Tag: Department for Levelling Up

• Devolution deals now cover 60 per cent of the English population – up from 41 percent since major levelling up plan two years ago
• Deals providing powers to local leaders now cover nearly 34 million people in England – including nine of England’s 10 largest cities and 90 per cent of the North
• Devolution milestone comes as Levelling Up Minister Jacob Young signs another deal with Devon County Council and Torbay Council – the 10th new deal since government’s levelling up plan was published

Sixty per cent of the English population will now live in a place covered by a devolution deal, thanks to another historic deal signed with Devon County Council and Torbay Council.

This is up from 41 per cent when the government published its major levelling up plan almost two years ago, meeting a key commitment to devolve powers to more areas across England.

This means an extra 10 million people will now benefit from new powers handed from Westminster to their local leaders – covering a total of almost 34 million people across England.

In another boost for levelling up, devolution deals now cover 90 per cent of the North – up from 62 per cent two years ago and benefitting over 14 million people.

And in the Midlands, the percentage of people covered by a devolution deal has more than doubled in two years – up from 26 per cent to 55 per cent, covering almost 6 million people.

The government has also secured devolution deals for nine of England’s 10 largest cities, including Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle upon Tyne, Nottingham and Sheffield.

These deals are giving local leaders strengthened powers to make local decisions on important matters like transport, adult education and business support.

They are also providing areas with over £5 billion of new, long-term funding from the government – the total amount committed to 10 devolution deals so far.

Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove said:

This historic devolution milestone shows our commitment to spreading opportunity more equally across the country – empowering local leaders to take control on matters that mean most to their communities and improving local people’s lives.

And to support their plans we’re providing billions of pounds in new funding for the long term, helping people to feel the benefits of these changes for years to come.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities aims to secure devolution deals by 2030 for every part of England that wants one. This is one of 12 levelling up goals set by the department in its flagship Levelling Up White Paper in February 2022.

These goals, called Levelling Up Missions, set out clearly what the government aims to do to reduce geographical disparity across all parts of the UK.

To mark progress on devolution in England, the government measures the proportion of the English population living in an area with a devolution deal.

The signing between Devon County Council and Torbay Council yesterday (25 January) will see the creation of a new Combined County Authority and £16 million awarded from central government to invest in local priorities as part of the deal. This follows devolution deals already secured with the East Midlands, North East, York and North Yorkshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Cornwall, Lancashire, Greater Lincolnshire and Hull and East Yorkshire.

Seven of these devolution deals will see the election of new mayors in county areas in 2024 and 2025.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

• As with other Combined Authority and Combined County Authority deals, the Devon County Council and Torbay Council devolution deal is subject to local consultation, ratification by the constituent councils and parliamentary approval of the secondary legislation implementing the provisions of the deal. The deal encapsulates the majority of the ceremonial county of Devon.

The Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has appointed Adam Hawksbee as interim Chair for the new high-powered Towns Unit to ensure the voices of UK towns are heard loud and clear across government and that vital regeneration comes to life.

Adam, Deputy Director of the think tank Onward, will help deliver the government’s Long-Term Plan for Towns, backed by £1.1 billion overall, to regenerate 55 towns around the country so people can feel proud of the place they call home.

Each town will receive a 10-year endowment-style fund with £20 million of funding and support to deliver long-term projects focused on the issues that matter most to local people, including regenerating high streets, protecting local heritage and cracking down on anti-social behaviour.

The Unit will ensure the Long-Term Plan for Towns delivers its promise by supporting local leaders to develop proposals, encouraging further investment from businesses and making sure that Towns Boards become long-term institutions that serve their communities.

Adam will be visiting towns up and down the country and reporting directly back to the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Levelling Up Michael Gove on how these places can better level up.

This work as part of the Long-Term Plan for Towns will help local people continue to feel the benefits of a bettering economy – ensuring a brighter future for Britain and more opportunity for generations to come.

Towns Unit Chairman Adam Hawksbee said:

It’s an honour to be heading up this vital work, which will empower communities to transform their towns. The Long-Term Plan for Towns puts local people at the heart of change, letting them choose their own priorities. Whether that’s making high streets safer and cleaner, improving transport links or celebrating local heritage, we will help towns to rebuild a sense of pride.

Levelling Up Minister Jacob Young said:

Towns have been taken for granted for too long and local leaders need long-term funding that goes directly to community priorities, instead of being caught up in public sector red tape. I am excited to be working with Adam to deliver our Long Term Plan for Towns to put power in the hands of communities so that they can decide on local priorities and what’s best their future.

