Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps he is taking to ensure the independence of the Office of Local Government.
Answered by Lee Rowley
It is intended that Oflog has a degree of separation from government to support its objectives, and we will continue to facilitate that set up in the months ahead.
The Secretary of State has already appointed an independent chair, Lord (Amyas) Morse. Lord Morse has, and will continue to, provide independent advice, support, and challenge to Oflog's strategic vision, functions, and delivery priorities.
Oflog's governance structures and processes will be communicated transparently, and the department will adopt mechanisms and governance arrangements to facilitate Oflog's work.
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what guidance his Department has provided local authorities on how to allocate their share of the UK Shared Prosperity fund between different areas.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
Under the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), it is for places to decide how they use their allocation and this will depend on locally identified priorities. Each place was tasked to work with local partners choosing from a range of interventions to develop an investment plan. Pre-launch guidance was published in February 2022 followed by the UKSPF Prospectus in April 2022. Updated guidance is available on Gov.uk.
Members of the UK Parliament play an important role in representing the views of their constituents, working collaboratively with local authorities and other local partners to work for the good of local places. They should be closely engaged in the design and delivery of the Fund. In most cases, all MPs in the area should have been invited to join the local partnership group.
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what recent discussions he has had with local authorities on including relevant Members of Parliament on local panels responsible for making decisions about how to spend their share of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
Under the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), it is for places to decide how they use their allocation and this will depend on locally identified priorities. Each place was tasked to work with local partners choosing from a range of interventions to develop an investment plan. Pre-launch guidance was published in February 2022 followed by the UKSPF Prospectus in April 2022. Updated guidance is available on Gov.uk.
Members of the UK Parliament play an important role in representing the views of their constituents, working collaboratively with local authorities and other local partners to work for the good of local places. They should be closely engaged in the design and delivery of the Fund. In most cases, all MPs in the area should have been invited to join the local partnership group.
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what directions and guidance his Department has produced for local authorities on how to spend their share of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
Under the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), it is for places to decide how they use their allocation and this will depend on locally identified priorities. Each place was tasked to work with local partners choosing from a range of interventions to develop an investment plan. Pre-launch guidance was published in February 2022 followed by the UKSPF Prospectus in April 2022. Updated guidance is available on Gov.uk.
Members of the UK Parliament play an important role in representing the views of their constituents, working collaboratively with local authorities and other local partners to work for the good of local places. They should be closely engaged in the design and delivery of the Fund. In most cases, all MPs in the area should have been invited to join the local partnership group.
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, pursuant to the Answer of 15 May 2023 to Question 183620 on Regeneration: Rother Valley, when the checks for the Capital Regeneration Project planning for Dinnington, South Yorkshire will be completed.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
As set out in my previous response, the award of funding to the 16 Capital Regeneration Projects is subject to subsidy control checks . We are working closely with the local authorities to complete those as quickly as possible.
Each Memorandum of Understanding will be signed when the check for the project is completed.
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, pursuant to the Answer of 15 May 2023 to Question 183620 on Regeneration: Rother Valley, how long after the checks for the Dinnington, South Yorkshire capital regeneration project have been completed will the Memorandum of Understanding be signed and issued.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
As set out in my previous response, the award of funding to the 16 Capital Regeneration Projects is subject to subsidy control checks . We are working closely with the local authorities to complete those as quickly as possible.
Each Memorandum of Understanding will be signed when the check for the project is completed.
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, pursuant to the Answer of 15 May 2023 to Question 183620 on Regeneration: Rother Valley, whether all capital regeneration projects will be issued signed Memoranda of Understanding at the same time.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
As set out in my previous response, the award of funding to the 16 Capital Regeneration Projects is subject to subsidy control checks . We are working closely with the local authorities to complete those as quickly as possible.
Each Memorandum of Understanding will be signed when the check for the project is completed.
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what statutory duty local authorities have to provide additional allotments.
Answered by Baroness Maclean of Redditch
The Government recognises through our National Planning Policy Framework the important role that allotments can provide in enabling and supporting healthy lifestyles within our communities. The Framework is clear that local planning policies should be based on robust and up-to-date assessments of the need for open space and opportunities for new provision, which can include allotments, and their plans should then seek to accommodate this.
Our National Model Design Code states that as part of open space design for large developments there should be the consideration of allotments and community growing projects for food production, learning and community engagement.
I refer the Hon Member to published guidance on the statutory and policy criteria councils must meet in order to obtain the Secretary of State's consent to dispose of allotment land.
Section 23 of the Small Holdings and Allotments Act 1908 places a duty on district and parish councils to provide allotments where they perceive there is a demand for them.
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether his Department has provided recent guidance to local authorities on (a) their responsibilities for and (b) best practice in assessing demand for allotments.
Answered by Baroness Maclean of Redditch
The Government recognises through our National Planning Policy Framework the important role that allotments can provide in enabling and supporting healthy lifestyles within our communities. The Framework is clear that local planning policies should be based on robust and up-to-date assessments of the need for open space and opportunities for new provision, which can include allotments, and their plans should then seek to accommodate this.
Our National Model Design Code states that as part of open space design for large developments there should be the consideration of allotments and community growing projects for food production, learning and community engagement.
I refer the Hon Member to published guidance on the statutory and policy criteria councils must meet in order to obtain the Secretary of State's consent to dispose of allotment land.
Section 23 of the Small Holdings and Allotments Act 1908 places a duty on district and parish councils to provide allotments where they perceive there is a demand for them.
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether his Department has published recent guidance to local authorities on the provision of a sufficient number of allotments within local plans.
Answered by Baroness Maclean of Redditch
The Government recognises through our National Planning Policy Framework the important role that allotments can provide in enabling and supporting healthy lifestyles within our communities. The Framework is clear that local planning policies should be based on robust and up-to-date assessments of the need for open space and opportunities for new provision, which can include allotments, and their plans should then seek to accommodate this.
Our National Model Design Code states that as part of open space design for large developments there should be the consideration of allotments and community growing projects for food production, learning and community engagement.
I refer the Hon Member to published guidance on the statutory and policy criteria councils must meet in order to obtain the Secretary of State's consent to dispose of allotment land.
Section 23 of the Small Holdings and Allotments Act 1908 places a duty on district and parish councils to provide allotments where they perceive there is a demand for them.