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23 Oct 2008 : Column 493W—continued
Figures are as supplied by the local authority to Communities and Local Government.
The estimates for 2007-08 are based on provisional revenue outturn data. The final 2007-08 outturn figures will be available later this year.
Non-formula funding is defined here as specific grants inside aggregate external finance (AEF), i.e. revenue grants paid for a council's core services (e.g. Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG)).
Formula grant is defined here as the sum of revenue support grant and redistributed non-domestic rates.
Figures exclude grants outside AEF (i.e. where funding is for an authority's core services, but is passed to a third party, for example, rent allowances and rebates), capital grants, funding for the local authority's housing management responsibilities and those grant programmes (such as European funding) where an authority is simply one of the recipients of funding paid towards an area.
The large change in non-formula funding and formula grant from 2005-06 to 2006-07 is because local authorities now receive funding for schools through DSG rather than as part of formula grant.
Comparisons across years may not be valid owing to changing local authority responsibilities.
Local Government: Bank Services
Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities and other public institutions for which she has responsibility hold accounts in Icelandic banks; and how much is held by each institution in such banks. [227303]
John Healey: In relation to local authorities, I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 17 October 2008, Official Report, column 1577W, to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles)
The Audit Commission issued a statement on 16 October on its deposits in Icelandic banks, which is on its website at:
Officials have contacted agencies, public corporations and non-departmental public bodies for which Communities and Local Government has responsibility and, excepting the Audit Commission, we are not aware of any that have investments in Icelandic banks.
Local Government: By-elections
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether she plans to make an order moving the date of the local elections in 2009; and if she will make a statement. [229311]
John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the written statement I made to the House on 7 October 2009, Official Report, column 8WS.
Local Government: Elections
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether there are restrictions on local authorities using their powers as laid under Part 2 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 to change the timing of their elections, other than the provisions laid out in the primary legislation. [229674]
John Healey: There are no restrictions on local authorities using their powers under part 2 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 to change their scheme of elections, other than those laid out in primary legislation by Parliament.
New Milton Sand and Ballast
Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will extend the deadline for responses to her Department in respect of the appeal by New Milton Sand and Ballast to the High Court under section 78 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (reference: 82483). [229474]
Mr. Khan: The deadline has been extended to 7 November, in response to a request from local campaign groups who sought more time to formulate their response.
Ordnance Survey: Manpower
Mr. Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many staff were employed by Ordnance Survey in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available. [228402]
Mr. Iain Wright: The number of permanent staff employed at Ordnance Survey in either a full or part-time capacity on 31 March in each of the 10 years to 2008 was as follows:
| Staff | |
Planning Permission
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance she has provided to local authorities on the time it should take to (a) investigate planning transgressions and (b) implement planning enforcement where necessary. [227932]
Mr. Iain Wright: Guidance on the timing of investigations into allegations of unauthorised development and on the timing of enforcement procedures is given in the Department's publication “Enforcing Planning Control: Good Practice for Local Planning Authorities”.
Paragraph 2.3 of this document recommends that in investigating complaints concerning unauthorised development, a local planning authority should respond to a complaint within 15 working days, explaining what action the authority proposes to take and tell the complainant about the local planning authority's decision to make formal enforcement action within 10 working days of the authority's making that decision.
Paragraphs 5.19-5.25 deal with sections 173-174 of the Town and Country Planning Act (TCPA) 1990 concerning the date on which a planning enforcement notice takes effect and the compliance period for the taking of any remedial action required by the enforcement notice. The provisions of the TCPA 1990 require that the service of an enforcement notice shall not take place less than 28 days before the date on which it is to take effect. But the guidance indicates that it may be prudent to allow a margin of several days above this minimum period so as to ensure that all interested parties receive the notice not less than 28 days before the effective date. The compliance period should be as short as can reasonably be allowed and it should not normally exceed one year. But it will be for the LPA to decide on how long it should be depending on the complexity of the case.
Planning Permission: Castle Point
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what representations she has received on the number of planning enforcement files open and awaiting action by Castle Point borough council; and if she will make a statement. [229315]
Mr. Iain Wright: The Secretary of State has received no representations concerning planning enforcement cases being dealt with by Castle Point borough council. It is for the local planning authority to decide in each case which is the most appropriate course of action, taking account of local circumstances. PPG 18, Enforcing Planning Control offers guidance to local planning authorities on enforcement issues and gives them a wide range of discretion. Paragraph 5(1) states
“Parliament has given local planning authorities the primary responsibility for taking whatever enforcement action may be necessary, in the public interest, in their administrative area”.
The 2006 planning enforcement review confirmed that local planning authorities had sufficient enforcement powers to deal with breaches of planning control.
