Asked by: Roz Savage (Liberal Democrat - South Cotswolds)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance has been issued to local authorities to ensure they are aware of, and are actively reassessing, potential underpayment of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction for pensioners affected by new income tax liabilities.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Billing authorities are responsible for assessing the income and circumstances of pensioners in receipt of a council tax reduction in accordance with the legislation and for ensuring that they are billed correctly. As with pension age council tax reduction, entitlement to Housing Benefit is calculated on the basis of the net income an individual receives from earnings, self-employment, occupational pensions and the actual value of DWP benefits which are received.
The Government reviews and uprates benefits each year and updates the eligibility criteria for pension-age Local Council Tax Support to reflect this.
Asked by: Roz Savage (Liberal Democrat - South Cotswolds)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many planning applications will be exempt from the requirement to replace lost nature under previous biodiversity net gain requirements.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
On 28 May 2025, the government published a consultation on improving the implementation of biodiversity net gain for minor, medium and brownfield development which can be found on gov.uk here. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is considering the responses received.
Asked by: Roz Savage (Liberal Democrat - South Cotswolds)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has made an assessment of the development capacity for housing on brownfield sites.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Brownfield (or previously developed) land sites across England vary greatly. As such, local planning authorities are best placed to assess the suitability of individual brownfield sites for redevelopment.
National planning policy makes clear that strategic policy-making authorities should have a clear understanding of the land available in their area through the preparation of a strategic housing land availability assessment. From this, planning policies should identify a sufficient supply and mix of sites, taking into account their availability, suitability, and likely economic viability.
The government has committed capital funding through the Brownfield Land Release Fund to help overcome challenges to brownfield redevelopment such as viability issues and contamination.
Asked by: Roz Savage (Liberal Democrat - South Cotswolds)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of changes in the number of (a) firefighter posts since 2010, (b) (i) fire stations and (ii) control rooms and (c) fire engines on the frontline on (A) levels of public safety and (B) response times; and if he will make it his policy to (1) prevent reductions to fire and rescue services, (2) provide more funding for frontline resources and (3) introduce national response standards to ensure consistent protection.
Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government acknowledges the vital contributions made by fire and rescue services. Decisions on how their resources are best deployed are a matter for each fire and rescue authority (FRA) as employer, based on its analysis of risk and local circumstances.
Priorities for fire and rescue reform are subject to regular discussion with sector representatives through the Ministerial Advisory Group on Fire and Rescue Reform (MAGFRR) and other relevant forums.
The MAGFRR, established by this Government, serves as a platform for engaging with senior leaders across the sector to address policy challenges. Delivering on manifesto and other commitments, reform priorities endorsed by the Group aim to support FRAs’ drive to modernise fire and rescue services to ensure they are equipped to meet the evolving needs of communities. The Government remains committed to working collaboratively with all sector partners to drive meaningful change and ensure fire and rescue services have the resources they need to keep the public safe.
Asked by: Roz Savage (Liberal Democrat - South Cotswolds)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of including council and housing association tenants are not included in the EPC rating system requirements; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure that social housing tenants have (a) adequate heating systems, (b) affordable heating bills and (c) the same rights as private renters.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Every tenant deserves to live in a decent, warm and comfortable home.
The recently closed consultation on the future of Energy Performance Certificates, which can be found on gov.uk here, provides an opportunity to ensure the standard in the social rented sector incentivise the appropriate measures for each home.
The government also recently consulted on proposals to set a Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) for socially rented homes.
Socially rented homes are not currently required to meet a minimum EPC standard and current requirements are roughly equivalent to an EPC ‘F’ rating.
The consultation, which can be found on gov.uk here, proposes setting the standard at EPC C or equivalent by 2030. This mirrors proposals to raise standards in the private rented sector, set out within a recently closed consultation on improving the energy performance of privately rented homes which can be found on gov.uk here.
This MEES will be included in the modernised Decent Homes Standard (DHS), which the government recently consulted on, as part of a Criterion D on thermal comfort. The consultation on a reformed DHS for social and privately rented homes can be found on gov.uk here.
