Identification of inquiries
Government Policy Proposals
6. Our inquiry into Decent Homes looked
at the Government's target set in 2000 and extended in 2002
to bring all social housing and 70% of private dwellings occupied
by vulnerable housings up to the Decent Homes Standard. The inquiry
looked at the adequacy of the standard; the means by which the
Government plans to meet it and whether it is likely to be met.
In its response the ODPM emphasised that the Decent Homes Standard
was only a minimum level and highlighted the resources available
for achieving it.
7. Our inquiry into the Fire Service focused
on the Government's White Paper 'Our Fire and Rescue Service'
which was published in June 2003.[3]
The inquiry considered whether the Government's plans to reorganise
the fire service would make it more locally responsive and ensure
a risk-based approach is adopted to fire cover and the prevention
of fires is prioritised. In its response, the Government
said that the Fire and Rescue Services Bill would provide Fire
and Rescue Authorities with a clear statement about their modern
role and grant Fire and Rescue Authorities flexibility to deliver
a risk-based approach to meet the needs of the communities they
serve.
8. Our inquiry into Local Government Revenue
was carried out alongside the Government's review into the Balance
of Funding which it announced in January 2003. The Committee looked
at whether the balance of funding contributed by central Government
and raised by local authorities through the business rates and
community charge was appropriate and considered alternative systems
to raise revenues. The report urged that any reform of local taxation
should be guided by four principles of equity, simplicity, accountability
and flexibility. The Government said that many of the Committee's
concerns would be taken up by a new inquiry to be carried out
by Sir Michael Lyons which would consider the detailed case for
changes to the present system of local government funding.
9. The Committee held a brief inquiry into Draft
Planning Policy Statement 6: Planning for Town Centres. The
inquiry was concerned that the policy statement represented a
relaxation in planning policies towards out of town shopping centres.
Areas seen by the Committee as requiring examination
because of deficiencies
10. This year six of our inquiries were prompted
in part by deficiencies in the ODPM or its Agencies. We completed
our inquiry into the Coalfield Communities[4]
which highlighted the fact that there had been considerable
progress in reclaiming the coalfield sites. However, there had
been only limited progress in addressing the economic and social
needs of the communities. In its report the Committee urged that
the new developments should meet the needs of the local communities,
particularly affordable housing and local employment opportunities.
Poor health and the inequitable funding of health services were
also a particular concern. With many of the time-limited funding
streams from the Government and the EU, the Committee urged that
successor funds should be secured. In its response, the Government
highlighted the additional investments which English Partnerships
would be making to the social fabric in the Coalfield areas and
the considerations over successor funding once EU Structural Funds
expire.
11. We completed our inquiry into Social Cohesion
in 2004 which looked at the progress in addressing the causes
of the disturbances in Burnley, Bradford and Oldham in 2001. The
inquiry, which had started with three sessions in Oldham in September
2003, was completed with three sessions at Westminster. The report
called for long term solutions to the problems rather than quick
fixes. It highlighted the need for local authorities to be given
greater incentives to break down barriers between different communities
and facilitate an open dialogue about the particular needs of
different groups. We were concerned that local services should
target all groups rather than reinforce segregation by providing
separate facilities. At a national level, the report urged Government
departments to place greater emphasis on tackling social cohesion
and for one department to be given responsibility for promoting
it to avoid the current confusion. In its response, the Government
accepted the need for long term programmes and pointed out that
it was reviewing structures across Departments for promoting community
cohesion.
12. We conducted a short inquiry into the ODPM's
review of the Supporting People programme which funds support
for those in specialist housing and to people in their own homes
primarily for older people, people with learning difficulties,
people with mental heath problems, and homeless people. The Committee's
report supported the Government's review but was concerned that
the reductions in the programme would not be fairly distributed
and would cause uncertainty for many projects. In its response,
the Government said it had a made a three-year funding commitment
for the programme and that it was monitoring the application of
funding criteria.
13. The Committee's inquiry into the Role of Historic
Buildings in Urban Regeneration looked at the major contribution
that historic buildings could make to revitalising urban centres.
The report raised concerns that the potential was not being maximised;
it highlighted the lack of skilled staff in local authorities
to facilitate the reuse of historic buildings, and the failure
of regeneration frameworks to appreciate the value of historic
buildings and unlock this potential. The number of regulatory
regimes which impeded the reuse of historic buildings was also
of concern. The Committee called for the listed buildings consent
scheme to be integrated into the planning system.
14. The provision of sites and facilities for Gypsies
and Travellers was the subject of another inquiry. In our
report, we highlighted the inadequate information available about
Gypsies and Travellers, particularly the size of their communities,
the proportion that travel regularly rather than are generally
settled on sites, and the interest of the travelling community
in permanent homes. We urged the Government to reintroduce a statutory
requirement on local authorities to provide sites and suggested
that a national Gypsy and Traveller Taskforce was set up to identify
potential sites and ensure site vacancies are co-ordinated across
the country and in regions and counties as appropriate.
