefighters and the government-issued National Framework directs that all Fire and Rescue Authorities should have a people strategy which sets out the mental and physical health and wellbeing support available to firefighters.

National organisations such as The Fire Fighters Charity and Mind also offer valuable support to individuals and services. Their resources can assist Fire and Rescue Authorities in developing local approaches to managing mental health risks and promoting the wellbeing of their workforce.

The health and wellbeing support provided by Fire and Rescue services is considered by the fire inspectorate (His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services) in the course of their work.

In 2025/26 the Government is investing £1 billion in homelessness services in England, an increase of £233 million on the previous year. Local authorities can use this funding to provide a range of services to meet local need.

The Homelessness Code of Guidance sets out how local authorities in England should exercise their homelessness functions in accordance with the Homelessness Reduction Act, including how housing authorities must ensure their services are accessible. You can find the Code of Guidance on gov.uk here.

In 2025/26 the Government is investing £1 billion in homelessness services in England, an increase of £233 million on the previous year. Local authorities can use this funding to provide a range of services to meet local need.

The Homelessness Code of Guidance sets out how local authorities in England should exercise their homelessness functions in accordance with the Homelessness Reduction Act, including how housing authorities must ensure their services are accessible. You can find the Code of Guidance on gov.uk here.

As set out in paragraph 6.2.5 of the Fair Funding Review 2.0, the government is proposing to set the notional Council Tax level at the average Band D level of Council Tax in England for authorities in scope of these reforms (circa £2000 in 2026-27). This includes the social care precept and the fire precept (including the fire element of mayoral precepts), but does not include police or parish precepts.

For each multi-tier area, the government is proposing to apply a uniform split to the measure of Council Tax in the resources adjustment based on the average split for all multi tier areas in England.

As set out in paragraph 6.2.5 of the Fair Funding Review 2.0, the government is proposing to set the notional Council Tax level at the average Band D level of Council Tax in England for authorities in scope of these reforms (circa £2000 in 2026-27). This includes the social care precept and the fire precept (including the fire element of mayoral precepts), but does not include police or parish precepts.

For each multi-tier area, the government is proposing to apply a uniform split to the measure of Council Tax in the resources adjustment based on the average split for all multi tier areas in England.

It is for individual councils to set their own level of council tax. The Spending Review assumed a 3% core referendum principle and a 2% adult social care precept over the period, in line with OBR forecasts. The final set of referendum principles will be set out each year as part of the local government final settlement each year, subject the approval of the House of Commons, in the usual way.

It is for individual councils to set their own level of council tax. The Spending Review assumed a 3% core referendum principle and a 2% adult social care precept over the period, in line with OBR forecasts. The final set of referendum principles will be set out each year as part of the local government final settlement each year, subject the approval of the House of Commons, in the usual way.

The vast majority of upper-tier authorities will see their income increase in real terms over the next three years.

For those councils who would see their funding fall as a result of these changes, our intention to protect the vast majority of these councils’ income through a flat cash funding floor.

We will engage directly with a small number of councils whose new share of funding is furthest from where they are currently, to support them to manage larger losses. Many of these councils have prepared for long overdue reforms which the previous government consulted on, including by setting aside reserves.

Our proposed transitional arrangements are subject to consultation and we will set out the detail of them in the autumn. We will then publish allocations at the provisional multi-year Settlement later this year.

New Homes Bonus allocations are published online, and the amounts awarded in 2024-25 can be found gov.uk here. The then government ended new legacy payments in 2020-21, with final payments made in 2022-23.

The totals allocated by tier in 2024-25 are as follows:

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.

The consultations in the six areas on the Devolution Priority Programme have now closed, and the government is carefully considering the evidence collected. Further updates will be communicated in the usual way, in due course.

As set out in the Elections Act 2022, where there is a discrepancy between the name shown on an elector’s identification document and how their name is recorded on the electoral register, that elector may still use that document if they are able to explain the discrepancy to the satisfaction of the presiding officer, and may provide further evidence (e.g. a marriage certificate) when doing so

This information is set out on poll cards and is displayed in polling stations.

