Asked by: Margaret Greenwood (Labour - Wirral West)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the proposals in the Planning for the future consultation, published 6 August 2020, on the ability of local residents to have their say on whether housing is built on (a) Wirral’s green belt and (b) Wirral's green spaces that sit outside the green belt.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
Planning for the Future proposes significant changes to the focus and processes of planning – to secure better outcomes in terms of land for homes, beauty and environmental quality. One key proposal is that local plans place all land into one of three categories: areas for Growth, Renewal or Protection. The consultation proposal is clear that valued green space and Green Belt would be included in areas for Protection.
The National Planning Policy Framework sets out that planning policies and decisions should not only protect and enhance the natural environment, but should secure net gains for biodiversity, including wildlife habitat and ecological networks. The reforms we are proposing are designed to support the continuing implementation of this policy by local authorities, in line with our 25 Year Environment Plan and provisions in the Environment Bill.
We also propose to transform how communities engage with plan-making, using new digital tools to make it easier for many more people to understand, engage with and influence development policies and proposals.
After carefully considering all the responses to Planning for the Future, the Government will publish its conclusions.
Asked by: Margaret Greenwood (Labour - Wirral West)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the proposals in the Planning for the future consultation, published 6 August 2020 on the (a) maintenance of green spaces in Wirral and (b) conservation of biodiversity in Wirral.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
Planning for the Future proposes significant changes to the focus and processes of planning – to secure better outcomes in terms of land for homes, beauty and environmental quality. One key proposal is that local plans place all land into one of three categories: areas for Growth, Renewal or Protection. The consultation proposal is clear that valued green space and Green Belt would be included in areas for Protection.
The National Planning Policy Framework sets out that planning policies and decisions should not only protect and enhance the natural environment, but should secure net gains for biodiversity, including wildlife habitat and ecological networks. The reforms we are proposing are designed to support the continuing implementation of this policy by local authorities, in line with our 25 Year Environment Plan and provisions in the Environment Bill.
We also propose to transform how communities engage with plan-making, using new digital tools to make it easier for many more people to understand, engage with and influence development policies and proposals.
After carefully considering all the responses to Planning for the Future, the Government will publish its conclusions.
Asked by: Margaret Greenwood (Labour - Wirral West)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the proposals in the Planning for the future consultation, published 6 August 2020, on the response to climate change at a local level.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
The Planning for the Future White Paper includes proposals to ensure that new homes meet our climate change and environmental objectives, including by ensuring homes delivered under our new planning system do not require future retrofitting. It also proposes to strengthen environmental outcomes: the National Planning Policy Framework will be revised to ensure policies support climate change mitigation and adaptation (including tackling flood risk), as well as creating places which are better-designed and more beautiful. When determining housing need, it is proposed that this will factor in land constraints, taking into account the practical limitations, including flood zones, that some areas might face in planning for the homes they need.
The Government is encouraging feedback from individuals and organisations as part of its assessment of the proposed measures. Throughout the consultation, my department will be engaging with MPs, local politicians, planners, developers, the voluntary sector and communities. The Secretary of State will update the House in due course once the consultation is concluded and proposals are prepared
Government has laid the revised National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy for England before Parliament on 14 July 2020. This sets out how homes and businesses across the country will be better protected and more resilient in future as part of our plans to tackle the risks of flooding and coastal erosion. We are currently reviewing our policy for building in areas at flood risk; this will seek to ensure that future development will be safe from floods. We will assess whether current protections in national planning policy are enough and consider options for further reform. In terms of local impacts, local authorities need to undertake sustainability appraisal when preparing development plans to understand how their development proposals will help to achieve relevant environmental, economic and social objectives.
Asked by: Margaret Greenwood (Labour - Wirral West)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the proposals in the Planning for the future consultation, published 6 August 2020, on the ability of local authorities to mitigate flood risk.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
The Planning for the Future White Paper includes proposals to ensure that new homes meet our climate change and environmental objectives, including by ensuring homes delivered under our new planning system do not require future retrofitting. It also proposes to strengthen environmental outcomes: the National Planning Policy Framework will be revised to ensure policies support climate change mitigation and adaptation (including tackling flood risk), as well as creating places which are better-designed and more beautiful. When determining housing need, it is proposed that this will factor in land constraints, taking into account the practical limitations, including flood zones, that some areas might face in planning for the homes they need.
