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Social Housing (Coventry)
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what progress has been made towards the decent home standards for social housing in Coventry South; and if she will make a statement. [79030]
Yvette Cooper [holding answer 22 June 2006]: The information is as follows:
Social housing and Decent Homes in Coventry City
It is not possible to provide separate information about social housing in Coventry South.
There is no social housing in the ownership of the city council because of the transfer in September 2000 of all the council housing (around 20,000 dwellings) to the Whitefriars Housing Group under the large-scale voluntary transfer (LSVT) arrangements.
The Housing Corporation, which has a regulatory role for RSLs, monitors progress towards the Decent Homes target for this sector of social housing.
The Housing Corporation began collecting local authority area-based data about levels of decency in RSL social housing stock in 2005.
This data showed that at March 2005 there were 23,665 social homes in the city of Coventry owned and managed by RSLs, and that just over 6,000 (26 per cent.) of these did not meet the Decent Homes standard at that time.
The Housing Corporation is satisfied that the 32 RSLs with social housing stock in the Coventry area are on target to meet the Decent Homes target in 2010.
The Whitefriars Housing Group is by far the largest social landlord in Coventry, with 17,075 dwellings in March 2005, making up 72 per cent. of the total social housing in the city.
The council’s decision in 2000 (supported by a tenant ballot) to transfer the council housing stock was driven by the need to access new sources of funding. A stock condition survey had shown that the investment requirement at that time to bring the housing up to modern standards was £250 million and the council was unable to identify the necessary resources.
At the time of the stock transfer the Decent Homes standard had not been developed, but in March 2004 approximately42 per cent. of the Whitefriars homes were identified as non-decent. By March 2005 this level had been reduced to27 per cent., when only 4,593 homes failed to meet the standard.
Mr. Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans there are to build more social housing in the West Midlands. [74195]
Yvette Cooper: The Government award Regional Housing Pot funding to each region in England and asks Regional Housing Boards to recommend how the funding should be allocated in accordance with the Regional Housing Strategy. In the West Midlands, 2006-08 Regional Housing Pot funding has been allocated to fund provision of an additional 2,683 homes for social rent.
In addition, it is expected that further homes for social rent will be provided under SI06 agreements negotiated between local councils and developers in accordance with Government policy.
John Penrose: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what acreage of private residential gardens in North Somerset has been lost to infill development in each year since 2000. [73976]
Yvette Cooper: The information requested is not held centrally.
Legislation
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which Private Members' Bills were drafted by her Department, or predecessor Department, in each Session since 1997; and which of those subsequently received Royal Assent. [77496]
Angela E. Smith: Members will consider a range of possible subjects before introducing their Private Members' Bills.
Government draftsmen draft some Bills in advance which are available as one of the options for Members to consider before they make their selection.
However, Members may make subsequent amendments or revisions to a Government drafted Bill, or use it as the basis for a Private Members' Bill in the future.
The information requested is therefore not collected.
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) which Bills sponsored by her Department are still to be introduced during the current Session; and when, and into which House, each will be introduced; [77497]
(2) what plans she has for legislation in the next Session of Parliament; and if she will make a statement. [77498]
Angela E. Smith: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House on Friday 16 June 2006, Official Report, column 1431W.
Living Naze Community Project
Mr. Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much public money has been made available to the Living Naze regeneration project. [76353]
Yvette Cooper: The Essex Development and Regeneration Agency (ExDRA) Sub-Regional Economic Partnership allocated £50,000 from its delegated (from EEDA) Rural Renaissance fund in January 2005 to partly fund a company to produce a feasibility study about Walton Hall Barns.
Local Authority Properties
Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance is issued to local authorities on the desirable (a) size, (b) nature and (c) value per head of population of the non-housing properties and facilities owned by local authorities. [77918]
Mr. Woolas: The Department for Communities and Local Government has not issued any specific guidance on the desirable (a) size, (b) nature and (c) value per head of population of the non-housing properties and facilities owned by local authorities. We expect local authorities to decide this according to their local needs.
Local Government Officers (Castle Point)
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will meet the hon. Member for Castle Point to discuss (a) the performance of local government officers in Castle Point, (b) their code of conduct and (c) their delivery of services to the population of Castle Point. [79555]
Angela E. Smith: I am happy to meet the hon. Member for Castle Point.
London Population
Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what her policy is on providing accommodation in London to take account of its projected population increase. [73276]
Yvette Cooper: The Mayor of London’s London Plan, published in February 2004, and borough development plans, set out targets for housing provision in London, and take account of the need for housing. The London Plan housing targets are currently under review.
Mayor of London
Mrs. Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she plans to publish the Government’s response to the consultation on the powers of the Mayor of London. [73607]
Mr. Woolas: The Government aim to publish the Government’s response shortly.
Northern Way
Mr. Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what responsibility she has for the Northern Way initiative. [74044]
Yvette Cooper: The Northern Way is an ambitious pan-regional growth strategy being driven by the three northern regional development agencies and their partners. It aims to close the £30 billion output gap between the north and the England average and its work will therefore play an important part in delivering Government’s regional economic performance PSA target.
The Department for Communities and Local Government co-ordinates the Government’s involvement with the Northern Way. Alongside Treasury and DTI, the Department works closely with the Northern Way to help them develop their plans and facilitates their engagement with the other Government Departments. The Department also match funded the regional development agencies’ contribution to create a £100 million growth fund for pilot projects exploring innovative ways of increasing economic growth in the north.
