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Mr. David Atkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the effect of his Department's policies on the residents of Bournemouth since 1992, with special reference to the effects of changes in the resources provided in real terms. [14952]
Sir Paul Beresford: The local government review is an opportunity for improved services and more effective local government for the people of Bournemouth. As of 1 April 1997, Bournemouth borough council will be responsible for delivering the full range of local authority services, enabling improved services with efficiency savings.
Bournemouth borough council's standard spending assessment for the financial year 1997-98 will be £119,120,000. This represents an increase of £1,382,000, or 1.2 per cent. on the comparable figure for 1996-97. The Department does not have data for earlier years with which to calculate a SSA for a unitary Bournemouth so it is not possible to make a like-for-like comparison with 1992-93.
It is possible to compare the sum of the SSAs per head of Bournemouth borough council and Dorset police authority in 1997-98 with the sum of SSAs per head of Bournemouth borough council, Dorset county council and Dorset police authority in 1992-93. Although this is not entirely accurate, because it approximates to Bournemouth the average SSA per head of the county and police authority rather than the proportion relating to Bournemouth's needs, it is a reasonable approximation. On this basis, the total SSA per head of Bournemouth and the authorities which precept on it was £684 in 1992-93 and £789 in 1997-98. These figures do not take account of changes in local government functions, for example the transfer of further education from local authorities 1993-94.
Bournemouth borough council was successful in its bid for funding under the pilot capital challenge scheme. The council will receive a credit approval of £1.9 million for environmental works to enhance Bournemouth town square.
Bournemouth is benefiting from two schemes which have received funding from the Government's single regeneration budget challenge fund.
Dorset training and enterprise council's bid, "Community Focus--Turlin Moor and Boscombe", was one of 172 schemes awarded funding under round 2 of the challenge fund. "Community Focus--Turlin Moor and Boscombe" is a four-year scheme to meet training and educational needs in two areas which suffer from high
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crime rates and low employment. Over the full four years, it should receive a total of £406,000 in support from the challenge fund. This money, complemented by £395,000 of private sector funding and other public money, should create six jobs; involve 100 employers in collaborative education projects; and benefit 720 young people.
Bournemouth borough council's bid, "Making Small Firms Big Business--Dorset", was also awarded funding under round 2 of the challenge fund. "Making Small Firms Big Business--Dorset" is a three-year scheme to improve the infrastructure and competitiveness of the tourist industry in Dorset. Over the full three years, it should receive a total of £314,000 in support from the challenge fund. This money, complemented by £312,000 of private sector funding and £177,000 of other public money, should create or safeguard 51 jobs; advise 1,050 businesses; and help 1,100 people to obtain qualifications.
Residents of Bournemouth who live in houses in multiple occupation such as bedsits, shared houses, hostels and some houses converted into flats, will benefit from measures to improve fire safety and other standards in their homes introduced under the Housing Act 1996. The measures, which will come into force on 3 March, will make it easier for local authorities to ensure that HMOs meet acceptable standards. Bournemouth borough council will also be able to apply to the Department of the Environment for special powers to close down HMOs if they cause a nuisance or annoyance to the neighbourhood and to prevent new HMOs opening if they would be detrimental to the area.
Mr. David Nicholson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what requests for assistance his Department has received from neighbouring or overlapping local authorities considering merging their treasurers, legal services and property services departments; what guidance he has issued on this subject; and if he will make a statement. [15012]
Sir Paul Beresford:
While the Government recognise the value of sensible co-operation between the tiers of local authorities, no specific guidance has been issued. However, as part of the exercise on the extension to compulsory competitive tendering, my Department wrote to local authorities on 18 May 1995 outlining the main statutory framework within which authorities may make joint arrangements. No requests for assistance have been received.
