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29 Jun 2010 : Column 527W—continued
The next CLG Affordable Housing statistical release containing figures for 2009-10 is scheduled to be published in the autumn of 2010.
Local Government Finance
Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 10 June 2010, Official Report, columns 15-17WS, on the local government savings package, what discussions he has had with representatives of community and third sector organisations on the effect on Nottingham of reductions in funding to (a) the Connecting Communities programme, (b) the Cohesion programme and (c) the Prevent programme. [4308]
Andrew Stunell: The Secretary of State has had no meetings with representatives of the voluntary and community sector in Nottingham regarding the savings package and Cohesion and Prevent programmes.
Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 10 June 2010, Official Report, columns 15-17WS, on the local government savings package, what assessment he has made of the effect of the reduction in funding allocated to the Working Neighbourhoods Fund on plans to tackle worklessness in Nottingham. [4309]
Robert Neill: The Working Neighbourhoods Fund is paid as part of Area Based Grant. All local authorities that are eligible for Working Neighbourhoods Fund have received a reduction in their Area Based Grant funding for 2010-11. This includes Nottingham, which this financial year will receive a Working Neighbourhoods Fund allocation of over £11 million.
Paying Working Neighbourhoods Fund through Area Based Grant gives councils the flexibility to take decisions locally on how to deliver the savings needed while protecting essential frontline services. Where revenue grants to local authorities have been reduced, no local authority will face a reduction of more than 2% overall in their main revenue grants.
Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 10 June 2010, Official Report, columns 15-17WS, on the local government savings package, if he will (a) undertake and (b) publish an impact assessment on the effect of in-year reductions in funding for local authorities on each (i) local authority and (ii) region. [4311]
Robert Neill: Tackling the UK's record deficit is the Government's top priority and we believe that it is right that local authorities make a contribution to the efficiency savings of £6.2 billion in 2010-11. We have adopted a fair approach to the reductions in grants and funding streams and have limited the amount individual authorities lose. The impact on their area of the reductions in grants this year will be for local authorities to decide. We have ensured that councils are able to deliver essential frontline services by making no changes to the £29 billion they receive through Formula Grant and by increasing flexibility for local spending decisions through removing restrictions on how they spend their money.
Mr Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what consideration he has given to the merits of relaxing the Audit Commission's requirement on local authorities to appoint named auditors; and what assessment he has made of the compatibility of that requirement with his Department's policies on best value. [4506]
Robert Neill: Following my instructions to the Audit Commission and five other local inspectorates to stop Comprehensive Area Assessment, we are looking further at local government audit and inspection in pursuit of our priorities for localism and cutting local government inspection.
Local Government Finance: Working Neighbourhood Fund
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 10 June 2010, Official Report, columns 15-17WS, on the local government savings package, what estimate he has made of the change to the level of funding allocated by his Department to the Working Neighbourhood Fund in each local authority in 2010. [4584]
Robert Neill: The Working Neighbourhoods Fund is paid as part of Area Based Grant. All local authorities that are eligible for Working Neighbourhoods Fund have received a reduction in their Area Based Grant funding for 2010-11.
Paying Working Neighbourhoods Fund through Area Based Grant gives councils the flexibility to take decisions locally on how to deliver the savings needed while protecting essential frontline services. Where revenue grants to local authorities have been reduced, no local authority will face a reduction of more than 2% overall in their main revenue grants.
Local Government Services
Mr Timpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he plans to take to encourage the running of local public services by local people. [4844]
Greg Clark: The Government's broad plans are set out in 'The Coalition: our programme for Government', and more detailed proposals will be published in the Decentralisation and Localism Bill in the autumn, after we have consulted informally with all those with an interest across the sectors.
Local Government: Referendums
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what progress he has made on his proposals to give residents the power to instigate local referendums on local issues. [4632]
Robert Neill: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, my hon. Friend the Member for Hazel Grove (Andrew Stunnell) to the hon. Member for Nottingham East (Chris Leslie) on 8 June, Official Report, column 132W.