The Government is encouraging feedback from individuals and organisations as part of its assessment of the proposed measures. Throughout the consultation, my department will be engaging with MPs, local politicians, planners, developers, the voluntary sector and communities. The Secretary of State will update the House in due course once the consultation is concluded and proposals are prepared
Government has laid the revised National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy for England before Parliament on 14 July 2020. This sets out how homes and businesses across the country will be better protected and more resilient in future as part of our plans to tackle the risks of flooding and coastal erosion. We are currently reviewing our policy for building in areas at flood risk; this will seek to ensure that future development will be safe from floods. We will assess whether current protections in national planning policy are enough and consider options for further reform. In terms of local impacts, local authorities need to undertake sustainability appraisal when preparing development plans to understand how their development proposals will help to achieve relevant environmental, economic and social objectives.
Asked by: Margaret Greenwood (Labour - Wirral West)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the proposals in the Planning for the future consultation, published 6 August 2020, on flood risk in areas in close proximity to the River Birket.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
The Planning for the Future White Paper includes proposals to ensure that new homes meet our climate change and environmental objectives, including by ensuring homes delivered under our new planning system do not require future retrofitting. It also proposes to strengthen environmental outcomes: the National Planning Policy Framework will be revised to ensure policies support climate change mitigation and adaptation (including tackling flood risk), as well as creating places which are better-designed and more beautiful. When determining housing need, it is proposed that this will factor in land constraints, taking into account the practical limitations, including flood zones, that some areas might face in planning for the homes they need.
The Government is encouraging feedback from individuals and organisations as part of its assessment of the proposed measures. Throughout the consultation, my department will be engaging with MPs, local politicians, planners, developers, the voluntary sector and communities. The Secretary of State will update the House in due course once the consultation is concluded and proposals are prepared
Government has laid the revised National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy for England before Parliament on 14 July 2020. This sets out how homes and businesses across the country will be better protected and more resilient in future as part of our plans to tackle the risks of flooding and coastal erosion. We are currently reviewing our policy for building in areas at flood risk; this will seek to ensure that future development will be safe from floods. We will assess whether current protections in national planning policy are enough and consider options for further reform. In terms of local impacts, local authorities need to undertake sustainability appraisal when preparing development plans to understand how their development proposals will help to achieve relevant environmental, economic and social objectives.
Asked by: Margaret Greenwood (Labour - Wirral West)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many country parks managed by local authorities there are in each parliamentary constituency; and how many of those country parks charge for parking.
Answered by Marcus Jones - Treasurer of HM Household (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Commons)
My Department does not record the number of country parks that exist in each Parliamentary constituency. That is a matter for local authorities.
My Department asks councils to report on off-street parking including the charges they set. This would include charges set in country park car parks where they exist.
Asked by: Margaret Greenwood (Labour - Wirral West)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of parking charges at country parks on visitor numbers.
Answered by Marcus Jones - Treasurer of HM Household (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Commons)
My Department does not record the number of country parks that exist in each Parliamentary constituency. That is a matter for local authorities.
My Department asks councils to report on off-street parking including the charges they set. This would include charges set in country park car parks where they exist.
Asked by: Margaret Greenwood (Labour - Wirral West)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of parking charges on the viability of town centre economies.
Answered by Marcus Jones - Treasurer of HM Household (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Commons)
My Department has not made an assessment of the effect of parking charges on the viability of town centre economies. Local authorities are responsible for determining local parking needs and setting parking charges, which includes considering the effect of parking charges on town centre economies.
Asked by: Margaret Greenwood (Labour - Wirral West)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what formula his Department used to allocated funding to local authorities from the transitional grant of £150 million per year for two years to mitigate the effects of reductions in revenue support grant.
Answered by Marcus Jones - Treasurer of HM Household (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Commons)
I refer the hon. member to the response I gave to the hon. member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Steve McCabe) on the 22 February, PQ 26616.
Asked by: Margaret Greenwood (Labour - Wirral West)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, which local authorities offer a council tax (a) exemption and (b) discount to foster carers within their area.
Answered by Marcus Jones - Treasurer of HM Household (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Commons)
There is no specific council tax discount or exemption for foster carers. However, councils have powers to introduce discretionary discounts. We are aware of two authorities, in Camden and Waltham Forest, who are using those powers to offer discounts in their areas.