Both consultations closed on 12 September, and we have committed to publishing the final standards before the end of the year.
Asked by: Roz Savage (Liberal Democrat - South Cotswolds)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Flood Recovery Framework in providing timely support to affected households and businesses; and what steps she is taking to (a) reduce the time taken for applicants to receive payments and (b) improve the application process for applicants in (i) South Cotswolds constituency and (ii) the UK.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
My thoughts are with all householders and business owners impacted by flooding, which is a devastating experience for those affected.
Following activation of the Framework for Storms Babet and Henk in 2023/24, a joint review was undertaken to improve the delivery of flood recovery grants. While the core principles of the Framework remain unchanged, in response to feedback several administrative enhancements have been introduced to streamline processes, clarify responsibilities, extend data returns/claims deadlines and the sharing of best practices. These changes will improve the system for any part of England affected.
Asked by: Roz Savage (Liberal Democrat - South Cotswolds)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that householders in conservation areas whose permitted development rights were removed by local authorities are not required to submit a full householder planning application in order to install air source heat pumps, in the context of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) (Amendment) Order 2025, Section G, protections safeguarding the amenities of conservation areas.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
National permitted development rights enable the installation of air and ground source heat pumps without the need for a planning application.
Local authorities are able to remove permitted development rights by making an Article 4 direction if this is justified. In such cases an application for planning permission will be required in order to carry out the development previously allowed by the permitted development right.
We continue to keep permitted development rights under review.
Asked by: Roz Savage (Liberal Democrat - South Cotswolds)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to (a) support local authorities with the availability of larger family homes and (b) ensure that future developments reflect local demand for such housing through neighbourhood planning.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that it is for local planning authorities to assess the size, types and tenure of housing needed for different groups, including (but not limited to) families with children, and to reflect this in their planning policies.
We have already strengthened national policy to encourage the delivery of mixed tenure development and will consider what further steps we can take as part of our intent to produce a set of national policies for decision making later this year.
The government remains of the view that neighbourhood plans can play an important role in the planning system. Communities can continue to prepare neighbourhood plans where they consider that doing so is in their best interests. Neighbourhood planning works best where it builds upon the foundation of the local plan to meet the priorities, preferences, and housing needs of the community.
Government planning policy for traveller sites should be read in conjunction with the National Planning Policy Framework.
Asked by: Roz Savage (Liberal Democrat - South Cotswolds)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of local authorities selling statutory allotment sites on (a) rural and (b) smaller communities; and what steps she is taking to ensure those communities retain adequate access to allotment provision.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
There are strict criteria in place to protect statutory allotments – these are sites covered by the Allotment Act 1925. A local authority cannot sell or dispose of statutory allotment land without the consent of the Secretary of State, who will only grant it if they are satisfied that either adequate alternative provision is made for displaced plot holders, or that such provision is unnecessary or not reasonably practicable.
The rules on sales of assets have also been in place since 2016 and they have not changed. In fact, ministerial approval for sales of allotments were lower in 2024/25 than the average for previous years.
The information regarding the number of people on waiting lists for an allotment is held by individual Local Authorities, not MHCLG, as they have the responsibility for the running, management and organisation of allotments.
Government has made no formal assessment on the merits of selling statutory allotment sites in rural or smaller communities. The protections under the Allotment Act 1925, and the requirements under the Small Holdings and Allotment Act 1908 for local authorities to provide allotments where there is demand, provides the framework to ensure allotments are available to all communities.
Asked by: Roz Savage (Liberal Democrat - South Cotswolds)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether statutory guidance on Community Right to Buy provisions in the English Devolution Bill will recognise environmental impact when determining the value of community assets.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
The government recognises the vital role of community spaces and wants to see them thriving again. Community Right to Buy will empower local people to bring community spaces back into community ownership.
These provisions were introduced on 10 July in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. Subject to parliamentary passage, statutory guidance will be introduced in due course.