Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will intervene to prevent (a) Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council selling its portfolio of beach huts without inviting open market bids and (b) a company owned and controlled by that Council from acquiring the beach huts with debt finance; and if he will make an assessment of the potential effect of that transaction on that Council's compliance with his Department's guidance on the flexible use of capital receipts.

We want to support local authorities to invest in projects that increase efficiency and deliver future savings.

On 4 April, the government announced details under which it would extend the general direction that permits receipts from asset disposals to be used to fund the revenue costs of projects that reduce costs and improve service delivery. The direction issued will allow authorities to continue to use this freedom until 2024/25.

Local authorities are responsible for ensuring they comply with the direction and guidance, and will need to demonstrate - including to their auditors - that they have used the flexibility appropriately.

Further, the government expects authorities to act within the intent and spirit in which these freedoms are provided. If there are indications that authorities are not using the direction as intended, we will carefully consider what further action is needed.