Asked by: Jonathan Gullis (Conservative - Stoke-on-Trent North)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps his Department is taking to strengthen collaboration with regional leaders in (a) Stoke-on-Trent and (b) Staffordshire.
Answered by Neil O'Brien - Shadow Minister (Policy Renewal and Development)
My officials are already engaging with the local government sector on all areas of the Levelling Up White Paper (LUWP), to ensure councils feedback informs strengthened collaboration with regional leaders and that joined- up discussions about each place happen. In the LUWP, Government has committed that by 2030, every part of England that wants one will have a devolution deal with powers at or approaching the highest level of devolution and a simplified, long-term funding settlement. We have just announced an ambitious programme of negotiations, including early County Deals, new Mayoral Combined Authorities (MCAs), as well as deepening the settlements of our strongest MCAs. Devolution provides further opportunities to strengthen regional collaboration by working together with Government and I would encourage Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire to consider the devolution framework in the LUWP. This is only our first step towards achieving the 2030 mission and we will set out a process for other areas to come forward in due course.
The LUWP also announced the creation of Levelling Up Directors, to provide a single point of contact for local areas with central government to work collaboratively to drive new and innovative local policy proposals. Levelling Up Directors will play a critical function in empowering decision-making in local areas and ensuring that central government decision-making is informed and shaped by local insight; the recruitment for these roles has now launched.
Asked by: Jonathan Gullis (Conservative - Stoke-on-Trent North)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of the impact of the Local Government Finance Settlement on local communities in (a) Stoke-on-Trent and (b) Staffordshire.
Answered by Neil O'Brien - Shadow Minister (Policy Renewal and Development)
The Local Government Finance Settlement for 2022/23 makes available an additional £3.7 billion to councils, including funding for adult social care reform.
For Staffordshire County Council, this represents an increase in cash terms of up to 7.3% compared to last year, worth £40.9 million - making available up to £605.5 million in 2022/23.
For Stoke-on-Trent City Council, this represents an increase in cash terms of up to 8.8% compared to last year, worth £19.3 million - making available up to £237.4 million in 2022/23.
These funding increases will allow Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Councils to deliver the services local communities need.
Asked by: Jonathan Gullis (Conservative - Stoke-on-Trent North)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of the impact of the proposals in the Levelling Up White Paper on regional inequality in (a) Stoke-on-Trent and (b) Kidsgrove.
Answered by Neil O'Brien - Shadow Minister (Policy Renewal and Development)
The Levelling Up White paper sets out the Government’s agenda to empower local leaders and communities to address inequality. This builds on existing Government actions, with Stoke-on-Trent and Kidsgrove already benefitting from significant Government support.
£56 million from the Levelling Up Fund was recently awarded for three city centre regeneration bids across Stoke. The bids were assessed by DLUHC officials impartially and robustly against four key criteria, including an assessment of the economic case. Kidsgrove was awarded £16.9 million from the Towns Fund based on a robust assessment of their Town Investment Plan. I would encourage Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire to consider bids in the second round of the Levelling Up Fund, further details of which will be announced in the spring. Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire will also receive an allocation of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, when it launches later this Spring, to invest in local priority projects in the area which will also support levelling up.