Mortgages: Government Assistance
John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made for the number of people who have received support from the (a) Support for Mortgage scheme, (b) Mortgage Rescue scheme and (c) Homeowner Support scheme in the last (i) three, (ii) six and (iii) 12 months. [4168]
Grant Shapps [holding answer 24 June 2010]: As at November 2009 the number of people in receipt of Support for Mortgage Interest was 225,000.
Mortgage Rescue Scheme summary monitoring statistics are published on a quarterly basis on the Department's website. Latest figures show as at the end of March 2010 629 households have completed the full process to remain in their homes, in most cases as social tenants. The previous Government's target for the scheme was to help up to 6,000 of the most vulnerable families avoid repossession. (DCLG Press Release, 2 September 2008.
It was announced on 14 June 2010 that since the launch of the Homeowners Mortgage Support Scheme in April 2009, 34 households had been accepted onto the scheme to the end of April 2010. The previous Government's target was to help 15,500 a year over the next two years. (DCLQ 'Impact Assessment of Homeowners Mortgage Support', 21 April 2009, p.10).
Non-domestic Rates
Mr Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 22 June 2010, Official Report, column 162W, on non-domestic rates, whether he plans to provide additional relief following the late billing of the business rates for new start-ups during financial year 2009-10; and if he will make a statement. [4785]
Robert Neill: There is no specific relief applicable to ratepayers who receive late business rate bills and I have no plans to introduce one. However, depending on their circumstances, ratepayers may be eligible for a variety of reliefs. In addition, we are doubling the level of small business rate relief in England for one year, from 1 October 2010.
Non-domestic Rates: Garages and Petrol Stations
Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment has been made of the merits of (a) freezing and (b) capping increases in business rates arising from the April 2010 rating revaluation for (i) petrol stations and (ii) other businesses. [4301]
Robert Neill: A transitional relief scheme was introduced on 1 April 2010 which limits the annual increases in bills for those ratepayers facing large rises as a result of the 2010 revaluation. The transitional relief scheme applies to all sectors including petrol filling stations. The new Government are aware of concerns about large increases in rateable value for petrol stations and will be looking to meet representatives of the industry to discuss their concerns.
Offices: Expenditure
John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what items of new furniture and fittings have been purchased for the office of each Minister in his Department since 6 May 2010; and at what cost. [4533]
Grant Shapps: No items of new furniture and fittings have been purchased for ministerial offices in Communities and Local Government since 6 May 2010.
Planning Permission: Blackpool
Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what consideration he gave to the provisions of (a) Planning Policy Guidance note 13: Transport, (b) Planning Policy Guidance note 17: Planning, Open Space, Sport and Recreation and (c) Planning Policy Statement note 9: Biodiversity and Geological Conservation in his decision not to call in development application to Blackpool Borough Council, No. 09/0740, for his own determination. [4549]
Robert Neill: The decision not to call in the application was made in the knowledge that all the matters which relate to this application were initially considered and assessed by Blackpool council, as referred to in detail in their committee report. Following its referral, careful consideration was given to the relevant planning issues which fall under the national planning policies which you refer, together with the representations received. Having regard to his policy on call in, the Secretary of State then decided not to call-in the application as there was not sufficient conflict with national planning policies PPG13 and 17 and PPS9 on those matters. In arriving at his decision the Secretary of State has also had regard to the proposed planning conditions in particular relating to flooding, amenities, natural habitats/ecology. He also took into considerations proposed legal agreements and financial contributions in relation to highways, open space and other provisions.