Planning: Enforcement
Mr. Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what representations she has received from local authorities on the likely effect of the provisions of Clause 151 of the Planning Bill, if enacted, on their ability to take enforcement action following complaints regarding alleged statutory nuisance by major infrastructure project developers. [229473]
John Healey: We have received representations from LACORS (local authority co-ordinators of regulatory services), among other stakeholders, on the likely effect of the provisions of what was Clause 151 of the Planning Bill.
The Government tabled amendments to remove Clause 151 from the Planning Bill, and insert provisions in its place that maintain the current balanced settlement. They allow development of nationally significant infrastructure to go forward while nevertheless ensuring that individuals are able to receive compensation for the effect on their land. These amendments were accepted during House of Lords Committee stage.
Regional Ministers
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the estimated cost to the public purse is of the work of regional ministers annually; and if she will make a statement. [229053]
Mr. Khan: The estimated cost of the work of the regional Ministers over the last year is £1.173 million. This figure includes Government office and departmental staff supporting these Ministers in their regional role. It does not cover any further costs incurred by the Ministers’ home Departments as the information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Rented Housing: Carbon Monoxide
Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what estimate her Department has made of the number of (a) privately rented student accommodation or houses, (b) student halls of residence and (c) residential care homes which are not fitted with carbon monoxide alarms; [229324]
(2) what representations her Department has received on introducing a mandatory requirement for carbon monoxide alarms to be fitted in all forms of rented accommodation. [229325]
Mr. Iain Wright: The Department does not hold information in relation to the number of homes that are not fitted with carbon monoxide alarms.
The Department receives a large number of representations in relation to housing and health some of which relate to carbon monoxide alarms.
There are no current requirements to install carbon monoxide monitors in privately rented properties. However, we are keen to promote good practice and landlords’ organisations are already engaged on safety issues and are involved in the promotion of good practice to their members.
Landlords are responsible for maintaining their properties, including the safety of gas and electrical appliances and the fire safety of furniture and furnishings provided under the tenancy. All private landlords are required by the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 to ensure that all gas appliances are maintained in good order and that an annual gas safety check is carried out by a CORGI-registered tradesman.
Taxis: Licensing
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what (a) time period and (b) jurisdictions are covered by Criminal Records Bureau checks on (i) British and (ii) foreign national applicants for taxi licences. [229312]
Mr. Khan: Communities and Local Government has no responsibility for these matters. The licensing of taxis is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport. The Criminal Records Bureau is an Executive agency of the Home Office.
Travelling People: Regional Planning and Development
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what powers the regional development agencies will have in respect of regional planning for Traveller camps from 2010. [229621]
Mr. Iain Wright: We have yet to issue our response to the consultation on the Review of Sub National Economic Development and Regeneration which included proposals to streamline arrangements at regional level. We do not intend to pre-empt our response by making statements about specific aspects of regional strategy or governance arrangements.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Carbon Emissions: Allotments
Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the relationship between the use of allotments and reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. [224944]
Joan Ruddock: I have been asked to reply.
No assessment has been made of the relationship between carbon dioxide emissions and allotments.
Carbon Emissions: Public Bodies
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent estimate he has made of annual carbon dioxide emissions arising from bodies recognised as public corporations by the Office for National Statistics; and if he will make a statement. [225005]
Joan Ruddock: I have been asked to reply.
DECC does not hold disaggregated data on CO2 emissions from public corporations.
Greenhouse gas emissions for all sectors of the economy can be found in the Environmental Accounts section of the Office for National Statistics website at:
Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 6 March 2008, Official Report, column 2715W, on the Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture (CEFAS): finance, how much he intends to allocate to CEFAS in (a) 2008-09 and (b) each of the next five years; and if he will make a statement. [228070]
Huw Irranca-Davies: There have been no formal changes to the response provided on 6 March 2008, Official Report, column 2715W.
Climate Change
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether his Department has re-assessed any of its UK flood mapping timelines in view of the accelerated rate of Arctic summer ice melt of 2007-08 and its significance for the melting of the Greenland ice cap. [225101]
Joan Ruddock: I have been asked to reply.
Recent research findings from the Met Office and the Environment Agency for the Thames Estuary 2100 project indicate that higher ranges for sea level rise are broadly in line with DEFRA's October 2006 published guidance to operating authorities.
DECC is expecting a new set of climate change scenarios from the UK Climate Impacts Partnership (UKCIP) in spring 2009, which will give a better understanding of the uncertainties associated with future
sea level rise. DECC will be working closely with UKCIP and other delivery bodies to understand the risks and review policy guidance.
UK research is aimed at improving the representations of ice sheets in climate models and understanding future changes in ice sheet volume and sea level. Early indications suggest that changes in ice sheet volumes could bring a significant contribution to sea level rise. However, further research is needed to shed more light on the risks. DEFRA and DECC will continue to work closely with our science networks to better understand these risks.
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