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1 Sep 2008 : Column 1425W—continued
These data are published by Communities and Local Government and can be obtained from the Department's website:
Equivalent figures for registered social landlords (RSLs) are displayed in Table 2. These figures are published and available on the Housing Corporation's website:
Housing: Standards
Mr. Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will incorporate accessible housing standards into her definition of sustainable communities. [219797]
Caroline Flint: Accessible housing is already reflected in our current definition of a sustainable community which includes a place that is inclusive to all and meets the diverse needs of all residents. Our commitment to this is reflected in our national planning policy in Planning Policy Statement 3 (Housing) which is clear about creating places, streets and spaces which are inclusive and respect the diverse needs of communities and the special needs of particular sectors of the community.
In February 2008, we published, “Lifetime Homes. Lifetime Neighbourhoods: A National Strategy for Housing in an Ageing Society”, which sets out a clear strategy for encouraging the development of ‘Lifetime Homes Standards’ (LHS). LHS aim to make housing accessible for all by making it more functional for everyone including families, disabled and older people and adaptable to peoples changing circumstances throughout the whole lifetime of the home. Our aspiration is to see all homes built to Lifetime Homes Standards by 2013 and we will ensure that all publicly funded housing is built to Lifetime Homes Standards by 2011. It is currently a mandatory element of the Code for Sustainable Homes at code level 6 and will become mandatory at code levels 4 and 5 from 2010 and code level 3 from 2013. We will continue to work with stakeholders to encourage take up of the standards across all sectors and progress will be reviewed in 2010.
Local Government: Administration
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the timetable is for the introduction of new leadership models in local government by (a) tier and (b) type of council. [221524]
John Healey: The timetable, specified by the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, for the introduction of new leadership models in local government, provides that in any council with the old style leader and cabinet model, the new model must be implemented three days after the ordinary election day in the year shown in the following table.
| Type of local authority | Year for introduction of new model |
The Act also provides that a council operating the mayor and council manager model must implement a new leadership model in 2009, and that councils operating alternative arrangements may choose to adopt a new leadership model and introduce it in 2011.
In addition, where a council is introducing a new leadership model following a referendum, the model is implemented three days after the first ordinary election of councillors to the authority held after the council resolves to adopt the model, which must be within 28 days of the referendum being held.
Local Government: Contracts
Mr. Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the Office of Government Commerce monitors local authorities’ compliance with its relevant codes of practice during the tendering process for local government contracts. [221687]
John Healey: Subject to their legal duties local authorities are responsible for taking their own procurement decisions. In doing so, they must work within the legal framework governing public procurement. They also have regard to policy and guidance on public procurement set out by the Office of Government Commerce (OGC), as appropriate. The OGC does not directly monitor local authorities’ compliance with the legal framework or with its policy and guidance.
Non-Domestic Rates: Valuation
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield of 7 July 2008, Official Report, column 1361W, on non-domestic rates: valuation, how sub-location is quantified; and what geo-spatial datasets and neighbourhood modelling is used for (a) business rate valuations and revaluations and (b) the new Automated Valuation Model for business rates. [221157]
John Healey: A sub-location for a class of property for non-domestic rating is an area within which values are related and a valuation scheme can be applied. They vary in size depending on class of property and locality. The geo-spatial datasets used for non-domestic rating and revaluations are (i) Property Address and Postcode and (ii) Sublocation.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 18 December 2007, Official Report, column 1301W. A new automated valuation (AVM) model is not being used by the VOA for business rate valuations or revaluations.
Planning Permission: Appeals
Mr. Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what financial assistance from the public purse is available to individuals who wish to challenge planning decisions. [221657]
Mr. Iain Wright: There is no financial assistance from the public purse available to individuals wishing to appeal against planning decisions to the Secretary of State or third parties wishing to put forward representations in relation to these appeals. In these cases, parties are expected to meet their own costs.
Although it does not provide financial assistance, Planning Aid offers free, independent planning advice to individuals and community groups (including small charities, voluntary groups and tenants' organisations).
Individuals who wish to challenge planning decisions in the courts may be able to receive financial assistance from Legal Aid, if they are eligible to do so.
Regional Planning and Development: Finance
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the expenditure of (a) regional assemblies and (b) the English regions network was in 2007-08. [221216]
John Healey: Central Government grant to regional assemblies in 2007-08 was £21,192,290. Grant to the English Regions Network was £244,000. Most regional assemblies receive additional funding through local authority member subscriptions. Total expenditure will be reflected in their published accounts.
Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance her Department and its agencies have given to local authorities on the use of powers under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 for planning enforcement purposes. [221227]
Mr. Iain Wright: None. Local authorities' access to communications data and use of directed surveillance and covert human intelligence sources is governed by secondary legislation made under the 2000 Act. This restricts local council access and use of these techniques to the purpose of preventing or detecting crime or disorder in the carrying out of their functions. RIPA requires that their use is necessary and proportionate with regard to human rights and that the information they are designed to obtain cannot be obtained by less intrusive means.
Valuation Office
Mr. Pickles:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the minutes of the Valuation Office Agency local
authority liaison group meeting of 17 May 2007, if she will place in the Library copies of each edition of the BA Newsletter from the last 36 months. [221224]
John Healey: These IT Newsletters to Billing Authorities are available on the Valuation Office Agency website www.voa.gov.uk.
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will place in the Library a copy of the Valuation Office Agency's E-Bars Project Post Implementation Review report as sent to members of the local authority liaison group. [221225]
John Healey: A copy of the Electronic BA Reports (E-BARS) Post Implementation Review Report has been placed in the Library.
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will place in the Library a copy of the minutes of the Valuation Office Agency local authority liaison group meeting of 23 July 2008 when they are available. [221226]
John Healey: Minutes of the Local Authority Liaison Group meetings are already available on the VOA website at
Valuation Office: Council Tax
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to page 54 of the Valuation Office Agency Annual Report and Accounts 2007-08, HC 583, to which organisations council tax information is sold; and what categories of property data is sold. [221532]
John Healey: All of the income from Sale of Rating/Council Tax information reported on Page 54 of the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) Annual Report and Accounts 2007-08 is derived from the sale of compilations of the published non domestic rating list and summary valuation data.
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