Asked by: Steve Darling (Liberal Democrat - Torbay)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department takes account of exceptional circumstances in previous years when calculating Council Tax base growth, including reviews of single person discounts and the introduction of a Council Tax premium on second homes.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
At the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement 2026-27 to 2028-29 on 17 December 2025, we set out the funding available to councils through the longstanding Core Spending Power measure, which was calculated in line with the approach used at previous Settlements. This means we assumed each authority’s council tax base increases in line with the five-year average annual growth in their council tax base. The inclusion of second homes premium income in Core Spending Power does not affect grant allocations, as it is excluded in the updated assessment of relative need and resources.
We are aware over two thirds of billing authorities introduced second homes premiums in 2025-26, and under our proposals this additional income would be accounted for in Core Spending Power, given it is an important part of the resources available to local authorities to deliver services. No council will lose grant and/or business rates through our assessment of authorities’ relative need and resources as a result of this approach and as part of the government’s policy to reward places for housebuilding.
The consultation on the provisional Settlement closed on 14 January. The government is now considering responses and will set out its position at the final Settlement in February.
Asked by: Steve Darling (Liberal Democrat - Torbay)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and combined Mayoral Authorities on taxes relating to the hospitality sector.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government has announced powers for Mayors to introduce a visitor levy on short-term overnight accommodation in their region, to drive economic growth including through support for the local visitor economy.
We have published a consultation running until 18 February 2026, so that the public, businesses, and local government can shape the design of the power to introduce a levy that will be devolved to local leaders.
I am, of course, in regular communication with Ministers in other Departments on a range of issues, including options for deeper devolution.
Asked by: Steve Darling (Liberal Democrat - Torbay)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when he plans to announce the prospectus for round 4 of the local authority housing fund.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
We aim to publish the prospectus for Round 4 by the end of this year, to allow local authorities sufficient time to prepare for delivery to begin in April 2026.
The £950 million fourth round of Local Authority Housing Fund will primarily support local authorities in England to increase the supply of better-quality temporary accommodation and drive down the use of Bed and Breakfasts for families with children.
It will also provide safe and suitable housing for those on the Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP), to fulfil the UK’s humanitarian duties to assist those who assisted British efforts in Afghanistan and are at risk of homelessness.
Asked by: Steve Darling (Liberal Democrat - Torbay)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much funding her Department has allocated for the promotional campaign on pet-friendly tenancy rights following the Renters’ Rights Bill.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The successful implementation of the Renters’ Rights Bill is contingent on landlords, letting agents, and tenants understanding their rights and responsibilities under the new legislation.
Once the Bill has achieved Royal Assent, we intend to deliver a campaign to raise awareness of the changes made by it.
Publicising measures that allow tenants to request a pet will be an integral part of this campaign. It is not possible to break down costs or staffing numbers to indicate spend on specific messages relating to this Bill provision.
Asked by: Steve Darling (Liberal Democrat - Torbay)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many civil servants are working on the communications campaign relating to pet-friendly tenancies following the Renters’ Rights Bill.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The successful implementation of the Renters’ Rights Bill is contingent on landlords, letting agents, and tenants understanding their rights and responsibilities under the new legislation.
Once the Bill has achieved Royal Assent, we intend to deliver a campaign to raise awareness of the changes made by it.
Publicising measures that allow tenants to request a pet will be an integral part of this campaign. It is not possible to break down costs or staffing numbers to indicate spend on specific messages relating to this Bill provision.
Asked by: Steve Darling (Liberal Democrat - Torbay)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions she has had with youth homelessness organisations on the inclusion of a youth chapter in the forthcoming cross-governmental homelessness strategy.
Answered by Rushanara Ali
Homelessness levels are far too high. This can have a devastating impact on those affected, including young people.
We must address this and deliver long term solutions. The Deputy Prime Minister is leading cross-government work to deliver the long-term solutions we need to get us back on track to ending all forms of homelessness. This includes chairing a dedicated Inter-Ministerial Group, bringing together ministers from across government to develop a long-term strategy.
We have also established an Expert Group to bring together representatives from across the homelessness and rough sleeping sector, local and combined authorities and wider experts. The role of this expert group is to provide knowledge, analysis and challenge to help Government understand what is working well nationally and locally and where improvements are needed. We will continue to meet with a range of stakeholders, including mayors and MPs, to make sure the strategy is informed by a range of expertise.
As well as work on the Inter-Ministerial Group and Expert Group we are also working closely with the sector to deliver a number of lived experience forums to ensure that the voices of those with lived experience are reflected in the homelessness strategy.
Asked by: Steve Darling (Liberal Democrat - Torbay)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when her Department plans to respond to the correspondence from Councillor David Thomas, leader of Torbay Council of 10 February 2025.
Answered by Jim McMahon
I thank the hon. Member for Torbay for drawing my attention to this correspondence. I have instructed officials to expedite a reply to Cllr Thomas.
Asked by: Steve Darling (Liberal Democrat - Torbay)
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 provides guidance on the (a) core principles and (b) culture expected of local development boards.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
I would kindly ask the hon. Member to write to me with more details on ‘local development boards’, so my officials can look into this matter.
Asked by: Steve Darling (Liberal Democrat - Torbay)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she plans to take to ensure that the specific needs of (a) Torbay and (b) other deprived areas are considered following mergers into larger sub-regional authorities as part of local government reorganisation.
Answered by Jim McMahon
On 5 February I formally invited unitary proposals from all the councils in two tier areas and their neighbouring small unitaries. It is for councils to develop robust and sustainable proposals that are in the best interests of their whole area.
As set out in the published criteria, unitary structures must prioritise the delivery of high quality and sustainable public services to citizens, and proposals should show how councils in the area have sought to work together in coming to a view that meets local needs and is informed by local views.
We expect local leaders to ensure there is wide engagement with local partners and stakeholders, residents and businesses in working through options. This engagement should both inform the development of robust proposals and build a shared understanding of the improvements they expect to deliver through reorganisation.
Following submission of these proposals to government, we will consider proposals carefully before taking decisions on how to proceed. It would be inappropriate for me to comment or give a view on specific unitary proposals, or to pre-empt future decisions under the statutory process.
Asked by: Steve Darling (Liberal Democrat - Torbay)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the Town Deal Board model will be used as a foundation for the development of Plan for Neighbourhoods Board;, and what changes to (a) structure and (b) governance would be required to achieve this.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
Neighbourhood Boards should bring together residents, local businesses, grassroots campaigners, workplace representatives, faith, and community leaders and those with a deep connection to their area to work with the local authority to develop their Regeneration Plan. The governance and boundary guidance provides information specific to the strategic objectives and governance of the Neighbourhood Board. The parameters for these are different to those for Town Deal Boards, but pre-existing boards can be built on, or altered, to meet the new guidance.
All 75 boards have been asked to confirm their proposed chair, membership and boundary by 22nd April.