Adam’s work to date has focused on increasing economic growth and strengthening communities across the UK.

He has published research on a range of topics including empowering regional mayors, tackling antisocial behaviour and reforming technical education. He was also previously Head of Policy to Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands.

Adam will be undertaking the role on a part-time basis, alongside his position as Deputy Director of Onward.

The next Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has been confirmed as Amerdeep Somal by Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove following a rigorous selection process.

Ms Somal will start in post on 1st February 2024, bringing with her a wealth of experience having previously served as the Complaints Commissioner to the Financial Regulators and Chief Commissioner at the Data and Marketing Commission.

She has also been appointed as Chair of the Commission for Local Administration in England, the official body which runs the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman service.

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman investigates complaints from members of the public about local councils and social care providers. The Ombudsman is appointed by His Majesty the King on the advice of the Secretary of State, and the Ombudsman’s investigations are independent of central government.

Ms Somal was appointed following an open recruitment competition overseen by Commissioner for Public Appointments, and her appointment was endorsed by the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Select Committee following a pre-appointment scrutiny hearing held in Parliament on 18th September 2023.

Minister for Local Government Simon Hoare said:

“The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman provides a vital role in holding our public services to account, ensuring the public has the power to challenge decisions on the issues that matter most to them.

“I am delighted Amerdeep Somal has been confirmed as the next Ombudsman and look forward to working with her in the future.”

Further information:

• Amerdeep Somal sits on the board of the Parliamentary Health Service Ombudsman. She is also a Judge of the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal.
• She was the Independent Assessor to the Financial Ombudsman Service and board member at the General Medical Council and Nursing and Midwifery Council. She is a former founding Commissioner at the Independent Police Complaints Commission, and has held a number of other board roles following an earlier career as a senior civil servant.
• Ms Somal has been appointed as Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman for a term of seven years.

UK Government ministers have been to Denbighshire to see how tens of millions of pounds of levelling up money is regenerating the area.

Jacob Young, the Levelling Up Minister and Fay Jones, Wales Office Minister, saw first-hand how transformational regeneration projects in Rhyl, made possible by UK Government funding, will benefit the local community.

Denbighshire County Council was awarded £20 million in the most recent round of the Levelling Up Fund, with £11 million committed to regenerating Rhyl. Local people will benefit from a regeneration of the town centre, creation of more community centres, and improvements to cycle and footpaths and routes between the town and coast.

This latest funding from the third round of the Levelling Up Fund follows two previous rounds which invested just under £1.7 billion and £2.1 billion into projects across the UK – bringing the total fund to £4.8 billion. These infrastructure investments aim to improve everyday life for people by regenerating town centres and high streets, upgrading local transport, and investing in cultural and heritage assets.

Alongside the transformation of Rhyl’s high street, the Ministers also saw where money is being used to revive Queens Market and Central Promenade. Queens Market will be turned into a mixed used retail development to boost business, while improved travel routes will reconnect the town centre with the promenade and beach.

Ministers also visited the Salusbury Arms pub, a much-loved pub in Tremeirchion which recently reopened its doors thanks to £175,000 from the UK Government’s Community Ownership Fund, which protects beloved community places at risk of closure. The 200-year-old pub, which is an integral part of the community and only remaining pub in the village, is now renovated and community-owned with the help of UK Government funding – preserving a cherished place for families and residents to enjoy.

UK Government Minister for Levelling Up Jacob Young said:

I loved being in North Wales to see first-hand how levelling up will be made a reality here thanks to millions of pounds of UK Government support.

I was also delighted to visit the Salusbury Arms, a much loved pub in Tremeirchion with a great deal of history, that has been saved through a mix of the local community’s brilliant campaigning work and our Community Ownership Fund support.

These projects show how committed we are to levelling up in Wales and it is heartening to see how the money will positively impact communities for generations to come.

Wales Office Minister Fay Jones said:

It was fantastic to see these wonderful projects that will make a huge difference to local people’s lives. The ambitious plans for the regeneration of Rhyl will be a huge boost for the town, helping to attract businesses, create jobs and grow the local economy.

And I much enjoyed meeting the people behind saving the Salusbury Arms who have worked so hard to safeguard the pub for future generations – congratulations to them.

Vice Chair of the Salusbury Arms pub Jane Marsh said:

Securing the Community Ownership Fund to support our bid to own The Salusbury has meant that we were able to purchase the building outright not only without taking on debt but also to convey to almost 200 shareholders that the Government had confidence in our vision for the future of this treasured Community asset.