Planning
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance (a) the Government and (b) the Standards Board for England has issued to local authorities on the predetermination of decisions. [70586]
Yvette Cooper: The Department for Communities and Local Government has issued no guidance of the sort mentioned. In addition, the avoidance of predetermination is not an issue explicitly mentioned in the model code of conduct for local authority members, and so would not be an issue for the Standards Board. As far as determining planning applications is concerned, the Standards Board does provide specific guidance relating to members’ personal and prejudicial interests. The Local Government Association published guidance in January this year ‘Probity in Planning: The role of Councillors and Officers’. This gives propriety guidance to members of planning committees to help avoid accusations of predetermining applications.
Dr. Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what percentage of applications to build on brownfield sites were applications to build on gardens in the last period for which figures are available. [72549]
Yvette Cooper: The information requested is not held centrally.
Mr. Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what her Department’s definition of a growth area is. [78236]
Yvette Cooper [holding answer 16 June 2006]: The four growth areas announced by the Government in the Sustainable Communities Plan 2003 are being taking forward further to Regional Planning Guidance for the wider south east (2001), and are based on proposals by regional and local partners. They were identified because of their potential to take on further growth more sustainably, with less environmental impact, and to exploit major transport and economic investment.
Anne
Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for
Communities and Local Government what guidance her Department has
issued to local authorities on the recommended average length of
consultation times for proposals for (a) sex shops, (b)
casinos and (c) the
sale of council owned land; and if she will make a statement.
[78642]
Yvette Cooper: The Town and Country Planning (General Development Procedure) Order 1995 provides that, when a planning application is made, the local planning authority has to publicise it and then allow 21 days for people to comment.
If premises are already in shop use, there would be no need for planning permission to switch to some other branch of retail activity.
Sale of land does not amount to ‘development’, so is not subject to planning controls.
However, if a local authority is proposing to dispose of open space (including land laid out as a public garden or used for public recreation) the Local Government Act 1972 requires the authority to advertise its intentions in a local newspaper for two consecutive weeks, and to consider any objections.
Mr. Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) whether the Government have appointed consultants to undertake research into councillor involvement in planning decisions; [78922]
(2) what consultation will be held with councillors on proposed changes to the way planning decisions are made; [78923]
(3) whether the Government are reviewing the role of local councillors in planning decisions; and if she will make a statement; [78924]
(4) if she will ensure councillors retain involvement in the planning process. [78925]
Yvette Cooper: The Government have appointed Arup to undertake research to provide information on councillor involvement in planning decisions. We have no proposals for change either to the way planning decisions are made or to councillors’ involvement in the planning process.
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the timetable is for planning guidance to be given to local authorities by her Department. [78316]
Yvette Cooper: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman), 11 July 2005, Official Report, column 810W.
Progress on replacement of PPGs is as follows:
| PPS number | Subject | Consultation draft | Publication of revised PPS/PPG |
Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many sites in England have planning permission for educational use but are not currently occupied by a school. [74148]
Yvette Cooper [holding answer 5 June 2006]: The information requested is not held centrally, and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.
Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many sites in each London borough have planning permission for educational use but are not occupied by a school; and if she will make a statement. [77490]
Yvette Cooper [holding answer 19 June 2006]: The Department does not hold the information requested, and it could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Local authorities are responsible for considering planning applications and the great majority are not referred to my Department.
Sir Malcolm Rifkind: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance she issues to local authorities on the assessment of risks from flooding when considering planning permissions for new basement properties in London near to the River Thames. [76695]
Yvette Cooper [holding answer 12 June 2006]: The Government's guidance to planning authorities on development and flood risk is set out in ‘Planning Policy Guidance Note (PPG) 25’. This advises that planning applications in flood risk areas are always accompanied by a flood risk assessment, and that the Environment Agency is consulted. Flood risk areas are those mapped by the Agency as being at risk from river and tidal flooding, but sites outside such areas can also be at risk due to local topography, for example at the foot of hills where storm-water runoff may overwhelm sewers. Flood risk assessments should address the source of flooding, its potential extent, depth and speed of inundation and its likely impact on the development during its lifetime, taking climate change into account. They should demonstrate how the risk will be managed and identify any residual risk (the risk remaining after flood defences have been taken into account). Proposals for the development of new properties with basements would have to demonstrate (to the satisfaction of the Environment Agency and the Local Planning Authority) that the residual risk to the development and its occupants was acceptable. In addition, the introduction of basement accommodation into a flood risk area should also not materially increase the flood risk to other properties or occupants. The new Planning Policy Statement (PPS) 25 that we intend to issue this autumn will strengthen this advice.
Rushenden Link Road
Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she expects to announce the timetable for (a) the funding and (b) the building of the Rushenden Link Road. [78077]
Yvette Cooper [holding answer 16 June 2006]: The information is as follows.
(a)
Following the announcement that £12 million had been allocated
to the Rushenden Link Road (bringing the total investment to £19
million) discussions are continuing, with the
South East England development agency (SEEDA), to complete the
Department's internal appraisal requirements and agree the final
funding package.
(b) Responsibility for the build programme rests with SEEDA with the works being undertaken by Kent county council (KCC). Forecast start date for construction on site is June 2007. This is dependent on the adoption of the masterplan and receipt of planning permission.
My officials in the Thames Gateway Delivery Unit will update you when the formal funding agreement has been issued.
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