Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what discussions he has had with the charity CDP on the proposed Whitehaven coal mine.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
Due to the quasi-judicial nature of his position, it would not be appropriate to comment on this application at the present time, as to do so might appear to prejudice the Secretary of State’s decision.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of including a net zero test in any planning reforms.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities are considering how the planning system can further support our commitment to reaching net zero. As set out in the Net Zero Strategy, we will make sure that the reformed planning system supports our efforts to combat climate change and help bring greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050.
As part of our programme of planning reform we intend to review the National Planning Policy Framework to make sure it contributes to climate change mitigation and adaptation as fully as possible.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
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 impact of returning to in-person council meetings on (a) the conduct of council business and (b) attendance at meetings by councillors and members of the public.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - Leader of HM Official Opposition
The Department has not carried out any assessment of the impact of returning to in-person council meetings. The Local Government Act 1972 specifies that council meetings must take place in person at a single, specified, geographical location, and being 'present' at such a meeting involves physical presence at that location.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
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 eligibility criteria for future rounds of the Community Ownership Fund, if he will consider the equity of granting community groups leases with no break clauses.
Answered by Neil O'Brien - Shadow Minister (Policy Renewal and Development)
The Community Ownership Fund is a £150 million fund over 4 years to support community groups across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to take ownership of assets which are at risk of being lost to the community
Round 1 of the fund closed in August 2021 and we will shortly be announcing the first projects to receive funding. We will conduct a review to learn from the first bidding round and amend future rounds accordingly, to make sure that the Fund has the reach and impact intended to support communities.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether the criteria for future rounds of the Community Ownership Fund will be changed so that community assets are defined in line with Section 88.1 of the Localism Act.
Answered by Neil O'Brien - Shadow Minister (Policy Renewal and Development)
The Community Ownership Fund is a £150 million fund over 4 years to support community groups across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to take ownership of assets which are at risk of being lost to the community.
We will conduct a review to learn from the first bidding round and amend future rounds and assessment criteria accordingly. Currently, the fund will support a range of asset types and ownership models, providing the applicant demonstrates their community value.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
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 determining eligibility for future rounds of the Community Ownership Fund, if he will include the potential future use of an asset within local communities as a criteria for funding.
Answered by Neil O'Brien - Shadow Minister (Policy Renewal and Development)
The Community Ownership Fund is a £150 million fund over 4 years to support community groups across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to take ownership of assets which are at risk of being lost to the community.
We will conduct a review to learn from the first bidding round and the assessment criteria accordingly. Currently, applicants are required to demonstrate the value of the asset to local people and that the asset can run sustainably for the long-term benefit of the community.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether the Government has plans to bring forward legislative proposals to enable local authorities to conduct remote meetings.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - Leader of HM Official Opposition
We launched a call for evidence on 25 March to gather views and inform a longer-term decision about whether to make express provision for councils to meet remotely on a permanent basis. The call for evidence closed on 17 June. The Department is reviewing the responses to the consultation and the Government will respond in due course. Any permanent change would require legislation, and would depend upon Parliamentary time being available.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
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 (a) review and (b) clarify the definitions and distinctions used to categorise specialist housing for older residents.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
The Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 (as amended) puts uses of land and buildings into various categories known as 'Use Classes'. It is for a local planning authority to consider into which use class a particular development may fall, and whether a development for specialist housing for older people falls within C2 (Residential Institutions) or C3 (Dwellinghouse) use class will depend on the individual circumstances of the development.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what his planned timetable is for publication of the results of his Department's consultation on local authority remote meetings.
Answered by Luke Hall
The Department is reviewing the responses to the consultation and will respond in due course. However, any permanent change would require legislation, and would depend upon Parliamentary time being available.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether covid-19 guidance for places of worship will be updated to allow congregations to sing with masks on, similar to those provisions made in the Welsh Government's new covid-19 guidance, from 21 June 2021 as covid-19 restrictions are eased.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
Places of worship play an important role in providing spiritual leadership and bringing communities together, however their communal nature makes them particularly vulnerable to the spread of coronavirus.
Congregational singing is under restrictions due to the increased risk of transmission through small droplets and aerosols. This means that those partaking in these activities are at higher risk of transmitting the virus and thus, spreading infection even if the individual is vaccinated.
On 17 May we entered step 3 on the Prime Minister’s roadmap, reintroducing indoor singing in a place of worship for a performance or rehearsal, for a group up to 6 amateur signers. This is in line with all amateur choirs and singing groups. Outdoors, the congregation may join in with singing in multiple groups of up to 30. Congregation members should continue to follow social distancing rules.
Public health is a devolved matter in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and so many of the health measures implemented across the UK in response to Covid-19 fall within the competence of the devolved administrations. There are currently no plans to allow congregational singing with masks on to resume before Step 4 of the roadmap in England, which would be no earlier than 19 July.