HCLG Select Committee
Safeguarding fears raised over Homes for Ukraine scheme
Senior council officials want greater powers to safeguard Ukrainian refugees amid fears revised national guidance still leaves some people vulnerable.
Ministers resist calls for further care funding
Councils should not rely on Government grants to fund social care, ministers have said.
Government to strengthen community role in planning
The Government has made clear it intends to strengthen the role of communities in new planning legislation.
Social housing Bill 'imminent'
Housing minister Eddie Hughes this week insisted the Government would bring forward a social housing Bill ‘as quickly as possible’ as he apologised for delays.
Levelling up must go beyond 'big ticket' projects
Efforts to level up communities must be felt at a local level for the policy to be viewed as a success by the public, politicians have been told.
Call for infection control fund investigation
A call has been made for an investigation into how the infection control fund was spent during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Housing ombudsman reports dramatic complaints increase
A dramatic increase in complaints has been reported to the housing ombudsman service, MPs have been told.
Government needs to 'get a grip' on council tax rebate, says Betts
The Government needs to ‘get a grip’ on the council tax rebate scheme, the chair of the levelling up select committee has said.
Call for tougher regulation of exempt housing
Councils have shared concerns some providers of ‘exempt’ accommodation are exploiting the sector as ‘a licence to print money’.
Local authorities will be able to top up council tax rebate
Local authorities will be able to pay households facing financial hardship more than the council tax rebate, the Government has agreed.
Marsham Street to cut funding pots
The Government will reveal its plans to streamline funding for councils this year after acknowledging a ‘patchwork of fragmented funds’ has emerged.
Concerns over tax rebate scheme
Councils have voiced concerns over the deliverability of a scheme to tackle soaring energy bills.
Housing scandals ‘embarrassment to sector’
Poor living conditions uncovered by the media at councils such as Croydon LBC throughout last year prompted action across local government, the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee heard yesterday.
Net-zero boost in White Paper
Next month’s levelling up White Paper will feature measures aimed at helping all areas deliver their net-zero targets, the Government has revealed.
Government defends care reform funding
The director general for adult social care said the £5.4bn sum was a ‘building block'.
Welcome words on business rates should be backed up in settlement
The secretary of state now has a real opportunity to improve matters by introducing a business rates ‘re-set’ as part of the provisional settlement, says Cllr Sir Stephen Houghton.
Committee urges ministers to review high street role
MPs have urged ministers to review the role of high streets in their COVID-19 recovery strategy amid fears councils could lose further income through reforms.
Social housing inquiry launched
MPs have embarked on an inquiry into the regulation of social housing in England.
MPs quiz Homes England on governance issues
An internal audit that found ‘significant weakness in frameworks of governance’ was raised during questions from the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee.
Doubt over future of 75% rates retention under Gove
New local government secretary Michael Gove has indicated that 75% business rates retention could be a casualty of levelling up plans.
