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Local Government (North-east)

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for North Essex on 20 October 2004, Official Report, columns 879–80, on local government administration in the North-East after the referendum, whether he intends to reduce the number of councils regardless of the outcome of the referendum. [194201]

Mr. Raynsford: There are at present no plans to introduce changes to the structure of local government except in those areas where an elected regional assembly is established. Under the Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Act local government change can only be introduced if a referendum has been held and an elected regional assembly is to be established as a result.

Northern Distributor Road

Mr. Wyatt: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what evaluation has been made of the effect of the second section of the Northern Distributor Road on the Church Marshes country park at Kemsley, near Sittingbourne. [194158]

Keith Hill: The Swale borough local plan, adopted in July 2000, proposed bringing the Church Marshes country park into public use as a recreation area and
 
28 Oct 2004 : Column 1328W
 
country park and made specific reference to the need to safeguard reserved land for the road proposals. The county council is working closely with Swale borough council and Medway Swale Groundwork who are progressing the country park. As part of the planning application for the new road, an Environmental Statement is being produced and this will cover all the environmental aspects and mitigation measures.

Mr. Wyatt: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment has been made of the second section of the Northern Distributor Road's proximity to local housing at Kemsley, near Sittingbourne. [194160]

Keith Hill: As part of the planning application for the new road, an Environmental Statement is being produced. This will make an assessment of the traffic noise and visual intrusion on properties.

Mr. Wyatt: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what public consultation there has been on the second section of the Northern Distributor Road in Milton. [194161]

Keith Hill: An exhibition has been recently held in the area and comments on the proposal were invited. The responses will form part of the normal consultation undertaken by the planning authority in consideration of the Planning Application about to be submitted.

Planning Applications

Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the average time taken to process planning applications. [193238]

Keith Hill: The performance of authorities in handling planning applications is measured both against targets set for the proportion of decisions taken within set time limits, and targets for average determination times. The Government's PSA6 target for planning delivery states that English local authorities taken together will process an average of 65 per cent. of major applications in 13 weeks, 72 per
 
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cent. of minor applications in eight weeks, and 87 per cent. of other applications in eight weeks by 31 March 2007.

The latest available data for the year ending June 2004, shows that planning authorities determined 53 per cent. of major applications in 13 weeks, 66 per cent. of minor applications, and 82 per cent. of other applications, in eight weeks. This is an improvement on previous years and these figures show that the Government is on target to meet it's PSA6 target for Planning Delivery by 31 March 2007.

Police Funding

Mr. Boswell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what adjustments in the (a) police funding formula and (b) capping regime he plans to make to take account of strategic development plans for expansion in the South-East and East Midlands. [193638]

Mr. Raynsford: The Police funding formula estimates relative need for police resources. Formula grant allocations are currently subject to floors and ceilings.

Decisions on the floors and ceilings for 2005–06 have not yet been taken. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is actively considering the effects of the ceiling policy on rapid population growth areas in advance of the 2005–06 allocation. Looking further ahead, we are committed to delivering three-year settlements for local government, and will be addressing Kate Barker's recommendation to make the grant system more forward looking.

No decisions on capping in 2005–06 and beyond have been made. But the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has made it clear that we expect to see significantly lower council tax increases next year and will take even tougher capping action in 2005–06 if that proves necessary.

Social Housing (London)

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what advice is given to London Boroughs on (a) disposal of property assets and (b) meeting the need for social housing in London; and if he will make a statement. [194011]

Keith Hill: Section 123 of the Local Government Act 1972, gives authorities discretion to dispose of land in any manner they wish although it is generally expected that local authority property should be sold for the best consideration reasonably obtainable (usually open market value). Consent of the Secretary of State, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister is required to dispose of land if it falls outside the scope of the General Disposal Consent given in Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Circular 06/2003.

The revised General Disposal Consent that came into effect on 4 August 2003 gave local authorities greater freedom and flexibility to make decisions about land disposals which will contribute to the promotion or improvement of the economic, social or environmental well-being of an area at less than best consideration, providedthat the undervalue does not exceed two million pounds.
 
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For the disposal of housing land and property, whether by sale of the freehold or on leasehold, terms local authorities require the consent of the Secretary of State, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister under Section 32 of the Housing Act 1985. The General Consents for the disposal of Houses and Land 1999, issued under Section 32, cover the most common types of small disposal of untenanted stock or disposals to sitting tenants, and includes a commentary giving guidance to local authorities. However, where a proposed disposal falls outside the terms of these General Consents, a local authority may apply to the Secretary of State, my right. hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister for a specific consent under section 32.

Local authorities have both housing and planning responsibilities, and are required to produce local housing strategies and local development frameworks. Planning Policy Guidance Note 3: Housing (March 2000), paragraph 13, states that assessments of housing need that underpin local housing strategies and local plan policies are matters for local authorities to undertake in the light of their local circumstances. Advice to assist local authorities in preparing local housing needs assessments is set out in "Local Housing Needs Assessment": "A Guide to Good Practice (Department of the Environment Transport and the Regions, July 2000)". It is intended to publish an updated PPG3 in the Autumn.

Standards Board

Mr. Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many complaints against councillors he has received in each year since the inception of the Standards Board, broken down by local authority; and whether the complaint (a) was proven, (b) was unproven or rejected for lack of evidence and (c) is pending in each case. [194279]

Mr. Raynsford: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has no remit in the consideration of allegations of misconduct against local authority members. The investigation of such allegations is a matter for ethical standards officers appointed by the Standards Board for England.

The Standards Board does not hold information in the form requested, and it could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, information in respect of the number of cases received in 2003–04 is tabled as follows, of the total of 3,566 allegations listed in Table 1 about 1,100 cases were referred for investigation. The types of finding made following the completion of investigations are set out in Table 2.
Table 1

Type of authority	Number of allegations received 2003–04
County council	156
District council	932
Unitary council	296
Parish/Town council	1,754
London borough	146
Metropolitan borough	252
Other authority	30
Total	3,566

 
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Table 2: Type of finding following investigations completed 2003–04

	Number
Either no breach or a breach but no further action needed	661
Referral of cases for determination by standards committees at local level	60
Referral of cases for determination by the Adjudication Panel	102
Total	823

Mr. Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average time taken for deliberation on a complaint received by the Standards Board is; and what the longest time someone has waited for a verdict is. [194280]

Mr. Raynsford: The current average time taken for all cases received by the Standards Board from receipt to the completion of investigations by the board's ethical standards officers is about three months. The longest time so far taken from the receipt of a case to its conclusion through a finding of an ethical standards officer or the determination of a standards committee or the Adjudication Panel for England, is 667 days.

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