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, whether his Department's policy on the flexible use of capital receipts by local authorities in England includes using the receipts from the sale of capital assets to a local authority controlled company for the purpose of funding current revenue expenditure; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
The current statutory guidance on Flexible Use of Capital Receipts which is applicable until 31 March 2022 details that qualifying expenditure is expenditure on any project that is designed to generate ongoing revenue savings in the delivery of public services, transform service delivery to reduce costs, or transform service delivery in a way that reduces costs or demand for services in future years for any of the public sector delivery partners. Within this definition, it is for individual local authorities to decide whether a project qualifies for the flexibility as they are best placed to decide which projects will be most effective for their areas. Government is not able to provide advice.
Each local authority’s Section 151 officer has statutory responsibility for proper administration of financial affairs; and authorities using the flexibility will need to satisfy their auditors that they have complied with the Direction and supporting Statutory Code in the normal way. The Code requires local authorities to prepare a strategy setting out the amounts spent on allowable projects on a project by project basis and to get this approved by full Council or the equivalent. This can be done as part of the annual budget setting process.
It was announced as part of the local government finance settlement in February 2021 that the Department would extend the flexibility to use capital receipts for further three years and at the time we said we would follow up with the details of the flexibility. Information on the parameters beyond 31 March 2022 are still in the process of being finalised. We understand that local authorities need time to plan for their spending over the years and will publish these details shortly.
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, pursuant to the Answer of 4 November 2021 to Question 64598, for what reason it is the Government's policy to object to the Mobile Homes Act 1983 (Amendment) Bill receiving a second reading; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
The Government was unable to support the Mobile Homes Act 1983 (Amendment) Bill printed in June 2020, because the proposal for maintenance costs not to be included in pitch fees at the next review would have had a negative impact on residents.
The Bill printed on 24 January 2022 set out a new proposal to change the pitch fee review inflationary index from the Retail Price Index to the Consumer Price Index. We will consider the proposal in detail and make a statement at the Bill's Second Reading.
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, pursuant to the Answer of 20 September 2021 to Question 49020 on Members: Correspondence, when a response to the invitation will be issued and what the reason is for the delay.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
I apologise for the delay in replying to the Honourable Member. A reply to his invitation has been sent to him.
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, when (a) he or (b) a Minister in his Department plans to respond to the email invitation to attend a meeting of the all-party Parliamentary group on park homes.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
The invitation is under consideration and a response will be issued shortly.
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, when the Minister responsible plans to respond to the invitation to attend a meeting of the Park Homes APPG which was sent to him by the Chair of the APPG on 26 April 2021; and if he will attend a meeting of the APPG in place of the junior Minister responsible as an alternative.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
The invitation is under consideration and a response will be issued shortly.
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, when the negotiations with the five learned societies resident at Burlington House, Piccadilly, on an affordable rent will be concluded; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
The Department has written to the Learned Societies and has invited them to work with us to find a viable solution that will enable the Learned Societies to deliver public value and remain in situ at New Burlington House. The Department is not yet in a position to state when discussions with the Learned Societies will conclude.