Asked by: Liz Jarvis (Liberal Democrat - Eastleigh)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of including enhanced protection of chalk streams in planning reforms.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government is committed to securing better environmental outcomes alongside meeting development needs. We are considering how best to reform environmental assessment processes with that objective in mind, including whether to utilise powers in the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act to introduce Environmental Outcomes Reports. Those powers make specific reference to chalk streams in the context of the environmental outcomes to be taken into account.
Asked by: Liz Jarvis (Liberal Democrat - Eastleigh)
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 to monitor the Savings Programme 2025 process at Hampshire County Council.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Councils are responsible for their own financial management.
This Government recognises the vital work that local councils do for their communities. The department works closely with local government and other government departments to understand specific demand and cost pressures facing councils. We stand ready to speak to any council that is experiencing financial difficulties.
This Government will get councils back on their feet by providing multi-year funding settlements, ending competitive bidding for pots of money and reforming the local audit system.