The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Goodman on 2016-10-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions he has had with the Home Secretary on work permits and immigration rules for EU citizens working in the construction and building trades after the UK leaves the EU.
Gavin Barwell
The Secretary of State meets with the Home Secretary and other stakeholders regularly to discuss a wide range of policy issues.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alison Thewliss on 2016-10-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what discussions he has had with council leaders on the effect of the UK’s decision to leave the EU.
Mr Marcus Jones
The Secretary of State regularly engages with a number of stakeholders, including local government, on policy issues. The Secretary of State welcomes input from the sector and this includes views on the issues and opportunities of the UK’s decision to leave the EU.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve McCabe on 2016-10-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, to what forms of hostel accommodation he plans to apply the housing benefit cap.
Caroline Nokes
The Secretary of State announced in a Written Ministerial Statement on 15 September 2016 that we would be deferring the application of Local Housing Allowance Rates in the social sector for all those living in supported accommodation until 2019/20.
At this point we will bring in a new funding model which will ensure that the sector continues to be funded at current levels, taking into account the effect of Government policy on social sector rents.
The Secretary of State also announced that a formal consultation would be published shortly.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jon Trickett on 2016-10-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what information his Department holds on the number of rogue landlords in (a) England and (b) each local authority area in England.
Gavin Barwell
The department does not hold this information. The Housing and Planning Act 2016 introduced a package of measures to help local authorities crack down on rogue landlords. This includes a database of rogue landlords and property agents who have been convicted of a banning order offence or have received at least two civil penalties for housing relates offences.The database, which will be accessible to local authorities and DCLG, is expected to go live on 1 October 2017.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sue Hayman on 2016-10-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what his Department’s policy is on the requirements for property owners to check for asbestos before selling their property.
Gavin Barwell
The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, which are enforced by the Health and Safety Executive, require the owner, or person responsible for maintenance, of a non-domestic building to record the location and condition of any asbestos-containing materials and to put in place a plan to manage the risk they present. This information should therefore be available should the owner decide to sell the building.
There is no requirement for homeowners to check for asbestos before selling their property. However the indoor air concentrations of asbestos in most dwellings, including those where asbestos is present but in good condition, present minimal risk to health. Where a building is surveyed under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System, this would include an assessment of the risk of asbestos to occupants of dwellings but there is no requirement for the rating system to be used when selling a dwelling. Tradespeople, such as plumbers and electricians, are aware of the risks of asbestos and take care in handling it to minimise risks.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Godsiff on 2016-10-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if the Government will take into account that atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have passed 400ppm when deciding on whether to overturn a decision by a local authority not to allow fracking.
Gavin Barwell
Planning law requires that applications for planning permission must be determined in accordance with the development plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise. The National Planning Policy Framework including, where relevant, national planning policy relating to climate change, is a material consideration in planning decisions. In deciding called-in applications or recovered appeals, the Secretary of State will take into account all material considerations which are before him at the time of the decision.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Poulter on 2016-10-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to provide financial assistance to support rural community pubs.
Andrew Percy
We are providing £1.85 million towards the £3.62 million ‘More Than a Pub’ Community Pub Business Support Programme which will, over 2016/17 and 2017/18, help local communities to acquire their local pubs. The programme offers wrap-round support including specialist advice, grants and loans.
From 1 April 2013 to 31 March 2016 we provided Pub is The Hub with £270,000 to deliver 80 diversification projects and 100 new community-focussed services and facilities for rural pubs, and from 1 April 2013 to 31 March 2015 provided Plunkett Foundation with £80,000 to support communities to own their local pubs.
This is in addition to wider Government measures supporting pubs including the freeze in beer duty at Budget 2016, which followed cuts in the previous three Budgets, and the scrapping of the beer duty escalator.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve McCabe on 2016-10-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 8 September 2016 to Question 44488, when he plans to tighten the Planning Guarantee for minor planning applications.
Gavin Barwell
We will make an announcement about the timetable for tightening the Planning Guarantee for applications for minor development as part of our response to the consultation on implementing the Housing and Planning Act 2016.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve McCabe on 2016-10-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 8 September 2016 to Question 44488, what safeguards his Department plans to propose to ensure that changes in policy for minor planning applications do not favour developers at the expense of local residents.
Gavin Barwell
In an area where the council has been designated as underperforming, applicants can choose to submit their application directly to the Planning Inspectorate for determination, instead of the council. Applications submitted directly to the Planning Inspectorate will be subject to the same general procedures as those that go to local planning authorities. This includes undertaking consultation on the proposal with the local community. Decisions that are unnecessarily slow, or which refuse development without good reason, can have a real impact by delaying or discouraging investment. That is bad for the economy and bad for communities, so taking action where there is clear evidence that a service is not being delivered effectively is beneficial to all.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve McCabe on 2016-10-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 8 September 2016 to Question 44488, what the implications for councils are of failure to determine planning applications in a timely and efficient manner; and what plans he has to provide extra funding to councils to assist them with implementing his Department’s plans to tighten the Planning Guarantee for minor planning applications.
Gavin Barwell
Councils are at risk of being designated as underperforming where they persistently fail to determine planning applications for major development within statutory timescales or an agreed extended period with the applicant. In an area where the council has been designated as underperforming, applicants can choose to submit their application directly to the Planning Inspectorate for determination, instead of the council. We are extending this regime to applications for non-major development. Where applications are not determined within 26 weeks, councils have to refund the application fee under the Planning Guarantee.
We do not intend to provide any additional funding to local authorities with regard to tightening the Planning Guarantee. Earlier this year we consulted on proposals to increase planning fees and will publish our response in due course.