Dec. 23 2024
Source Page: Local Welsh treasures saved and restored with UK Government fundingDec. 23 2024
Source Page: Local treasures in Scotland saved through UK Government fundingDec. 23 2024
Source Page: Eighty-five local treasures to be saved and restoredDec. 23 2024
Source Page: Local treasures in Wales to be saved and restoredAsked by: Mike Amesbury (Independent - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's Remediation Acceleration Plan, published on 02 December 2024, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of providing support to volunteer directors of Resident Management Companies and Right to Manage Companies in the event of enforcement action being taken at their building.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
In accordance with the Regulator’s Code, regulators must carry out their activities in a way that supports those they regulate to comply and grow. This includes making sure they take a proportionate approach to enforcement, and educate those they regulate about their responsibilities.
MHCLG expects regulators to engage with a building’s leaseholders (including any RTMs or RMCs in place) prior to enforcement, to understand what factors are delaying remediation. If regulatory action has escalated to formal enforcement action, this may be because engagement with relevant parties has failed to produce a positive outcome. Under the Housing Act 2004, local authorities also have a duty to take enforcement action where they identify category 1 hazards (the most dangerous level).
This month, MHCLG published remediation enforcement guidance for regulators to support regulators to enforce permanent remediation at unsafe buildings. Annex D of our guidance stresses the importance of regulators taking proportionate regulatory action at leaseholder-managed buildings. We recommend that – in certain cases - non-statutory action to educate RTMs and RMCs about the remediation process and their responsibilities may be the most appropriate and helpful action a regulator can take to get an unsafe building fixed.
Asked by: Lord Black of Brentwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what are the outstanding issues delaying full implementation of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
I refer the Noble Lord to the answer given to Question UIN 18875 on 16 December 2024.
Dec. 21 2024
Source Page: Letter dated 02/10/2024 from James Blythe, Deputy Director, Executive Team & Central Operations, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to the Commissioner for Public Appointments regarding the appointment of the appointment of the MHCLG Lead Non-Executive Director to the role of MHCLG Lead Non-Executive Director. 1p.Dec. 20 2024
Source Page: Integrated settlements for 2025 to 2026Asked by: Alex Baker (Labour - Aldershot)
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) protect and (b) enhance green spaces in Aldershot constituency.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The government is firmly committed to creating better access to parks and green spaces for all sections of society. They are an essential part of local social infrastructure which supports more connected, stronger communities. Two green spaces in the Aldershot constituency, Wellesley Woodlands and Farnborough Business Park, have been recognised for their quality through the MHCLG-owned Green Flag Award. The Green Flag Award scheme sets the national quality standard for parks and green spaces.
Furthermore, changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) will bolster environmental requirements that are already in place for new developments, including an objective for new residents to be able to access good quality green spaces within a short walk of their homes. Local authorities are mainly responsible for the provision and maintenance of green spaces and they are best placed to identify how to direct their resources. The Autumn Budget announced over £4 billion in additional funding for local government services, £1.3 billion of which will go through the Local Government Finance Settlement.