Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of allowing district councils to be constituent members of Combined County Authorities.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Existing combined county authority legislation provides that only upper tier local authorities in the area of a combined county authority can be constituent members. District councils are an important part of local government, and as non-constituent members can play an active role in any combined county authority in their area, should they wish.

It is important that all local authorities are engaged and actively involved in improving their areas, working across all levels of government for the interests of the local community.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans she has for district councils in the Greater Lincolnshire devolution deal.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government is committed to ensuring that every part of England can rapidly benefit from devolution, moving power out of Westminster back to those who know their areas best, and this will be underpinned further by the landmark English Devolution Bill.

Existing combined county authority legislation provides that only upper tier local authorities in the area of a combined county authority can be constituent members. District councils are an important part of local government, and as non-constituent members can play an active role in any combined county authority in their area, should they wish. It is important that all local authorities are engaged and actively involved in improving their areas, working across all levels of government for the interests of the local community.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of enabling district councils to become constituent members of Combined County Authorities.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Existing combined county authority legislation provides that only upper tier local authorities in the area of a combined county authority can be constituent members. District councils are an important part of local government, and as non-constituent members can play an active role in any combined county authority in their area should they wish.

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 impact of increases in the cost of temporary accommodation on the fiscal position of district councils.

Answered by Rushanara Ali - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government recognises that homelessness levels are far too high and that this can have a devastating impact on those involved, as well as placing financial strain on councils. Local authorities have reported the costs of providing temporary accommodation for 2023/24. This information is available at the ‘Revenue outturn housing services (RO4)’ tables at Local authority revenue expenditure and financing England: 2023 to 2024 individual local authority data - outturn - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

We must address homelessness levels and deliver long term solutions. The Government will look at these issues carefully and will develop a new cross-government strategy, working with mayors, councils and key stakeholders across the country to get us back on track to ending homelessness once and for all.

More widely, we are taking action to tackle the root causes of homelessness. This includes delivering the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation, building 1.5 million new homes over the next Parliament, and abolishing Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions which will prevent private renters being exploited and discriminated against and empower people to challenge unreasonable rent increases. The Government has also confirmed £450 million for a third round of the Local Authority Housing Fund which will support local authorities to obtain better quality temporary accommodation for homeless families.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what role (a) district and (b) borough councils will play in future devolution agreements.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government is committed to ensuring that every part of England can rapidly benefit from devolution, moving power out of Westminster back to those who know their areas best. District councils are an important part of local government and should play an active role in devolution arrangements in their area, often as an important delivery partner.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of expanding devolution powers to district council areas.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government is committed to ensuring that every part of England can rapidly benefit from devolution, moving power out of Westminster back to those who know their areas best. The English Devolution Bill will establish an ambitious standardised framework and make it easier to provide devolved powers quickly to more areas. We expect all combined county authorities to work constructively with District councils in realising the potential of devolution arrangements in their area, especially where are common interests.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her letter of 16 July 2024 to local council leaders, whether devolution settlements are available to district councils.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

English devolution underpins this Government’s national mission to deliver economic growth for everyone, everywhere, raising living standards across the UK. While the previous government hoarded power in Whitehall, this Government will deliver the most ambitious programme of devolution this country has ever seen, pushing power into the hands of cities, towns, and villages across the country to unlock their true potential. Of course, we value the important role districts will play in this mission, and in due course the Government will publish a new devolution framework, which will set out in more detail the role district councils can play.

Found: London boroughs; (y) metropolitan districts in England; (z) county councils in England; 20 (z1) district

Found: meetings with Hong Kong Government senior officials, the Executive Council, Legislative Council and District

Found: that they struggled to access council tax records because their boundaries stretched across several district

Found: surveillance The UK has powers to carry out market surveillance and enforcement (Trading Standards in GB and district

Found: meetings with Hong Kong Government senior officials, the Executive Council, Legislative Council and District

Found: Community councils could be empowered by having better budgets, which could be akin to previous district