Local Government Reorganisation

Debate between Baroness Taylor of Stevenage and Lord McLoughlin

Tuesday 21st July 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Taylor of Stevenage (Lab)]

I thank my noble friend for his welcome of that decision. He is quite right, of course, that when these proposals were put forward there were areas on which there were different opinions within political parties about how things should be done, as well as differences between political parties. That is why it was very important that we judged absolutely against the criteria that we had set. In response to his question about the rationale for the decisions, all the areas that have had decisions will receive a decision letter from the Government setting out the rationale behind the decision, which I hope will help local areas understand how the process has worked. As I said, and as I will keep stressing, the proposals all came forward from local areas; we have not designed any of these proposals in Westminster.

[Lord McLoughlin (Con)]

My Lords, being a bit sceptical, like the noble Lord, Lord Grocott, as to the alleged savings that will be made as a result of this, can the Minister tell us what mechanisms are in operation to stop councils which will be altered in their status embarking on large contracts between now and the new authority dates?

[Baroness Taylor of Stevenage (Lab)]

That is a very important issue indeed, which we picked up on early in the process. The Secretary of State has written to all tiers of local government to ask them, if they are undertaking big contracts—which is sometimes necessary, because if your contract is running out, you cannot wait until the new authority is in place—to work in partnership across the local authorities involved to make sure that everybody understands what is being committed to. We have asked for the same with capital disposals, so that all local authorities make sure they are working in partnership and everybody understands what is happening, both with capital and with contracts.

Donations to Political Parties

Debate between Baroness Taylor of Stevenage and Lord McLoughlin

Monday 1st June 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Taylor of Stevenage (Lab)]

It is important that any money spent from the public purse is spent in a way that commands the confidence of the public. It is critical that processes are in place to monitor that spending and to make sure that it is used for the purposes it is there for. It is critical that it is properly and legally audited, so that we can all be assured of that. One of the big problems we have in the political world is an undermining of confidence in the political system. That is not helped when people do not have confidence in the financial systems that surround it. Those things are really important, and we continue to keep them under review.

[Lord McLoughlin (Con)]

If the Government consider making any changes to Short money, will the Minister make them retrospective for the last 10 years?

[Baroness Taylor of Stevenage (Lab)]

The allocation of Short money is beyond my ministerial brief, but all parties must think when they are in government about the proposals around Short money.

Birmingham City Council and Unite: Refuse Workers’ Pay

Debate between Baroness Taylor of Stevenage and Lord McLoughlin

Tuesday 17th March 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Taylor of Stevenage (Lab)]

The noble Lord raises an important point about the pay of public service workers, and it is very important that they are recognised for the real value they provide in our communities. But even before the strike, Birmingham’s waste service was failing residents. For example, in 2024-25 residents registered over 120,000 missed bin collections. The council now has to press ahead with the much-needed transformation to build a waste service that is fit for purpose and delivers for the people of Birmingham. That of course includes recognising the staff as they should be recognised.

[Lord McLoughlin (Con)]

Bearing in mind the words of the noble Lord, Lord Woodley, on the position of the commissioners, do the Government have full confidence in the commissioners appointed to do that job?

Council Tax

Debate between Baroness Taylor of Stevenage and Lord McLoughlin

Monday 3rd February 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Taylor of Stevenage (Lab)]

My noble friend makes a very important point about the cost of devolution. We want to see all of England accessing that devolved power, and efficiencies will be generated in the long term. My honourable friend the Minister will be setting out the local government finance settlement later today, and I am sure he will include the details then.

[Lord McLoughlin (Con)]

My Lords, when the Minister says there will be winners and losers in any reform of council tax, does she not agree with the way in which the noble Lord, Lord Rooker, put it: that the winners are those who, at the moment, are living in high-value properties and the losers are those who live in low-value properties?

[Baroness Taylor of Stevenage (Lab)]

My Lords, the party opposite had 14 years to sort this out and did nothing about it. Council tax levels are decided by each council. We maintain the previous Government’s policy on the referendum levels. We are tackling the fair funding that was started off by the last Government but never finished. That will level the playing field for areas that need more funding support.