Asked by: Gary Sambrook (Conservative - Birmingham, Northfield)
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 publish the correspondence between Birmingham City Council and his Department requesting exceptional financial support by way of (a) increasing council tax above the threshold and (b) capitalisation directions to balance their budget for 2024-25 and 2025-26 financial years.
Answered by Simon Hoare
On 5 December, the Secretary of State for DLUHC published his local government finance policy statement 2024-2025. This sets out the support available, via the Exceptional Financial Support framework, to councils with specific and evidenced concerns about their ability to set or maintain a balanced budget, including where there has been local financial failure. It also confirms that as part of that process, the government will consider representations from councils, including on council tax provision.
After Birmingham City Council issued two s.114 notices in October 2023 relating to its equal pay liabilities, commissioners were appointed at the council to ensure compliance with the Local Government Best Value Duty.
Details of correspondence between councils and the department relating to exceptional financial support are not normally disclosed.
Asked by: Gary Sambrook (Conservative - Birmingham, Northfield)
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 has made an assessment of the potential role that gradual homeownership schemes could play in achieving the Government’s ambitions for more people to be able to own their own home.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
The provision of affordable housing is a key element of the Government's plan to end the housing crisis and provide aspiring homeowners with a step onto the housing ladder. Our £11.5 billion Affordable Homes Programme aims to deliver up to 180,000 new homes across the country, should economic conditions allow. Approximately half of these homes will be for affordable home ownership, including Shared Ownership.
In April 2021, the Government launched its new model of Shared Ownership. This new model will make it easier for people to gradually increase the size of their equity stake in their Shared Ownership home, as and when they can afford to do so, all the way up to full ownership, with some limited exceptions.
Asked by: Gary Sambrook (Conservative - Birmingham, Northfield)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of a gradual homeownership scheme; and if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of adding gradual homeownership to existing property purchasing arrangements ahead of the Autumn Statement.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
The Government's £11.5 billion Affordable Homes Programme 2021-2026 aims to deliver up to 180,000 new homes, should economic conditions allow. Approximately half of these homes will be for affordable home ownership, including Shared Ownership.
Shared Ownership enables a buyer to purchase an initial equity stake in a home of between 10%-75% of its market value. Following purchase, the buyer can then gradually increase their equity stake in the home, as and when they can afford to do so, all the way up to full ownership, with some limited exceptions.
In April 2021, the Government launched its new model of Shared Ownership. This new model will make Shared Ownership more consumer friendly, easier to access and fairer, leading to a better experience for a future generation of home owners.