Asked by: Jo White (Labour - Bassetlaw)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of reforming the Small Holdings and Allotments Act 1926.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
We recognise the importance of allotments and the immense contribution they make to the health, wellbeing and spirit of communities. We have not made an assessment of the potential merits of reforming the Small Holdings and Allotments Act.
Asked by: Jo White (Labour - Bassetlaw)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of reviewing the timescales Parish Councils have to increase allotment spaces.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Small Holdings and Allotments Act 1908 requires local authorities including parish councils to provide enough allotments if they deem there is sufficient demand from the local population. They must also consider local representations submitted under this Act requesting the provision of allotments. There are currently no plans to prescribe a timeframe for local authorities to respond to these requests.
Asked by: Jo White (Labour - Bassetlaw)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department provides on the potential sanctions available to local authorities in instances when councillors are found to have breached an authority's code of conduct; and whether she plans to re-establish the Standards Board for England with sanction powers in including (a) suspension and (b) disqualification from office for serious breaches.
Answered by Jim McMahon
The Government considers that the current local government standards regime is broadly ineffectual, inconsistently applied, and lacking in adequate powers to effectively sanction members found in serious breach of their codes of conduct.
We are actively considering options to strengthen the standards regime for local government and provide councils with more effective means to address serious misconduct by elected members, including a proposal to allow for the suspension of members who violate codes of conduct. We will be consulting with local authorities, sector representative bodies, and other key stakeholders in due course to ensure a wide range of views are heard.