Asked by: Craig Whittaker (Conservative - Calder Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential benefit to the local economies of North, East, South and West Yorkshire of a devolution deal.
Answered by Lord Wharton of Yarm
The specific details of any devolution deals agreed with North, South, East or West Yorkshire would be contingent on the outcome of engagement between the Government and local leaders.
The benefits to areas that have agreed devolution deals with the Government will be significant and far-reaching. Local leaders will be given direct control over the levers of growth in their economies, with the most ambitious deals including new powers over adult skills and transport budgets, and substantial, long-term investment funds. By providing local partners with greater control over key policies and resources, devolution deals offer places more of the tools they need to drive forward growth for the benefit of the whole local economy.
Asked by: Craig Whittaker (Conservative - Calder Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what representations he has received from Calderdale Council since 2010 on the level of local authority funding from central Government.
Answered by Marcus Jones
Calderdale Council have submitted a representation each year since 2010 as part of the annual consultation on the local government finance settlement.
The annual local government finance settlement sets out details of central government funding for local authorities, including Revenue Support Grant, as well as considering councils' locally raised funds, and represents the main funding source for local authorities.
Asked by: Craig Whittaker (Conservative - Calder Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what representations he has received from Calderdale Council since 2010 on the level of the Revenue Support Grant.
Answered by Marcus Jones
Calderdale Council have submitted a representation each year since 2010 as part of the annual consultation on the local government finance settlement.
The annual local government finance settlement sets out details of central government funding for local authorities, including Revenue Support Grant, as well as considering councils' locally raised funds, and represents the main funding source for local authorities.
Asked by: Craig Whittaker (Conservative - Calder Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department issues to local authorities to help them reduce the levels of sickness absence among employees.
Answered by Marcus Jones
The Department does not issue guidance to local authorities on managing sickness absence levels. Local authorities are independent employers and free to manage their workforces. However, the Government has recently announced that it intends to review sickness absence in public sector workforces. The gap in sickness absence levels between the public and private sectors is reported to have narrowed over the past 20 years but levels still remain higher in the public sector. The Government intends to consult on possible reforms and will consider legislation where necessary to reduce the impact of sickness absence on public service delivery.
Asked by: Craig Whittaker (Conservative - Calder Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment he has made of the level of financial reserves of local authorities.
Answered by Marcus Jones
Local authorities are responsible for managing their own finances. They are required by statute to have regard to the level of reserves needed for meeting estimated future expenditure when calculating their annual budget requirement.
In making their assessment, they must have regard to the good practice guidance produced by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy.
Where authorities have maintained significant revenue reserves, this will give them room to manoeuvre on their finances in future years.
Authorities should consider dipping into their revenue reserves where it can be sensible to provide and protect front line services for local tax payers.
My Department publishes statistics on the level of reserves held by each authority, based on reports from them, which are available at:
Asked by: Craig Whittaker (Conservative - Calder Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the value of artwork and antiques held by local authorities.
Answered by Marcus Jones
The information requested is not available.
However, the Department does collect information about total heritage assets held by local authorities which includes museum and gallery collections and works of art, as well as historical buildings, archaeological sites, military and scientific equipment of historical importance, historic motor vehicles, recordings of significant historical events etc.
The latest local authority figures that have been published are for 2013-14 and can be found in the drop down table entitled “Capital outturn return (COR5) 2013 to 2014 receipts and fixed assets for England” at:
Asked by: Craig Whittaker (Conservative - Calder Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will estimate the potential savings to local authorities of holding local council elections once every four years.
Answered by Marcus Jones
On the assumptions that the cost of running local elections is £1.50 per elector and that all councils currently having elections more frequently than every 4 years were to move to whole council elections every fourth year, we estimate the savings across England over a four year period would be in the order of £50 million.