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The LGA was mentioned 11 times in Parliament this week.
EU (Withdrawal) Bill in the Lords
The Brexit Bill had its first of 10 days of debate in Committee Stage in
the House of Lords on Wednesday. This stage is another opportunity for us to
build support for a formal role in law-making
for councils, once we have left the EU. It is just as important for us to
re-state our calls for funding to local areas to be fully replaced from
2020 as part of a locally-led successor to EU regional aid. We are currently working through the amendments as
they are tabled, and working out the implications for local government. Several
Peers spoke in the debate about ensuring all of
England’s regions are included in a post-Brexit funding settlement. Lord
Wallace of Saltaire highlighted
the importance of the LGA’s discussions with DExEU about this, and
expressed his hope that amendments on the issue would be seriously debated.
For further information please
contact Charlotte
MPs question councils on standards in
the private rented sector
The Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee took evidence on
Wednesday as part of its inquiry into the private rented sector. MPs heard
from Bournemouth, Boston and Wandsworth councils, as well as from the Chartered
Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH), Chartered Institute for Housing
(CIH), and Chartered Trading Standards Institute. The council representatives
discussed the merits of borough-wide landlord licensing schemes, and
highlighted the difficulties councils have in recruiting and resourcing
enforcement teams. Both the CIH and CIEH echoed our calls for the Government to
review and update the Housing Health and Safety Rating System, which is the
framework through which councils enforce standards. We gave
evidence to the inquiry in January, and the Committee will hear from the
Minister for Housing and Homelessness next Monday.
For further information please contact Tom
Government responds
to urgent question on air quality
On Thursday, Chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Committee, Neil Parish MP (Conservative, Tiverton and Honiton) tabled an urgent question on air quality following the
third court judgement against the Government regarding action to improve air
quality. Responding to Mr Parish’s question, Environment Minister Therese
Coffey MP stated that the Government would now be seeking to adopt a more
proactive approach to ensure compliance with air quality requirements following
the judgement. Dr Coffey stated that she intends to meet council leaders on 28
February to discuss their plans and the additional actions needed to achieve
compliance. She also pledged to follow up this meeting by issuing legally
binding directions requiring councils to undertake studies to identify measures
that could be taken. Addressing these comments, Mr Parish highlighted the
cost-effectiveness of preventative measures to tackle air quality and called
for local authorities to be given ‘real autonomy’ to act at a local level.
For further information please contact Nina.
Public Accounts
Committee hear evidence on reducing modern slavery
On Wednesday afternoon the Public Accounts Committee received an update
from the Anti-Slavery Commissioner, the National Crime Agency and the Home
Office on progress made against the Modern Slavery Strategy. Chair of the LGA
Safer, Stronger Communities Board, Cllr Simon Blackburn wrote to Meg Hillier MP (Labour, Hackney South and Shoreditch), Chair of the Public Accounts Committee ahead of this session to outline the
concerns of local authorities regarding the reform of the National Referral
Mechanism (NRM). The Committee asked questions on funding and costs, the
accountability of the private sector, the role of the Salvation Army, and the
digitisation of the NRM. There were also questions on the role of the police
force and Police and Crime Commissioners in tackling modern slavery. During the
session, Oxford, Thames Valley, Newcastle and Derby were all highlighted as
excellent examples of where local authorities are working well with other
stakeholders to tackle modern slavery. The work jointly undertaken by the LGA
and the Anti-Slavery Commissioner to develop a guide for councils in England on
the powers available to local authorities to tackle modern slavery on their
high streets was also praised.
For more information please contact Nina.
Lords debate
question on social care for disabled people below retirement age
On Tuesday Baroness Campbell of Surbiton
(Crossbench) asked the Government whether there are plans
in place to improve social care for disabled people below retirement age.
Responding for the Government, Lord O’Shaughnessy stated that “while the social
care Green Paper will focus primarily on care for older people, it will address
questions relevant to adults of all ages with care needs.” He also stated that
the Government gives the issue equal seriousness compared to social care for
older people. Baroness Brinton (Liberal Democrat) highlighted a Freedom of
Information Act request from last year that showed that one in five local
authorities have no provision for respite care short breaks for the most
seriously ill and disabled children, with many more centres coming under threat
or closing. Speaking from the Labour front benches Baroness Thornton criticised
the Government for failing to recognise "that there is clearly a social care
crisis" and questioned how the Government would achieve its target of 1 million
more disabled people being in work by 2027 if they do not receive adequate care
and support.