15. With the levels of homelessness reaching the
highest levels for the last 20 years, the Committee decided to
conduct an inquiry into the causes of homelessness and the effectiveness
of Government initiatives in addressing them. The inquiry is looking
at the ODPM's priorities for investment in different forms of
housing and adequacy of services for the homeless.
Departmental actions
16. In the June 2001 General Election, turnout was
the lowest recorded since the advent of universal adult suffrage;
only 59.4% of the 44,403,238 registered voters chose to vote,
compared with 71.4% in the 1997 General Election. To raise voter
turnouts, the ODPM announced the use of postal ballots in the
European Parliament and local elections of June 2004 for electors
in the North East and East Midlands. The Committee decided to
hold an inquiry which focused on such issues as the possibility
of electoral fraud and the administrative costs involved with
postal ballots. The report urged the Government to take additional
precautions to avoid fraud and to develop better systems to help
those who may be unable to vote by post as a result of disability
or literacy problems. It also urged the ODPM to prepare legislation
for the introduction on individual voter registration. In its
response the Government said that it was evaluating the success
and problems with the elections in the North East and East Midlands
before agreeing further all postal ballot elections.
Associated public bodies
17. The Department has few associated public bodies.
During the year we have taken evidence from a number of them as
part of our broader inquiries, including the Commission for Architecture
and the Built Environment (CABE), English Partnerships, the Housing
Corporation, the Boundary Commission and the Boundary Committee
for England. In 2004 we conducted an inquiry into the Role
and Effectiveness of the Housing Corporation. We also started
inquiries into the Role and Effectiveness of CABE and the
Role and Effectiveness of the Standards Board for England and
held a single evidence session with English Partnerships.
18. Our inquiry into the Role and Effectiveness
of the Housing Corporation fed into the Government's
own 'end to end' review of the Corporation. The Committee looked
at a wide range of issues including the Corporation's investment
priorities and the effectiveness of its regulatory regime for
housing associations. In our report, we urged the Corporation
to work more closely with existing public agencies in order to
combine resources and expertise. We questioned the priority which
the Corporation was giving to larger associations and to the use
of off-site manufacturing. In its response, the Government said
that it was clarifying the Housing Corporation's role and also
ensuring that it is contributing fully to major initiatives by
other agencies particularly in the growth areas in the South East
and with English Partnerships.
19. We are holding a brief inquiry into the work
of CABE which is focusing on the way the organisation reviews
the designs of new buildings and inputs its comments into the
planning system. We expect to publish our report early in 2005.
20. The inquiry into the Standards Board is looking
at its effectiveness in securing high standards of conduct by
local councillors and how well it is working with other regulatory
frameworks. Our report is planned to be published early in 2005.
Major appointments
21. We have taken evidence from ODPM Ministers on
nine occasions during the year, and from Ministers from other
departments on five occasions. We have had problems on several
occasions in arranging appointments to take evidence from ODPM
Ministers.
22. We took evidence from the new chairman of the
Housing Corporation early in 2004 and also the new chief executive
and chair of English Partnerships in June 2004.
Implementation of legislation and major policy
initiatives
23. None of our inquiries during 2004 was primarily
focussed on the effect of legislation, but our inquiries into
Postal Voting, Local Government Revenue, Gypsy and Traveller
sites and the Role of Historic Buildings in Urban Regeneration
all embraced an element of review of the legislative framework,
and in a number of cases led to conclusions and recommendations
which would require changes to the law.
Draft legislation
24. We were asked to undertake pre-legislative scrutiny
of the Draft Regional Assemblies Bill, which was announced
in the Queen's Speech in November 2003.[5]
The draft Bill was published in July 2004.[6]
We took evidence in September 2004. Following the results of the
referendum in the North East in November, the Government has decided
not to take the Bill forward. The Committee is to publish a report
on its scrutiny which will put down a set of markers to be considered
should the Government propose new forms of regional devolution
in the future.
Expenditure
25. Most of our inquiries during the year have involved
examination of expenditure in one way or another. Our inquiry
into the Annual Report and Estimates 2003 looked at Departmental
expenditure and made several recommendations concerning PSA targets
and expenditure.[7] We
have recently completed the same exercise for 2004.
Public Service Agreements
26. The examination of PSAs and their associated
targets were a significant aspect of our inquiries into the
ODPM Annual Report and Accounts 2004, and Decent Homes.
1 ODPM Committee Press Notice PN 06, Session 2004-05 Back
2
See Votes and Proceedings, 14 May 2002 Back
3
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Our Fire and Rescue Service,
Cm 5808, June 2003 Back
4
HC (2002-03) 75-I Back
5
HC Deb, 26 November 2003, Col 4 Back
6
Draft Regional Assemblies Bill, Cm 6285, July 2004 Back
7
ODPM: Housing, Planning, Local Government and the Regions Committee,
First Report: ODPM Annual Report and Accounts 2003 - Report together
with minutes of evidence and appendices, HC 102 Back
