Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what role they envisage for the commissioners overseeing elements of the (1) planning, (2) highways, and (3) regeneration departments of Liverpool City Council; what is their (a) purpose, and (b) objectives; and how long they expect the commissioners will be involved in the running of these departments of Liverpool City Council.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
The proposed intervention package for Liverpool City Council presented by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to Parliament on Wednesday 24 March includes the appointment of Commissioners for a minimum of three years and the transfer of all executive functions associated with regeneration, highways and property management at the Council to those Commissioners. The Secretary of State will take a final decision, following consideration of any representation received from the Council, after 24 May
The Secretary of State has expressed the hope that it will not be necessary for the Commissioners to exercise these powers, but instead that their main role would centre on supporting the Council itself in making changes. It is proposed that most decisions continue to be made by the Authority and the intention is that these powers should only be used as a last resort, should the Authority not satisfy the Commissioners in their improvement processes.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government to provide details of what the report of the findings of the Best Value inspection into Liverpool City Council, published on 24 March, identified as a "secret cabal" operating within Liverpool City Council; what assessment they have made of which documents, if any, have been destroyed in any of the Council’s departments; and to provide details of the "serious breakdown of governance at the council" described by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on 24 March.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
The Government fully accepts the findings of the independent Best Value Inspection Report subject to any representations Liverpool City Council may wish to make about the report. The report, produced by Max Caller CBE, is based on the documentation and personal testimony provided by councillors, officers, and members of the public to the independent inspectors. The full report can be viewed (attached) at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/liverpool-city-council-best-value-inspection-report
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government to provide details of (1) the "pervasive and rotten culture", and (2) the "culture of intimidation", within Liverpool City Council, described by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government in a statement on 24 March.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
The Government fully accepts the findings of the independent Best Value Inspection Report subject to any representations Liverpool City Council may wish to make about the report. The report, produced by Max Caller CBE, is based on the documentation and personal testimony provided by councillors, officers, and members of the public to the independent inspectors. The full report can be viewed (attached) at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/liverpool-city-council-best-value-inspection-report
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether tax payers in Liverpool will fund the cost of (1) the investigation led by Max Caller into activities at Liverpool City Council, and (2) commissioners for the investigation; how much the investigation is expected to cost; and how much money is alleged to have been overspent as a result of an alleged lack of oversight by that Council.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
Liverpool City Council funded the cost of the Best Value Inspection, in line with the requirements of the Local Government Act 1999. In the past, where Commissioners have been appointed under Best Value powers, the relevant Directions required the local authority to meet all reasonable fees and expenses associated with the Commissioners. This expectation is set out in section 5.6.2 of the Statutory intervention and inspection: a guide for local authorities (May 2020). The Secretary of State will take a final decision, following consideration of any representation received from the Council, after 24 May.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by the National Federation of Gypsy Liaison Groups Moving for Change: local authority approaches to roadside camps in a time of COVID-19, published on 4 February, in particular its finding that there was a 333 per cent increase in evictions from roadside camps in the 45 days following the Government guidance issued on 10 May 2020 to "stay alert"; what steps they are taking to ensure that local authorities are protecting Gypsies, Travellers, Roma and others at risk of roadside eviction during the COVID-19 pandemic; and what discussions they intend to have with local authorities about the use of negotiated settlements in place of evictions of such groups.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
The Government is supporting people across the country respond to and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, including those in the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities.
I have met with the National Federation of Gypsy Liaison Groups to discuss the impact of the pandemic and the Government has provided guidance to all local authority Chief Executives about the support some Gypsy and Traveller families may need during the national restrictions to find a safe place to stop and access basic amenities, including water, sanitation and waste disposal facilities.
Whilst it is for local authorities to determine how best to support vulnerable groups, in line with their public health responsibilities, the Government will continue to work closely with them to ensure that Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Communities’ needs are met.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the calculations of the economic contribution made by churches used for community purposes in the report by the National Churches Trust House of Good, published on 18 October; and what social value they attach to the provision in churches of (1) food banks, (2) youth services, (3) mental health services, (4) addiction support services and (5) other community services during the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated national restrictions.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
I am aware of the ‘House of Good’ report published recently by the National Churches Trust, on the contribution made by churches.
Churches are a vital community asset as referenced in the Localism Act 2011. Churches and all our places of worship are vital to people’s health and wellbeing. Their role in providing pastoral as well as spiritual support is widely recognised, and the part they play in supporting the most vulnerable in our communities has been brought into sharp focus during the pandemic.
I am grateful for all the support they have given to those who are most vulnerable during these difficult times.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they consulted the Places of Worship Taskforce before announcing the closure of places of worship as part of the national COVID-19 restrictions in England planned from 5 November; what assessment they have made of any issues resulting from churches’ COVID-19 safety measures; and what assessment they have made of whether places of worship are more likely to facilitate the spread of COVID-19 than schools and universities.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
The Places of Taskforce met on 2 November. In addition, roundtables have been held with the country’s major faith groups to discuss the guidance.
Discussions with our faith groups at these meetings, as they have been throughout the pandemic, have been extremely helpful. They have provided us with an opportunity to share information with our faith groups, as well as hearing of their concerns. We will continue to draw on the expertise of the Taskforce in the coming days.
I am very grateful to our faith communities for their efforts to ensure their places of worship are as Covid-secure as possible. However, the evidence from the scientific community, and from SAGE, points to an increasing rate of infection overall. We therefore need to reduce the level of interaction and the number of gatherings that take place, and with regret, places of worship are closed for communal prayer.
The regulations now in force will expire on 2 December, at which point we hope to be able to be able to ease restrictions.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Leader of the House what plans there are to set aside time on currently non-sitting Fridays to debate (1) Select Committee reports, or (2) Questions for Short Debate, in the Chamber or in Grand Committee.
Answered by Baroness Evans of Bowes Park
My Noble Friend the Government Chief Whip has no such plans. In line with the Guidance on Hybrid House and Hybrid Grand Committee set down by the Procedure and Privileges Committee, legislation is currently taking precedence on sitting Fridays.
Despite the constraints on the way in which the House is working we have managed to debate 11 Select Committee reports in the session to date. I expect it to be possible to debate further reports as the session progresses.
Last week the Government Chief Whip wrote to the Procedure and Privileges Committee with a suggestion as to how we can adapt our current working practices to allow a limited number of Questions for Short Debate to be asked in Grand Committee.
Background/points we could make:
- The short answer to the question is ‘no’.
- We normally sit on only one Friday per calendar month. We have had to sit on more than that since returning from the summer recess to accommodate the various Coronavirus regulations.
- The Procedure and Privileges Committee guidance clearly states, at paragraph 39, that:
- “Until further notice, Thursday and Friday sittings of the hybrid House may be used for legislation which shall have precedence over other business.”
- Despite the broadcasting and administrative restrictions we have been working under we have still managed to debate 11 select committee reports in the session to date. And will take more where we can.