Asked by: Jayne Kirkham (Labour (Co-op) - Truro and Falmouth)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will (a) remove the Affordable Housing Grant embargo placed on Cornwall Council and (b) take steps to (i) restore and (ii) backdate the grant.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
After being served a regulatory notice for health and safety failings, the previous Government prohibited Cornwall Council from accessing new Affordable Homes Programme funding. While I very much welcome the steps that the authority has taken toward addressing the identified breach, it is for the independent Regulator of Social Housing to determine when it might be appropriate to withdraw the notice.
Following the introduction of the new consumer regulation regime on 1 April, the RSH now issues regulatory judgements, which include new consumer gradings, rather than regulatory notices.
In light of these changes, the Government intends to consider its policy with regard to withholding AHP funding following breaches of consumer standards.
Asked by: Jayne Kirkham (Labour (Co-op) - Truro and Falmouth)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will extend the Towns Deal Fund spend deadline for 12 months until 31 March 2027.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Towns Fund is due to close in March 2026 with the expectation that all funding recipients will have invested the entirety of their allocation by this date. The Chancellor’s July ‘Public Spending: Inheritance’ speech set out the state of the UK’s spending inheritance from the previous government - a forecasted overspend of £21.9 billion above limits set by the Treasury in the spring. In this context, the Chancellor has set out a path to confirming plans for this year and next at the forthcoming Budget on October 30th. In advance of the Budget, all current funding profiles still hold.
Asked by: Jayne Kirkham (Labour (Co-op) - Truro and Falmouth)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will extend the Shared Prosperity Fund spend deadline for 12 months until 31 March 2026.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
Decisions on funding post March 2025 are a matter for the Budget.
We are working closely with local authorities and key stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition to future funding, so communities continue to benefit from this vital support. Officials remain available to discuss any issues impacting delivery.
Asked by: Jayne Kirkham (Labour (Co-op) - Truro and Falmouth)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to replace the Shared Prosperity Fund after it expires.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
Decisions on funding post March 2025 are a matter for the Budget.
We are working closely with local authorities and key stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition to future funding, so communities continue to benefit from this vital support. Officials remain available to discuss any issues impacting delivery.