Asked by: Chris Hinchliff (Labour - North East Hertfordshire)
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 2026 to Questions 11520 on Planning, whether minutes, notes, or records were taken of meetings held with stakeholders on the Town and Country Planning (Discharge of Local Planning Authority Functions) (England) Regulations 2026.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Officials in my Department have had regular engagement with a range of stakeholders, including the Local Government Association (LGA) and the Planning Advisory Service (PAS), regarding the regulations in question.
Officials held meetings with the LGA in January and February 2025 following the publication of the working paper on modernising planning committees in December 2024; in June 2025 following the publication of the technical consultation on modernising planning committees in May 2025; and in April 2026 following the publication of the consultation on draft regulations and guidance in March 2026.
PAS have published some recordings and FAQs as part of this process on their website.
Asked by: Chris Hinchliff (Labour - North East Hertfordshire)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will publish the dates and attendees of meetings held with the Local Government Association regarding the Town and Country Planning (Discharge of Local Planning Authority Functions) (England) Regulations 2026.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Officials in my Department have had regular engagement with a range of stakeholders, including the Local Government Association (LGA) and the Planning Advisory Service (PAS), regarding the regulations in question.
Officials held meetings with the LGA in January and February 2025 following the publication of the working paper on modernising planning committees in December 2024; in June 2025 following the publication of the technical consultation on modernising planning committees in May 2025; and in April 2026 following the publication of the consultation on draft regulations and guidance in March 2026.
PAS have published some recordings and FAQs as part of this process on their website.
Asked by: Chris Hinchliff (Labour - North East Hertfordshire)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has made an assessment of the compatibility of the Town and Country Planning (Discharge of Local Planning Authority Functions) (England) Regulations 2026 with Articles 10 and 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The government considers that the regulations in question, as well as the enabling powers for them contained in the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025, are compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.
Asked by: Chris Hinchliff (Labour - North East Hertfordshire)
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 2026 to Questions 11520 on Planning, for what reason his Department did not make an assessment of the potential impact of the Town and Country Planning (Discharge of Local Planning Authority Functions) (England) Regulations 2026 on democratic rights.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
In developing the regulations in question, the government gave careful consideration to the implications of the National Scheme of Delegation for local communities and their ability to influence development in their areas.
We recognise the essential role that planning committees play in ensuring that decisions about what to build and where are shaped by local communities and reflect the views of local residents. However, in providing essential local democratic oversight of planning decisions, it is important that planning committees operate as effectively as possible, focusing on those applications which require member input and not revisiting the same decisions.
The regulations in question do not alter existing requirements to consult on planning applications. Nor do they remove the right of residents and their elected representatives in any given local planning authority area to submit representations and make objections in respect of planning applications. Where such comments are made, they must be taken into consideration when determining applications regardless of the decision maker.
Asked by: Chris Hinchliff (Labour - North East Hertfordshire)
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 2026 to Questions 11040, 11042, 11044, 11045 and 11520, if he will publish a list of all stakeholders with whom (a) he and (b) officials in his Department met to discuss the Town and Country Planning (Discharge of Local Planning Authority Functions) (England) Regulations 2026 and the the date, attendees, and whether minutes or notes were taken for each meetings.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
My Department does not routinely publish details of meetings between officials and stakeholders and has no plans to do so in respect of the regulations in question.
Ministerial meetings are published quarterly. The latest publication is available on gov.uk here.
Asked by: Chris Hinchliff (Labour - North East Hertfordshire)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what his Department's planned timetable is for the publication of best practice guidance on where tenants can access information on furniture provision to supplement the Decent Homes Standard.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
We will publish the guidance in due course.