Sir Irvine Patnick:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the budget of the metropolitan districts for the current financial year, ranking them from the largest increase over the previous year to the smallest; and if he will make a statement. [15232]
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1995-96 Budget £ million | 1995-96 Adjusted budget(1) £ million | 1996-97 Budget £ million | Percentage change(2) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Rotherham | 191.886 | 197.234 | 204.456 | 3.7 |
Bury | 119.735 | 120.028 | 124.278 | 3.5 |
Doncaster | 218.759 | 224.525 | 231.721 | 3.2 |
Solihull | 132.629 | 135.811 | 140.013 | 3.1 |
Wigan | 215.282 | 215.809 | 222.400 | 3.1 |
Calderdale | 148.223 | 153.066 | 157.615 | 3.0 |
Barnsley | 152.626 | 157.989 | 162.581 | 2.9 |
Wirral | 261.938 | 273.540 | 281.336 | 2.9 |
Wakefield | 219.034 | 226.390 | 232.768 | 2.8 |
Bolton | 203.982 | 204.591 | 210.114 | 2.7 |
Walsall | 206.172 | 212.314 | 218.041 | 2.7 |
Tameside | 165.757 | 166.501 | 170.989 | 2.7 |
Dudley | 204.690 | 211.519 | 217.205 | 2.7 |
Oldham | 186.594 | 187.047 | 191.994 | 2.6 |
St. Helens | 139.371 | 144.814 | 148.636 | 2.6 |
Trafford | 149.211 | 149.520 | 153.437 | 2.6 |
Knowsley | 146.319 | 150.259 | 154.007 | 2.5 |
South Tyneside | 125.289 | 128.250 | 131.398 | 2.5 |
Leeds | 523.139 | 541.969 | 555.234 | 2.4 |
Birmingham | 924.316 | 948.155 | 971.119 | 2.4 |
Sefton | 216.669 | 225.553 | 230.927 | 2.4 |
North Tyneside | 148.463 | 151.991 | 155.538 | 2.3 |
Sheffield | 392.763 | 406.705 | 415.883 | 2.3 |
Gateshead | 163.877 | 167.542 | 171.093 | 2.1 |
Kirklees | 286.117 | 295.504 | 301.671 | 2.1 |
Manchester | 441.632 | 444.664 | 453.889 | 2.1 |
Coventry | 247.102 | 253.405 | 258.660 | 2.1 |
Liverpool | 469.714 | 485.842 | 495.894 | 2.1 |
Rochdale | 166.918 | 167.553 | 171.014 | 2.1 |
Newcastle upon Tyne | 233.991 | 239.336 | 244.280 | 2.1 |
Bradford | 402.125 | 413.955 | 422.482 | 2.1 |
Wolverhampton | 209.220 | 215.043 | 219.466 | 2.1 |
Sunderland | 231.774 | 236.867 | 241.695 | 2.0 |
Salford | 194.050 | 195.606 | 199.572 | 2.0 |
Sandwell | 241.733 | 249.201 | 254.205 | 2.0 |
Stockport | 196.271 | 196.382 | 199.761 | 1.7 |
(1) Adjusted to take account of community care special grant payable in 1995-96; the ending of metropolitan rail grant; and the opting-out of passenger transport executives from rail service support.
(2) Calculated based on the adjusted budgets.
Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his Department's policy on the classification of ceramic fibres in respect of the review by the EU Commission's Technical Progress Committee; and if he will make a statement on the opportunities for ministerial representations to the committee. [15391]
Sir Paul Beresford: A series of EU technical meetings have examined a number of different possible proposals for the classification of a range of man-made mineral fibres, including ceramic fibres. The meetings have been attended by officials of the Health and Safety Executive who have followed the general policy adopted in these discussions that any proposals should be based on a sound analysis of the scientific evidence.
The purpose of the meetings is to assist the Commission in the preparation of a formal proposal which will then be submitted to a technical progress committee for a vote. When the proposal is made, it will be examined by Ministers, who will then determine the line to be taken by the UK officials who will attend the Committee and vote on behalf of the UK.
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Mr. Richard Shepherd:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the amount of poll tax currently outstanding for each of the seven west midlands metropolitan authorities; and if he will list the collection costs for the council tax in the last year for which figures are available in each of those authorities. [15492]
Sir Paul Beresford:
Estimates of the levels of community charge arrears for individual authorities are published regularly by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy. The latest information relates to the position at 31 March 1995 and is available in the revenue collection statistics 1994-95 publication in the Library. The figures for the west midlands authorities are as follows:
£000 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Arrears of community charge at: Council tax collection costs budgeted | |||
31 March 1995 | 31 March 1994 | (3)1996-97 | |
Birmingham | 19,725 | -- | 5,604 |
Coventry | 14,351 | -- | 2,630 |
Dudley | 4,752 | -- | 1,540 |
Sandwell | 11,155 | -- | 3,143 |
Solihull | 3,505 | -- | 1,469 |
Walsall | (4)-- | 12,959 | 1,676 |
Wolverhampton | (4)-- | (4)-- | 1,594 |
(3) Source: Revenue Accounts (RA) 1996-97 return.
(4) No information was published by CIPFA for Walsall for 31 March 1995 or for Wolverhampton since community charge was abolished.
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