Asked by: Baroness Eaton (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans, if any, they have to update the guidance issued by the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government on 12 September 2016 concerning submitting proposals under the Sustainable Communities Act 2007, in particular regarding the email address local authorities can use to submit proposals.
Answered by Lord Lemos - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
The Government has no plans to update the guidance issued on 12 September 2016 concerning the submission of proposals under the Sustainable Communities Act 2007. The email address has been updated.
Asked by: Baroness Eaton (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether it will be for new unitary authorities to decide whether to apply for the creation of a Foundation Strategic Authority.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government has been clear that it wants to see devolution extended across the whole of England, with more areas benefiting from the powers and funding available to Strategic Authorities.
We have therefore written to leaders of councils in areas without devolution agreements, inviting them to work with neighbouring authorities to agree a suitable geography and submit proposals.
These proposals must meet the criteria set out in the English Devolution White Paper, in particular that they command the support of the proposed constituent councils and support effective delivery for communities. For areas undergoing local government reorganisation, we will continue to work closely with local partners, including any new unitary authorities, on potential future devolution arrangements.
Asked by: Baroness Eaton (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will legislate to amend section 245 of the Local Government Act 1972 to extend the right to petition for borough status to new unitary authorities.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government has no current plans to amend section 245 of the Local Government Act 1972. Where local government reorganisation takes place, newly established unitary authorities will be district councils, who are already able to petition for borough status under the existing provisions of the Act, provided the statutory criteria are met, including a resolution passed by not less than two thirds of members at a meeting specifically convened for that purpose.
Asked by: Baroness Eaton (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what guidance they have provided to existing principal local authorities and shadow unitary authorities about the distribution of assets.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
During the local government reorganisation process, councils are expected to continue to operate on a business-as-usual basis. Assets and liabilities remain locally managed by councils until reorganisation is complete. Decisions about the disposal or transfer of assets are matters for individual local authorities to determine.
The Government has issued explanatory guidance to councils undergoing local government reorganisation covering financial and asset‑related decision making. This makes clear that councils should take a responsible approach and avoid actions that could jeopardise the financial sustainability of successor authorities.
The Government plans to release further non-statutory guidance in the coming months, to assist councils undergoing reorganisation in determining a sustainable and equitable division of assets held by existing councils between new unitary authorities.
Asked by: Baroness Eaton (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many proposals they have received from local authorities under the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 relating to the promotion of sustainability in local government since 2015.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
We have not identified any proposals received from local authorities under the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 relating to the promotion of sustainability in local government since 2015.
Asked by: Baroness Eaton (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government, in regard to the High Value Council Tax Surcharge, whether the Treasury has discussed the wording required on council tax billing statements with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government; and what assessment they have made of whether amendments to the Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1992 will be necessary to enable billing of that surcharge.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The High Value Council Tax Surcharge (HVCTS) levies a new charge on owners of residential property in England worth £2 million or more, ensuring those with the most valuable properties pay their fair share. The Government has published a consultation on the detailed design of the HVCTS, including inviting views on the billing and administration process, to support local authorities in delivering the surcharge and to provide clarity to taxpayers.
Asked by: Baroness Eaton (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many staff, broken down by grade, are in the Home Office adjudication team which considers matters relating to asylum accommodation and representations from local authorities.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office has a dedicated function responsible for assessing matters relating to asylum accommodation and for considering representations made by local authorities.
Staff involved in this activity work across a range of grades and responsibilities, and their work forms part of wider operational roles rather than a separately recorded staffing group. As such, the Home Office does not hold a discrete breakdown of staff numbers by grade for this specific function.
The Department keeps staffing levels under regular review to ensure it can respond effectively and proportionately to operational demand, including the handling of local authority representations.
Asked by: Baroness Eaton (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to introduce legislative proposals to amend section 245 of the Local Government Act 1972 to extent the right for a local authority to apply for borough status to parish councils.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The government has no intention to extend the right for a local authority to apply for borough status to parish councils.
Asked by: Baroness Eaton (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to remove abandoned vehicles from Crown Estate land; and whether Crown Estate land is designated as off road for the purposes of vehicles in receipt of a Statutory Off Road Notification.
Answered by Lord Livermore
The Crown Estate is an independent commercial organisation, and the Government is not involved in its operations and day-to-day decision making.
Removal of abandoned vehicles is primarily the responsibility of the relevant local authority; therefore, where vehicles are abandoned on land under the Crown Estate’s control and management, they will engage with the relevant authorities to address the issue.
Crown Estate land is not automatically considered “off road” for Statutory Off Road Notification purposes.
Asked by: Baroness Eaton (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what governance arrangements are in place for strategic authorities that are formed before the election of mayors to those authorities.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Subject to constituent authorities’ consent, we will establish the Mayoral Strategic Authorities in the six Devolution Priority Programme areas as soon as possible, to ensure sufficient time for preparatory work ahead of the Mayor taking office and allowing areas to build local collaboration.
The governance of these new Mayoral Strategic Authorities will be specified in the establishing Statutory Instruments. We laid the establishing Statutory Instruments for Cumbria and Cheshire and Warrington on 18 December 2025,