The process was straightforward and I would urge other Communities like ours to apply”.

Notes to editors:

• The Community Ownership Fund is currently open for applications for Round 3 Window 3.
• Voluntary and community groups can bid for funding to acquire important assets and run them for the benefit of the local community.
• The window opened on 6 December 2023 and will close at 11.59am (before noon) on 31 January 2024.
• More details on applying for the next Community Ownership Fund can be found at www.gov.uk/government/publications/community-ownership-fund-prospectus/community-ownership-fund-prospectus–3

Hundreds of rough sleepers will be helped off the streets and into long term settled accommodation thanks to over £17 million of government funding. The money has been given to local authorities across England most in need so they can provide more bed spaces for people who are sleeping rough this winter and more long-term secure accommodation.

London boroughs including Hammersmith, Lambeth and Greenwich collectively received over £3 million, with all local authorities in the capital able to benefit. Nottingham City Council received over £400,000, Bristol City Council over £300,000 and Hastings & Eastbourne Borough Councils almost £250,000.

This brings the total funding for the Rough Sleeping Initiative to over £547 million and forms just one part of a wider package of support backed by over £2 billion of government funding over 3 years. This includes helping individuals find work, manage their finances and access mental and physical health services.

Minister for Rough Sleeping Felicity Buchan said:

As the cold weather continues this winter, our mission to help people off the streets is even more urgent. We are determined to deliver our manifesto pledge to end rough sleeping and today’s announcement demonstrates our continuing commitment to supporting the most vulnerable in our society with access to a safe and warm home, backed by over £2 billion of government funding over 3 years.

The winter period is particularly high-risk for individuals who are sleeping rough, increasing the demand for immediate ‘off the street’ accommodation so the funding package includes £4 million available to local authorities facing the greatest pressures in rough sleeping in England.

Meanwhile over 1,000 people have been housed through the Housing First Pilots in Liverpool City Region, Greater Manchester, and the West Midlands Combined Authority, providing long term housing for the homeless. The scheme has reported that the vast majority using the scheme (92%) found a home within a year and said they feel safer, less likely to be a victim of crime and less likely to be involved in antisocial behaviour.

Further information

• The StreetLink campaign is now running which enables members of the public to alert local council outreach workers if they see someone sleeping rough. Investment from government has made it simpler than ever for people to support a person sleeping rough off the streets and into safe accommodation. See more here: StreetLink – Connecting people sleeping rough to local services (thestreetlink.org.uk)
• The government has a manifesto commitment to end rough sleeping in this parliament. This means rough sleeping is prevented wherever possible and, where it cannot be prevented, it is a rare, brief and non-recurring experience.
• Our manifesto also committed to pilot Housing First in 3 urban areas with contrasting challenges: Greater Manchester, West Midlands and Liverpool City Region. The programme was initially allocated £28 million of government funding, but in May 2022, they secured an additional £13.9 million in funding to drive forward the programme’s legacy.

New plans to clamp down on rogue social landlords who fail to provide safe homes have been announced today, supporting the Government’s pledge to deliver Awaab’s Law.

The two-year-old from Rochdale died from a respiratory condition caused by extensive mould in the flat where he lived, and the Government is taking action to introduce lifechanging reforms in social housing to prevent future tragedies.

The Awaab’s Law consultation has been launched by the Housing Secretary, which proposes introducing new strict time limits for social housing providers and force them to take swift action in addressing dangerous hazards such as damp and mould.

It proposes new legal requirements for social landlords to investigate hazards within 14 days, start fixing within a further 7 days, and make emergency repairs within 24 hours. Those landlords who fail can be taken to court where they may be ordered to pay compensation for tenants.

Landlords will be expected to keep clear records to improve transparency for tenants – showing every attempt is made to comply with the new timescales so they can no longer dither and delay to rectify people’s homes.

Housing Secretary, Michael Gove said:

“The tragic death of Awaab Ishak should never have happened. His family have shown courageous leadership, determination and dignity to champion these changes and now it’s time for us to deliver for them through Awaab’s Law.

“Today is about stronger and more robust action against social landlords who have refused to take their basic responsibilities seriously for far too long. We will force them to fix their homes within strict new time limits and take immediate action to tackle dangerous damp and mould to help prevent future tragedies.

“Alongside Awaab’s Law, our landmark Social Housing Act will drastically improve the quality of life in social housing, granting residents a proper voice to fight those who think they can cheat the system and ensuring rogue landlords face the full force of the law.”

