All 2 Debates between Lord Sharma and Lord Pickles

Local Government Finance Bill

Debate between Lord Sharma and Lord Pickles
Tuesday 10th January 2012

(12 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord Pickles Portrait Mr Pickles
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Of course, in that process of revaluation, we would seek to adjust the multiplier so that it had a neutral effect on the amount. What we are talking about is ensuring that, between periods of revaluation, an authority that grows above the national average can actually bank that. However, some authorities will clearly get a disproportionately large increase, and we have a levy, through which we seek to take that sum away and to apply it to the safety net.

Lord Sharma Portrait Alok Sharma (Reading West) (Con)
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I welcome these reforms, which will incentivise local authorities and local government to encourage growth, but will the Secretary of State confirm that they will not allow some local authorities to raise business rates on already struggling businesses?

Lord Pickles Portrait Mr Pickles
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I am happy to confirm that fact to my hon. Friend, because he raises an important point about local businesses needing a degree of certainty. Of course, the Secretary of State—the person holding my position—will set the multiplier and the sum.

There is something strange about all the objections, some of which we have heard already, in that they betray a lack of faith in the people whom we represent. No one area has a monopoly on the formula for growth. Economic success is not a southern phenomenon.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Sharma and Lord Pickles
Monday 5th September 2011

(13 years, 2 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord Pickles Portrait Mr Pickles
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I shall be visiting Croydon very soon to discuss the possibilities. However, it is important to understand that the extra money made available was intended not to deal with riot damage or to get businesses up and running again, but to deal with some of Croydon’s long-term structural problems. I noted carefully what the right hon. Gentleman said about the football club, and will be happy to discuss with him elsewhere what should be done next.

Lord Sharma Portrait Alok Sharma (Reading West) (Con)
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T3. A recent independent report on the use of section 106 moneys by Labour-run Reading borough council concluded, among other things, that it was “difficult to categorically state that officers or members in position of power have not abused their position”.What advice can the Minister offer concerned council tax payers who want to see the full and exhaustive investigation that Labour in Reading is refusing to initiate?