Asked by: Christopher Chope (Conservative - Christchurch)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, on what date BCP Council applied for permission to increase its council tax for 2026/7 above the 4.99% limit without the need for a local referendum; and whether he plans to invite (a) oral and (b) written representations from local hon. Members before making a decision.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Whilst the government works towards a local government funding system fit for the future and delivering reforms that move funding to the places where it is most needed, the government recognises the potential for some continued instability and that some local authorities may be in a challenging financial position.
That is why, as set out in the local government policy statement in November, we confirmed for those councils in the most challenging financial positions there will be – similar to previous years – an Exceptional Financial Support framework and the ability for local requests for council tax flexibility where an authority views additional council tax increases as critical to managing financial risk.
In considering any requests for council tax flexibility, the government will carefully consider a local authority’s specific circumstances and the impacts of any proposed council tax increase to local taxpayers, the most vulnerable and the authority’s ability to provide key services. Additionally, unlike the previous government, this government would not agree to requests for additional flexibilities from authorities where council tax payers are already paying more than average.
The government will continue to work constructively with local authorities requesting support but remains clear that authorities should take reasonable steps locally to manage financial pressures and deliver for their residents and only seek support in exceptional circumstances.
In line with the position of the previous government, we treat all discussions in confidence and do not publish details of requests from individual authorities ahead of decisions being made.
As ever, I remain happy to meet with Members to discuss any local concerns and would invite them to share their views.
Asked by: Christopher Chope (Conservative - Christchurch)
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 in response to representations about (a) rogue operators in the park homes industry and (b) the commission payable on the sale of park homes.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The park homes sector is an important part of the housing market.
The government is committed to improving the standards of park home site management and supporting local authorities to ensure site managers are fit and proper persons.
We recognise that there are longstanding concerns about the requirement to pay site owners a commission upon sale of a park home.
The previous government published a report in June 2022 on the impact of a change in the maximum park home sale commission. It can be found on gov.uk here.
We will set out plans in due course to seek further evidence from the sector on the rationale for the commission.
Asked by: Christopher Chope (Conservative - Christchurch)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, which (a) charities and (b) organisations have received funding from the Combatting Hate Against Muslims Fund.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
The department has not yet awarded funding to any charities or other organisations via the Combatting Hate Against Muslims Fund.
The deadline for submitting applications to the fund is 18 May. Funding will be awarded in July 2025. Further information can be found in the fund’s prospectus, published on gov.uk here.
Asked by: Christopher Chope (Conservative - Christchurch)
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 9 September 2024 to Question 4169 on Help to Buy Scheme, how many Help to Buy loan repayment applications are being processed; and how many and what proportion have been outstanding for more than (a) three and (b) six months.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The requested information is not held centrally. Publicly available information covers total annual redemptions (see response to written Question UIN 4169).
Homes England do hold information on redemptions initiated and redemptions concluded in any given month. In the 3 months to September, for Help to Buy and associated legacy schemes, an average of 2104 redemptions per month were initiated and an average of 2260 concluded. Please note that these numbers are not directly comparable.
In order to be able to redeem a Help to Buy loan, several steps need to be completed by the customer, their surveyor, their solicitor and by the Help to Buy Mortgage Administrator. Timescales are therefore dependent on each of the parties. Redemptions may also be initiated by customers who subsequently decide not to proceed.
Asked by: Christopher Chope (Conservative - Christchurch)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many Help to Buy loan repayment applications are being processed; and how many and what proportion of these applications have been outstanding for more than (a) three and (b) six months.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Data is publicly available in the Homes England annual report on the total redemptions for each year:
Asked by: Christopher Chope (Conservative - Christchurch)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to the Government response to the call for evidence on the review of park homes legislation, published in October 2018, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to help tackle the use of complex and opaque company structures to (a) limit park home residents' security of tenure and (b) avoid liability for enforcement action; and if he will make an assessment of trends in the level of the use of such company structures since 2018.
Answered by Jacob Young
The Department has published two guidance documents relating to the fit and proper person test.
My Department continues to work closely with the four national residents’ associations to address their members’ concerns about rights and responsibilities in the sector.
We remain committed to improving the sector further and will introduce primary legislation when parliamentary time allows, to prevent the use of complex company structures, clarify the definition of a pitch fee and prevent the use of variable service charges in written agreements.
Asked by: Christopher Chope (Conservative - Christchurch)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to the Government response to the call for evidence on the review of park homes legislation, published in October 2018, whether his Department has taken recent steps to (a) help raise awareness of the rights and responsibilities of park home residents and (b) issue guidance on best practice to local authorities.
Answered by Jacob Young
The Department has published two guidance documents relating to the fit and proper person test.
My Department continues to work closely with the four national residents’ associations to address their members’ concerns about rights and responsibilities in the sector.
We remain committed to improving the sector further and will introduce primary legislation when parliamentary time allows, to prevent the use of complex company structures, clarify the definition of a pitch fee and prevent the use of variable service charges in written agreements.
Asked by: Christopher Chope (Conservative - Christchurch)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to the Government response to the call for evidence on the review of park homes legislation, published in October 2018, whether he plans to bring forward legislative proposals to (a) amend and clarify the definition of a park home pitch fee and (b) prevent the use of variable service charges in written agreements.
Answered by Jacob Young
The Department has published two guidance documents relating to the fit and proper person test.
My Department continues to work closely with the four national residents’ associations to address their members’ concerns about rights and responsibilities in the sector.
We remain committed to improving the sector further and will introduce primary legislation when parliamentary time allows, to prevent the use of complex company structures, clarify the definition of a pitch fee and prevent the use of variable service charges in written agreements.
Asked by: Christopher Chope (Conservative - Christchurch)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the legal rights to redress for park home residents that have been adversely impacted by (a) companies in the Royale Life Group being put into administration and (b) the bankruptcy of Robert Bull.
Answered by Jacob Young
My Department has provided the national park home residents’ associations with advice to share with their members, about the rights and protections in place for those affected by those companies that have gone to administration.
My Department has also written to the relevant local authorities to remind them of their site licensing duties and to ensure the administrators continue to meet their legal obligations.
Asked by: Christopher Chope (Conservative - Christchurch)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will take steps to help support park home residents that have been adversely impacted by (a) companies in the Royale Life Group being put into administration and (b) the bankruptcy of Robert Bull.
Answered by Jacob Young
My Department has provided the national park home residents’ associations with advice to share with their members, about the rights and protections in place for those affected by those companies that have gone to administration.
My Department has also written to the relevant local authorities to remind them of their site licensing duties and to ensure the administrators continue to meet their legal obligations.