Faisal Abdullah, Awaab’s Father said:

“We hope that Awaab’s Law will stop any other family going through the pain that we went through. Landlords need to listen to the concerns of tenants and we support these proposals.”

Social Housing campaigner, Kwajo Tweneboa said:

“As we know many families across the country are still living in homes with damp and mould, creating misery but more worryingly risks their health and safety.

“I’m pleased to see Awaab’s Law reach the consultation phase and hope that it goes far enough to prevent other families going through the tragedy Awaab’s family have had to. It’s crucial the government are able to make sure this law has teeth and is enforced for it to work as intended.”

Through the measures announced today tenants will be able to take their landlords to court if they fail to fix dangerous hazards. This builds on the progress already made to drive up standards in social housing.

There has been consistent improvement in the quality of social homes since 2010 – with a reduction in non-decent social homes from 20% in 2010 to 10% last year – but the Government recognises there is more work to do.

The Social Housing (Regulation) Act, which became law last year,  will equip the Regulator of Social Housing and tenants with stronger powers and rights to hold the small minority of rogue landlords accountable.

New enforcement powers will also be available for the Regulator to weed out bad landlord practices – including issuing unlimited fines and entering properties with only 48 hours’ notice to make emergency repairs in the most severe cases.

As part of changes to deliver Awaab’s Law, the Government recently consulted on what more tenants need to better understand their rights and challenge social landlords when things go wrong – the direction to the Regulator will be published in the coming weeks.

This is the latest step in addressing systemic issues identified following the Grenfell Tower fire – not just the safety and quality of social housing but how tenants are treated by their landlords.

Further information

• Awaab’s Law consultation will be open for eight weeks and further details on how to respond can be found here
• Following the analysis of responses, we will introduce secondary legislation to bring Awaab’s Law into force as soon as practically possible.
• The Government continues to engage with the social housing sector, residents, and experts to address unsafe homes. We publish monthly updates on work to improve the quality of social housing in England and the latest update is available here
• More details on Government reforms can be found on the Social Housing Quality page

Flood-hit communities impacted by Storm Henk (2nd Jan – 8th Jan) can now apply for thousands of pounds from the government to help them recover.

The financial support announced today, 6 January 2024, will be available to eligible areas in England that have experienced exceptional localised flooding.

Help will be available for:

1. Flooded households in eligible affected areas, who can apply for up to £500 cash to help with immediate costs.
2. Households and businesses significantly affected, who will be eligible for 100% council tax and business rates relief for at least 3 months.
3. Small-to-medium sized businesses in eligible affected areas, who can apply for up to £2,500 from the Business Recovery Grant to help them return quickly to business as usual.
4. Eligible flood-hit property owners, who can apply for up to £5,000 to help make their homes and businesses more resilient to future flooding via the Property Flood Resilience Repair Grant Scheme.
5. Farmers who have suffered uninsurable damage to their land will be able to apply for grants of up to £25,000 through the Farming Recovery Fund towards repair and reinstatement costs for farmers adversely affected by exceptional flooding.

This support will be made available through a scheme called the Flood Recovery Framework, which is used in exceptional circumstances to support councils and communities following severe flooding. The measures were announced by the Communities Secretary Michael Gove and Environment Secretary Steve Barclay.

45,000 properties have already been protected from the worst impact of Storm Henk thanks to flood defences put in place through previous government funding and quick Environment Agency action on the ground. Environment Agency teams and first responders have been working around the clock to manage the risk of flooding and protect communities by operating flood defences, clearing watercourses and putting up temporary barriers where needed.

Communities Secretary Michael Gove said:

If you’ve been affected by the recent severe flooding, you do not have to deal with it alone – we are providing financial help so you can recover as quickly as possible.

We know families and businesses are facing extreme challenges right now and we are doing all we can with our partners across central and local government to ensure communities are supported.

Environment Secretary Steve Barclay said:

I know how difficult flooding is for those affected and we will do all we can do support households, farmers and other businesses as they repair and rebuild.

45,000 properties are already protected thanks to our flood defences, and I would like to pay tribute to the work of Environment Agency teams, first responders, and others.

For those who have sadly been affected, our Property Flood Resilience Repair Grant Scheme will soon be open to help residents protect their property in the future, while our Farming Recovery Fund will support farmers who have suffered damage as they work to put food on our tables.

Funding for flood defences has increased with over 381,000 homes better protected since 2015 thanks to this investment, and the government is going even further by delivering a record £5.2 billion investment to better protect hundreds of thousands of properties.

Support will be available through councils who will announce further details on eligibility and how to apply.