Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the minimum population size is that a unitary council can consist of within the local government reform framework.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
New unitary councils must be the right size to achieve efficiencies, improve capacity and withstand financial shocks. The population size of 500,000 or more – as set out in the invitation and in the English Devolution White Paper – is a guiding principle, not a target. We understand that there should be flexibility, especially given our ambition to build out devolution and take account of housing growth, alongside Local Government Reorganisation, and have asked that all proposals, whether they are at the guided level, above it, or below it, should set out the rationale for the proposed approach clearly.
All proposals will be assessed against all the criteria in the invitation. Decisions on the most appropriate option for each area will be judgements in the round, having regard to the statutory guidance and the available evidence. That evidence will include information provided by the councils as part of their proposals, representations received during the statutory consultation, and other relevant information available.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what evidence she will use to decide on the composition of unitary councils in Cambridgeshire.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
New unitary councils must be the right size to achieve efficiencies, improve capacity and withstand financial shocks. The population size of 500,000 or more – as set out in the invitation and in the English Devolution White Paper – is a guiding principle, not a target. We understand that there should be flexibility, especially given our ambition to build out devolution and take account of housing growth, alongside Local Government Reorganisation, and have asked that all proposals, whether they are at the guided level, above it, or below it, should set out the rationale for the proposed approach clearly.
All proposals will be assessed against all the criteria in the invitation. Decisions on the most appropriate option for each area will be judgements in the round, having regard to the statutory guidance and the available evidence. That evidence will include information provided by the councils as part of their proposals, representations received during the statutory consultation, and other relevant information available.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Reform UK - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
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 24 June 2025 to Question 60731 on Elections: Essex, which local elections will take place on that day.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Elections are scheduled to elect Councillors to Basildon Borough Council, Brentwood Borough Council, Castle Point Borough Council, Colchester City Council, Epping Forest District Council, Essex County Council, Harlow District Council, Rochford District Council, Southend-on-Sea City Council and Thurrock Council.
The government's consultation on Devolution Priority Programme areas closed on 13 April. We are now carefully considering the evidence collected to determine whether the statutory tests have been met in each of the areas, including Greater Essex.
Asked by: Simon Opher (Labour - Stroud)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to increase political engagement amongst young people.
Answered by Rushanara Ali - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The government, in its manifesto, committed to increasing the engagement of young people in our democracy, by giving 16- and 17-year-olds the right to vote in all UK elections. The government believes that enabling 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in all UK elections will foster early and sustained participation in civic life and enhance engagement in our democratic processes. We want young people to find their voice and exercise their right to vote – registering to vote is a vital first step towards doing that.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with Lancashire County Council on the financial sustainability of local services under the proposed devolution deal.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The funding and delivery of local services provided by local authorities including Lancashire County Council is separate from the Lancashire Combined County Authority. There have therefore been no discussions about the financial sustainability of local services in relation to devolution. We are continuing to work with Lancashire Combined County Authority to deepen their existing devolution agreement and, dependent on their ongoing governance review, we will explore a path towards mayoral devolution for the region.
Asked by: Shaun Davies (Labour - Telford)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will publish the criteria by which communities may qualify for capital grants from upper tier local authorities for physical and social regeneration funding.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
At Spending Review, we announced support for up to 350 deprived communities, which includes the 75 places named in the Plan for Neighbourhoods in March 2025. The investment will support communities to drive forward the changes they want to see in their neighbourhoods, championing local leadership, fostering community engagement and strengthening social cohesion. Further details will be published in due course.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
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 5 June 2025 to Question 54880 on Council tax: billing, whether local billing authorities are able to require the individual residents of a dwelling to declare whether the property is their (a) primary and (b) secondary residence.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1992 requires billing authorities to take reasonable steps to determine whether any discounts or premiums are applicable. This includes a power to require information to be provided about the persons liable for the bill on a dwelling. It is for each authority to decide when to use these powers.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Reform UK - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
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 24 June 2025 to Question 60731 on Elections: Essex, which local elections will take place on that day.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Elections are scheduled to elect Councillors to Basildon Borough Council, Brentwood Borough Council, Castle Point Borough Council, Colchester City Council, Epping Forest District Council, Essex County Council, Harlow District Council, Rochford District Council, Southend-on-Sea City Council and Thurrock Council.
The government's consultation on Devolution Priority Programme areas closed on 13 April. We are now carefully considering the evidence collected to determine whether the statutory tests have been met in each of the areas, including Greater Essex.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
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 10 June 2025 to Question 53762 on Licensing Laws: Fees and Charges, what her planned timetable is for publishing the response to that consultation.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The response to the consultation Local Authority Principles and Objectives: gov.uk (Local authority funding reform: objectives and principles) was published on Friday 20 June 2025. The link to the response can be found gov.uk here.
In parallel, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government published the Fair Funding Review 2.0 consultation, which sets out further questions on Sales, Fees and Charges reform. The link to that consultation is gov.uk here.
Asked by: Sarah Bool (Conservative - South Northamptonshire)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the proposed Fair Funding Review 2.0 on the financial settlement for North Northamptonshire Council.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
On 20 June 2025, we launched the Fair Funding Review 2.0 consultation on proposals to update and reform the funding system through the 2026-27 Local Government Finance Settlement. Subject to consultation, our proposals will create a balanced, more transparent and simpler Settlement.
We will publish the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement later this year, which will inform local authorities, including North Northamptonshire and West Northamptonshire Councils, of their provisional multi-year allocations, and allow authorities to make budget decisions and plan for the course of the multi-year Settlement.