Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Best Value Notice issued to Basildon Borough Council on 15 July 2026, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the external assurance review.

The non-statutory external assurance review of Basildon Borough Council will be funded from existing departmental budgets, and the cost is in line with standard rates.