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Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 22 Jan 2020
Commission on Justice in Wales

"I am glad the hon. Gentleman mentions Cardiff Prison, which had a fairly positive inspector’s report last July. The programme that he is describing is not one I am hugely familiar with, because my hon. and learned Friend the Minister of State is the Prisons Minister. However, it sounds like …..."
Chris Philp - View Speech

View all Chris Philp (Con - Croydon South) contributions to the debate on: Commission on Justice in Wales
Written Question
Local Government: Assets
Tuesday 7th May 2019

Asked by: Chris Philp (Conservative - Croydon South)

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the process for councils to dispose of property assets is; whether councils must demonstrate best value; and what the obligations of the council where a property is being transferred to a wholly owned subsidiary of that same council are.

Answered by Kit Malthouse

Public bodies should generally dispose of surplus land (including property assets built on that land) at the best possible price reasonably obtainable. However, the Government recognises that disposing of such land at less than best consideration can sometimes create wider public benefits.

With regards to land (and property assets) held in the General Fund, a general consent issued under section 123 of the Local Government Act 1972 allows local authorities to dispose of land held for purposes other than housing or planning at an undervalue of less than £2 million, without seeking a specific consent from the Secretary of State where they consider it will help secure improvement of the economic, social or environmental well-being of the area. Secretary of State consent is required for disposals of such land at an undervalue of more than £2 million. Specific Secretary of State consent is required for disposals of land held for planning purposes regardless of the sale value.

Specific rules also apply to housing land (including property assets). The 2013 General Consent under section 32 of the Local Government Act 1988, permits a local authority to dispose of such land at market value subject to condition that:

(a) the disposal the property asset is not subject to a secure, introductory or demoted tenancy to occupy from the local authority to a landlord who is not another local authority;

(b) the disposal of land where there is Reversionary Interests in Houses and Flats; or

(c) the disposal of land to a body in which the local authority owns an interest except:

(i) where the local authority has no housing revenue account; or

(ii) in the case of a local authority with a housing revenue account, the first 5 disposals in a financial year.

Secretary of State consent is required if a local authority wishes to dispose of housing land (including any property assets built on that land) at less than best value, including disposal to a local authority housing company.

Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 04 Mar 2019
Oral Answers to Questions

"T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities...."
Chris Philp - View Speech

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Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 04 Mar 2019
Oral Answers to Questions

"Does the Secretary of State agree that promoting and encouraging home ownership is important? Recent figures on first-time buyers are, of course, encouraging, but what more can the Government do to encourage first-time buyers through starter homes and discount market homes and the prioritisation of first-time buyers over foreign speculators?..."
Chris Philp - View Speech

View all Chris Philp (Con - Croydon South) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 23 Jan 2019
Fire Safety and Cladding

"I thank the hon. Gentleman for raising this important issue in the Chamber. Like the constituents of my other neighbour, the hon. Member for Croydon Central (Sarah Jones), many of my constituents had possessions at the facility. Does the hon. Gentleman agree that it is essential that the London fire …..."
Chris Philp - View Speech

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Speech in Commons Chamber - Fri 26 Oct 2018
Homes (Fitness for Habitation) Bill

"My hon. Friend speaks so rarely...."
Chris Philp - View Speech

View all Chris Philp (Con - Croydon South) contributions to the debate on: Homes (Fitness for Habitation) Bill
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 03 Jul 2018
Govia Thameslink/Rail Electrification

"GTR’s performance has been abysmal not just for the past few weeks but for a number of years, with constituents unable to get home to see loved ones and some having even lost their jobs as a result of train lateness and cancellations. The timetable fiasco is simply the latest …..."
Chris Philp - View Speech

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Speech in Public Bill Committees - Tue 05 Jun 2018
Tenant Fees Bill (First sitting)

"Q I would like to pick up on the question of conflict, which David Cox brought up at the beginning. Is it not the case, Mr Cox, that in most regulated industries, such as financial services, it is already unlawful for a professional service provider to charge both sides …..."
Chris Philp - View Speech

View all Chris Philp (Con - Croydon South) contributions to the debate on: Tenant Fees Bill (First sitting)
Speech in Public Bill Committees - Tue 05 Jun 2018
Tenant Fees Bill (First sitting)

"Q Would not that be allowed as a default fee under the Bill?

David Cox: That is certainly what we are arguing, and what we are hoping for, but I do have to factor in those sorts of situations...."
Chris Philp - View Speech

View all Chris Philp (Con - Croydon South) contributions to the debate on: Tenant Fees Bill (First sitting)
Speech in Public Bill Committees - Tue 05 Jun 2018
Tenant Fees Bill (First sitting)

"Q I will come on to default fees in just a moment. In your earlier evidence you mentioned that one of the services paid for by the tenant was to provide the best tenant for the landlord, but there is clearly a conflict there. From a landlord’s perspective, they …..."
Chris Philp - View Speech

View all Chris Philp (Con - Croydon South) contributions to the debate on: Tenant Fees Bill (First sitting)