Asked by: Mark Menzies (Independent - Fylde)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans his Department has to encourage the inclusion of sustainable technologies, including energy production and waste disposal, in new-build developments.
Answered by Rishi Sunak - Leader of HM Official Opposition
The Building Regulations set minimum energy performance and waste provision standards for new homes and non-domestic buildings. They are deliberately couched in performance terms and do not prescribe the sustainable technologies to be used, allowing builders the flexibility to innovate and select the most practical and cost effective solutions in particular circumstances.
As part of its response to Dame Judith Hackitt's independent review of Building Regulations and fire safety, the Government is developing a programme to review the Building Regulations' guidance. A review of the energy performance standards in Building Regulations is already underway.
Asked by: Mark Menzies (Independent - Fylde)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the cost to the public purse of Town and Parish Councils in 2018.
Answered by Rishi Sunak - Leader of HM Official Opposition
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has not made any assessment of the cost to the public purse of Parish councils as they do not receive Government funding. Parish councils are funded by a precept upon local taxpayers through council tax.
Asked by: Mark Menzies (Independent - Fylde)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans his Department has to encourage developers to build adaptable houses that can become homes for life.
Answered by Rishi Sunak - Leader of HM Official Opposition
The Government is planning a review of accessible and adaptable housing standards in Part M of the Building Regulations. In the revised National Planning Policy Framework we have already strengthened the policy approach to accessible housing by setting out an expectation that planning policies for housing should make use of the Government’s optional technical standards for accessible and adaptable housing
Asked by: Mark Menzies (Independent - Fylde)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department has taken with the Ministry of Defence to improve the infrastructure around Weeton Barracks ahead of the upcoming expansion of that barracks.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
MHCLG works closely with MoD on sites that are being released for housing. As Weeton Barracks is in operational use, MHCLG are not engaging with MoD on this site.
Asked by: Mark Menzies (Independent - Fylde)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the number of planning permission breaches at the Preston New Road Shale gas site since the commencement of exploratory drilling.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
The Department does not record centrally the number of breaches of planning control that may have occurred at any particular development site. Enforcement action against any suspected breaches of planning control is a matter for local planning authorities. Local authorities who wish to take enforcement action against breaches of planning control can bid for resources from the Department’s £1.6 million shale support funding scheme.
Asked by: Mark Menzies (Independent - Fylde)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to introduce proposals for a cap on the amount of money senior council officials are entitled to receive in payments when leaving the employment of local authorities.
Answered by Marcus Jones
Currently regulations give local government employers discretion to make a redundancy payment up to a limit of 104 weeks (2 years). In February 2016, the Government consulted on proposed changes to this regime, including a central framework to cap redundancy comensation payments in the public sector.
My Department has developed proposals specific to local government, which would limit redundancy payments to a maximum of 15 months' salary. Further announcements on these will be made in due course.
In addition, in 2016 the Government legislated to cap exit payments across the public sector to a maximum of £95,000. A consultation on proposed implementation arrangements will be forthcoming in 2018.
Asked by: Mark Menzies (Independent - Fylde)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to prevent owners of freehold properties who have been tied into long-term contracts from being charged to make minor alterations to their property.
Answered by Lord Sharma - COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
The Government’s consultation, Tackling unfair practices in the leasehold market, considered a number of issues within the leasehold sector including the issue of freeholder charges. The consultation closed on 19 September and the Government will respond shortly.
Asked by: Mark Menzies (Independent - Fylde)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many times the power he has under section 17(7) of the Town and Country Planning (Inquiries Procedure) (England) Rules 2000/1624 to reopen a planning inquiry has been exercised by him and his predecessors to allow an appellant to adduce further evidence in their favour since the introduction of those rules.
Answered by Lord Barwell
The Secretary of State has the power to re-open a public inquiry as he thinks fit, for example if he considers that would be the best way to allow parties to put forward any further evidence and for parties to respond to any such evidence. No records are kept of how frequently that has occurred.
Asked by: Mark Menzies (Independent - Fylde)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to his decision to reopen the planning inquiry into the highways safety aspects of Cuadrilla Resources' appeal against Lancashire County Council's decision to refuse planning permission to build shale gas wells at its Roseacre Wood site, whether the analysis supporting his decision differs from that of the inspector concerned on any matter of fact mentioned in or otherwise material to a conclusion reached by that inspector in that case; and what new evidence or new matter of fact he has taken into consideration on the highways safety aspects of that case that has informed his decision to reopen the planning inquiry.
Answered by Lord Barwell
Full reasons for the Secretary of State’s decision are set out in the decision letter that was published on 6 October 2016.
In reaching his decision, the Secretary of State took into account the wide range of relevant issues that were raised and evidence that was put forward in this appeal, as well as the detailed findings, conclusions and recommendations of the Planning Inspector who held a public inquiry.
The decision letter and the Inspector’s Report are available at:
Asked by: Mark Menzies (Independent - Fylde)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to support high street retailers.
Answered by Marcus Jones
This Government is supporting our high streets to thrive. We have introduced the biggest ever cut in business rates, worth £6.7 billion; launched the High Street pledge and digital high street pilots; introduced a fairer parking regime and sensible planning changes; and we are celebrating our high streets through the hugely successful annual Great British High Street Competition.