No assessment has been made on the potential impacts that such discrepancies might have on levels of voter participation.

Elections are run by independent Returning Officers, who are responsible for publishing election results.

My Department does not have a formal role in collating and publishing information on the results of Mayoral elections.

This Government has not agreed any of the initial payments for the last five sets of elections funded from the Consolidated Fund. However, it will be responsible for settling the claims for both the 2024 Police and Crime Commissioner elections and the 2024 UK parliamentary general election. The timing of the final payments will depend on when responses to any queries for the last outstanding claims for each poll are submitted and payments settled.

Payments to statutorily independent Returning Officers (ROs) for UK parliamentary and Police and Crime Commissioner polls are made from the Consolidated Fund. An advance payment – typically 75% of the estimated cost – is issued in advance of the election, meaning ROs are not required to meet election costs upfront or wait a considerable length of time for the majority of the funding. The final payment reflects the balance due, following scrutiny and agreement of the expenses claim.

The table below sets out the dates of the first and last payments agreed for each of the last five sets of elections, based on records held by the Department. These figures relate to claims made by ROs for reimbursement of properly incurred costs.

The government publishes statistics on homelessness including the number of children in temporary accommodation each quarter through gov.uk. You can find the data gov.uk here.

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.

Since 4 July 2024, the Secretary of State for Housing Communities and Local Government has issued 8 approvals for the disposal of allotments under the Allotments Act 1925. See the available data on locations and LPA reference numbers below:

The Construction Products Green Paper, published earlier this year, set out a range of potential measures for reform. This included proposals which seek to encourage the adoption of new technologies and methodologies that promote safety and sustainability in construction, simultaneously facilitating growth. We also sought views through the green paper on ways to support and encourage innovation in the built environment by ensuring that the safety and regulation of emerging technologies is robust enough to assure a safer future for the built environment. We also consider that there is a need for greater public sector testing and research capacity to support regulatory activity and research safety issues.

We are now analysing responses and will set out the government’s initial response, and our next steps for long term reform.

More broadly, all building works need to meet the functional requirements of the Building Regulations 2010 regardless of the products or methods used. The functional requirements are product agnostic, allowing designers the freedom to innovate and design new ways to comply.

MHCLG has spent £149 on stationery since 5 July 2025.

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman underwent an independent peer review in 2023-24 facilitated by the International Ombudsman Institute. The review and the LGSCO’s response to its recommendations can be found on the LGSCO’s website.

The Independent Commission on Community and Cohesion is not affiliated with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government. As such, the department has not allocated any funding to the commission and does not hold information on its timelines.

The Independent Commission on Community and Cohesion is not affiliated with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government. As such, the department has not allocated any funding to the commission and does not hold information on its timelines.

The Independent Commission on Community and Cohesion is not affiliated with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government. As such, the department has not allocated any funding to the commission and does not hold information on its timelines.

The statutory intervention in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets put in place a team of Ministerial Envoys to work comprehensively within the Council to oversee and support its work to improve. This includes supporting the Council’s work to improve the openness and transparency of its decision making.

The Ministerial Envoys do not take or assess the impact of decisions relating to specific cases; the responsibility for which remains with the Council.

The statutory intervention in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets put in place a team of Ministerial Envoys to work comprehensively within the Council to oversee and support its work to improve. This includes supporting the Council’s work to improve the openness and transparency of its decision making.

The Ministerial Envoys do not take or assess the impact of decisions relating to specific cases; the responsibility for which remains with the Council.

As part of the Fair Funding Review 2.0 consultation, the government is inviting views on using some grant for a funding floor, to ensure that local authorities’ income is protected by a specified amount across the multi-year Settlement. We propose continuing the existing policy that any protection offered through a funding floor assumes local authorities use their full council tax flexibility.

The Spending Review confirmed that the government intends to maintain the 3% core council tax referendum principle and a 2% principle for the adult social care precept, in line with the previous government’s policy and OBR forecasts. These principles protect working people and ensure residents have the final say on excessive increases.

