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20 Nov 2008 : Column 769W

(b) Eight metropolitan district councils will all receive 2 per cent. increase in formula grant in 2008-09. This is the minimum percentage increase for authorities with responsibility for education and social services in 2008-09. The authorities are as follows:

(c) 12 unitary councils will all receive 2 per cent. increase in formula grant in 2008-09. This is the minimum percentage increase for authorities with responsibility for education and social services in 2008-09. The authorities are as follows:

(d) 30 London boroughs, including the City of London, will all receive 2 per cent. increase in formula grant in 2008-09. This is the minimum percentage increase for authorities with responsibility for education and social services in 2008-09. The authorities are as follows:


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Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 30 October 2008, Official Report, column 1277W, on local authorities, what her Department’s definition is of (a) a rural and (b) an urban local authority for local government formula grant purposes. [235866]

John Healey: In calculating the amount of formula grant for an authority we make no distinction between authorities on the basis of any classification of rural and urban authorities. We apply the same formula to all authorities that provide the same services and we also use the best data that are available on a consistent basis across all authorities.

Local Government: Bank Services

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam of 6 November 2008, Official Report, column 724W, on local authorities: bank services, which local authorities had borrowed funds from Icelandic bank accounts under prudential borrowing arrangements. [236023]

John Healey: The Department does not collect information on which individual financial institutions local authorities have borrowed funds from.

Local Government: Non-Profit Making Organisations

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance she has issued to (a) local authorities and (b) regional development agencies on increasing the number of contracts awarded to social enterprises. [236226]


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John Healey: Social Enterprises can play an important role in supporting local authority objectives by bringing dynamism and innovation to the design and delivery of public services. They can also help local authorities achieve more with their money, engage local communities and stimulate new markets.

In December 2006, Communities and Local Government, alongside other Government Departments, launched Partnership in Public Services, an action plan for social enterprise and wider third sector engagement with public bodies, including local authorities.

CLG also published statutory guidance to local government and its key partners earlier this year. Creating Strong, Safe and Prosperous Communities states local authorities should recognise and embrace diversity in the way services are provided, with the focus on desired outcomes and not whether the service is delivered by the public, private or third sectors.

We also intend to publish the Tackling Worklessness Review early in 2009 which will make recommendations on how Regional Development Agencies, the private sector, social enterprises and other third sector groups, can work with local partners to improve employment in Working Neighbourhood Fund areas and through the new Local Performance Framework.

Local Government: Reorganisation

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the timetable for elections to each of the new unitary authorities is. [236090]

John Healey: Elections to each of the new unitary authorities will be held on 4 June 2009, with the exception of Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Durham and Northumberland, where elections were held earlier this year on 1 May 2008.

In relation to Cornwall, due to the delays in putting in place new electoral arrangements for the new Cornwall unitary, I announced to the House, in the debate on the Order moving the date of the 2009 local elections to coincide with the European Parliament elections, that I was minded to introduce for consideration an order that would, exceptionally, move the election date for Cornwall from the beginning of June to the end of October 2009. I also made clear that this would be dependent on the work of the Boundary Committee and Electoral Commission being completed in good time and said that before doing so, I propose to take soundings and consult those affected in Cornwall.

Mobile Homes: Coastal Areas

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many (a) permanent and (b) holiday caravans there are in the catchment area of each of the principal seaside towns of England. [237670]

Mr. Iain Wright: The information requested is not held centrally.

Multiple Occupation

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many houses of multiple occupation there are in each of the
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principal seaside towns of England; and what percentage this represents of total housing stock in each case. [237669]

Mr. Iain Wright: The information requested is not available centrally.

Noise: Pollution

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of noise levels attributable to micro-wind turbines under permitted development consents; and if she will make a statement. [236327]

Mr. Iain Wright: This Department has not made any assessment of noise levels attributable to micro-wind turbines under permitted development as micro-wind turbines do not currently have permitted development rights. However, this Department is considering what an appropriate noise limit on permitted development would be. Our aim is to ensure that what would be permitted would have little or no adverse impact on others.

Work is being undertaken by the Department of Energy and Climate Change’s Microgeneration Certification Scheme to put in place a methodology that would predict the likely noise level arising from the installation of a turbine on a site-specific basis.

Non-domestic Rates: Business

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether implementation of (a) a Nottingham workplace parking tax and (b) a Greater Manchester congestion charge would constitute a material change of circumstances for the purposes of calculating the rateable value of business premises within the charging zone. [235838]

John Healey: Whether the implementation of a (a) Nottingham workplace parking tax and (b) Greater Manchester congestion charge would count as a material change of circumstances (MCC), would depend on establishing the physical facts at the material date i.e. when the scheme(s) came into existence and judging those facts against the matters set out in schedule 6 to the Local Government Finance Act (LGFA) 1988 and by reference to the Non-Domestic Rating (Alteration of Lists and Appeals) (England) Regulations 2005 (SI 2005 No. 659) & [Wales (WSI2005 No 758)].

Any MCC may or may not have an effect upon the rateable value (hypothetical letting value) of hereditaments.

Non-domestic Rates: Valuation

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 30 October 2008, Official Report, column 1284W, on non-domestic rates: valuation, whether (a) hard copy and (b) electronic maps exist of the boundaries of each sub-location. [235849]

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