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 adequacy of local authority funding for the maintenance of a) public parks and b) green spaces.

The Government recognises that parks and green spaces can make a significant contribution to public health and community wellbeing by supporting physical activity, improving mental health, strengthening social connections, promoting community cohesion and pride in place, and delivering wider environmental benefits. We are therefore committed to supporting Local Authorities in developing best practice to manage parks and green spaces.

Responsibility for funding, managing and maintaining these assets rests primarily with local authorities, and spending decisions are a matter for them. The 2026-27 Local Government Finance Settlement is our most significant step yet to make English local government more sustainable. We are delivering fairer funding, targeting money where it is needed most through the first multi-year Settlement in a decade. By the end of the multi-year Settlement (2028-29), the Government will have provided a 15.5% increase in Core Spending Power for local authorities in England, worth over £11.4 billion, compared to 2025-26. The majority of funding in the Local Government Finance Settlement is unringfenced recognising that local leaders are best placed to identify local priorities.