We have set out further detail on these proposals and are inviting views on their potential impact, in the Fair Funding Review 2.0, which is open until 15 August 2025. Final referendum principles will be confirmed at the Settlement in the usual way.

As part of the Fair Funding Review 2.0 consultation, the government is inviting views on using some grant for a funding floor, to ensure that local authorities’ income is protected by a specified amount across the multi-year Settlement. We propose continuing the existing policy that any protection offered through a funding floor assumes local authorities use their full council tax flexibility.

The Spending Review confirmed that the government intends to maintain the 3% core council tax referendum principle and a 2% principle for the adult social care precept, in line with the previous government’s policy and OBR forecasts. These principles protect working people and ensure residents have the final say on excessive increases.

We have set out further detail on these proposals and are inviting views on their potential impact, in the Fair Funding Review 2.0, which is open until 15 August 2025. Final referendum principles will be confirmed at the Settlement in the usual way.

It is for individual councils to set their own level of council tax. In 2025-26, data published by MHCLG shows that councils expect to generate £653.6m from the use of the ASC Precept in 2025-26, which adds £34 to average band D bills. The data is available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/680a37fc7a11df940be1aaa2/Table_10_2025-26.ods.

For 2026-27 to 2028-29, the Spending Review assumed a 3% core referendum principle and a 2% adult social care precept over the period, in line with OBR forecasts. Final referendum principles will be confirmed at the local government finance settlement each year, subject to approval by the House of Commons, in the usual way. The government is inviting views and supporting evidence on projecting a notional Council Tax level, to ensure places less able to raise tax locally are not left behind. The consultation is open until 15^th August.

It is for individual councils to set their own level of council tax. In 2025-26, data published by MHCLG shows that councils expect to generate £653.6m from the use of the ASC Precept in 2025-26, which adds £34 to average band D bills. The data is available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/680a37fc7a11df940be1aaa2/Table_10_2025-26.ods.

For 2026-27 to 2028-29, the Spending Review assumed a 3% core referendum principle and a 2% adult social care precept over the period, in line with OBR forecasts. Final referendum principles will be confirmed at the local government finance settlement each year, subject to approval by the House of Commons, in the usual way. The government is inviting views and supporting evidence on projecting a notional Council Tax level, to ensure places less able to raise tax locally are not left behind. The consultation is open until 15^th August.

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.

Section 28 of the Localism Act 2011 (‘the Act’) requires a local authority to make provisions in its member code of conduct not just for the registration of pecuniary interests but also for other interests; this may include employment offers.

Under the Act, local authorities are required to have member code of conduct provisions that conform to the Nolan Principles and promote and maintain high standards of conduct. The Local Government Association has produced guidance on gov.uk a model code of conduct, recommending that they include provisions that members must not use their position improperly to the advantage or disadvantage of themselves or anyone else.

It is currently for local authorities to decide their code of conduct in line with lawful requirements. We consulted on a mandatory gov.uk minimum code of conduct for local authorities in England and will respond to the consultation in due course.

The Fair Funding Review 2.0 consultation is open from 20th June – 15th August. We are seeking views on the government’s proposed approach to determining new funding allocations for local authorities and fire and rescue authorities, building on the local authority funding reform: objectives and principles consultation.

The estimated averages in council tax across the multi-year Settlement reflect the government’s intention to maintain the 3% core council tax referendum principle and a 2% principle for the adult social care precept, as set out in the Spending Review. These principles are in line with the previous government’s policy and OBR forecasts. The Department will publish updated estimates as part of the Local Government Finance Settlement (LGFS) 2026-27, including the specific core spending power figures for each local authority.

As part of the Fair Funding Review 2.0, the government is inviting views and evidence on projecting Council Tax base growth in the context of supporting the government’s objective to build 1.5 million new homes.

There are several options for how we could project Council Tax base growth, two of which are outlined in paragraph 9.4.8 of the publication.

The consultation is open until 15th August. We will publish our response in the autumn, followed by the provisional multi-year Settlement.

All details of ministerial meetings with external bodies are published on gov.uk.