Mr Marsden:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what consideration he gave to representations made by Lancashire County Council that development
application No. 09/0740 to Blackpool Borough Council would be contrary to Planning Policy Statement note 9: Biodiversity and Geological Conservation, in deciding not to call in the application. [4550]
Robert Neill: The Secretary of State has taken account of all the representations made, including those from Lancashire county council, on the issues raised in the context of PPS9-Biodiversity and Geological Conservation. Having considered the assessment provided in the council's committee report and in the applicant's supporting Environmental Statement, the Secretary of State is of the view that those issues do not appear to be in significant conflict with PPS9 considerations. He is satisfied that the proposed planning conditions and other mitigating measures relating to natural habitats/ecology are adequate in safeguarding protected species and to minimise any harmful impact on biodiversity.
Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what account he took in reaching his decision not to call in the development plans submitted to Blackpool Borough Council, reference 09/0740, of (a) the concerns of Blackpool Transport over the adequacy of public transport provision for the proposed development and (b) the provisions of Planning Policy Guidance 13 on Transport. [4691]
Robert Neill: The Secretary of State has given considerations to all the representations made, including those from Blackpool Transport, on the issues raised in the context of PPG 13-Transport. He has taken account of the assessment of those issues provided in the council's committee report and in the applicant's supporting Transport Statement. While the issues relating to public transport and any highway improvements remain a matter for the highway authority's considerations, however in this case there are proposals relating to improvements to highways and public transport provision which are subject to legal agreements. In the circumstances no issues would appear to be in significant conflict with PPG 13 considerations.
Public Houses
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will take steps to ensure provision of business, legal and financial advice and support to members of local communities wishing to run local public houses as a mutual, co-operative or social enterprise; and if he will make a statement. [2513]
Andrew Stunell: Members of local communities wishing to take over their local public house as a mutual, co-operative or social enterprise can approach the independent Asset Transfer Unit, which is funded by Communities and Local Government to provide generic advice on business planning, technical and financial matters relating to the transfer of assets to community management and ownership. We are currently reviewing what further support can be offered to support the community ownership of public houses, within the context of the Government's decision to reassess spending approvals granted between 1 January 2010 and the general election to ensure that they offer good value for money and are consistent with the Government's priorities. A further statement will be made in due course.
Regeneration: Newcastle
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will provide support for the continuation of the Bridging Newcastle Gateshead programme funded by the Pathfinder Budget in the same form as the previous administration. [4796]
Andrew Stunell: The Housing Market Renewal Programme was included in the £6.2 billion of savings from Government spending in 2010-11 announced on 24 May. The budget for 2010-11 announced in December 2009 has been reduced by £50 million. The mechanism by which this reduction is achieved has been subject to consultation and individual allocations for 2010-11 will be confirmed shortly. The long-term plans for programmes, including HMR, will be set out by Government after the spending review later this year.
Renewable Energy: Planning Permission
Mr Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he intends to make the necessary amendments to the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 to add air source heat pumps and small-scale wind turbines to the list of permitted developments. [4736]
Robert Neill: The Government are considering the policy options for amending the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 in respect of small-scale wind turbines and air source heat pumps. Informed by the responses to a recent public consultation, we intend to announce key decisions and the way forward shortly.
Deputy Prime Minister
Constituencies
Alun Michael: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what amendments to legislation governing devolution he plans to propose in order to implement his proposals to establish fewer constituencies with more equal populations. [4516]
Mr Harper: Proposals to implement this aspect of the coalition agreement are being carefully considered within Government. Details will be announced in due course and Parliament will have the opportunity to debate them.
Departmental Official Cars
Mr Watson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many Government (a) cars and (b) drivers are allocated to Ministers in his Office. [291]
The Deputy Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 28 June 2010, Official Report, column 446W.
Mr Watson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many civil servants in the Privy Council Office are entitled to the use of (i) a car with a dedicated driver, (ii) a car from the Government car pool and (iii) a taxi ordered through a departmental account. [3195]
The Deputy Prime Minister: No civil servants in the Privy Council Office have a dedicated Government car or driver.
As was the case under the previous Administration, civil servants may use a taxi or car from the Government car pool in properly defined circumstances.
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