For further information please contact Nina.
Ministerial
Statements
This week there were a number of Written
Ministerial Statements of interest to local government including on the UK Plan
for tackling roadside nitrogen dioxide concentrations and strengthening
consumer redress in the housing market. The full statements can be found online.
PMQs
During Wednesday’s Leaders’
exchange, the Leader of the Opposition,
Jeremy Corbyn questioned the
Prime Minister, Theresa May on comments made by the Brexit Secretary,
David Davis MP, on the state of the UK after we leave the EU. The Prime
Minister responded that the goal of the negotiations was to take back control
and she accused the Labour frontbench of being divided over Brexit. Mr Corbyn
argued that DExEU analysis had cited opportunities for deregulation and accused
the Government of wanting a deregulatory “race to the bottom”. Responding, Mrs
May reiterated the Government’s Brexit goals, which include trade deals and an
effective security partnership.There were questions from
backbenchers on air pollution, Grenfell and children’s services. To read the
full transcript please visit the Parliament website.
For more information please
contact Tim.
Electrical safety in
the private rented sector
This consultation invites views
and comments to gather additional evidence on introducing five yearly mandatory
electrical installation checks for private rented property.
Closes: 16/04/2018
Strengthening consumer
redress in housing
This consultation seeks views on the issue of redress in the housing market, including exploring the option of a single housing ombudsman.
Closes: 16/04/2018
Future
of lane rental schemes for roadworks
The
government’s decision about the future for lane rental schemes will allow other
local authorities to bid for and set up lane rental schemes as a way of
reducing the impact of street works on the busiest roads at the busiest times.
Monday 26 February
- European
Union (Withdrawal) Bill, Committee Stage (Day 2), House of Lords
- Home
Office Questions, House of Lords
- Estimates Day debate, Ministry of Defence and Department for Exiting the European Union, House of Commons
- HCLG
Committee, private rented sector/draft Tenants’ Fees Bill, evidence from
Heather Wheeler MP, Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government
Minister, House of Commons
- Debate
on future diabetes care, treatment and prevention (Liz McInnes MP, Labour,
Heywood and Middleton), House of Commons
- Question
on stage one of the National Child Obesity Strategy (Baroness Benjamin, Liberal
Democrat), House of Lords
- Question
on opposing electric safety checks in the private rented housing sector (Lord
Kennedy, Labour), House of Lords
- Question
on reducing waiting lists for consultant-led NHS treatment (Baroness Thornton,
Liberal Democrat), House of Lords
- Reform,
Decentralisation and Devolution APPG meeting on Brexit and devolution
Tuesday 27 February
- Treasury
Questions, House of Commons
- Estimates
Day debate, Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government, relating to homelessness and the Department for Transport,
House of Commons
- Debate
on National Democracy Week (Chris Skidmore MP, Conservative, Kingswood), House
of Commons
- Debate
on A-Level provision in Knowsley Council Area (Maria Eagle MP, Labour, Garston
and Halewood), House of Commons
- Heath
and Social Care Committee, integrated care: organisations, partnerships and
systems, evidence from BMA, House of Commons
- Debate
on eating disorder awareness week 2018 and the importance of early intervention
(Edward Argar MP, Conservative, Charnwood), House of Commons
- Education
Committee, quality of apprenticeships and skills training, evidence from
Investors in People, House of Commons
- Question
on rebuilding the lives of people affected by the Grenfell Tower fire (Lord
Goddard, Conservative), House of Lords
- Waste
Enforcement (England and Wales) Regulations 2018, House of Lords
Wednesday 28 February
- European
Union (Withdrawal) Bill, Committee Stage (Day 3), House of Lords
- Public
Accounts Committee, Adult social care workforce inquiry, evidence from Ministry
of Housing, Communities and Local Government and Department of Health and Social
Care, House of Commons
- Work
and Pensions Committee, European Social Fund, evidence from NCVO and Shaw Trust,
House of Commons
- Question
on disability accessibility standards in transport and the physical environment
(Baroness Deech, Crossbench), House of Lords
- Question
on cost benefits to the NHS and police of minimum unit pricing for alcohol
(Lord Rennard, Liberal Democrat), House of Lords
Thursday 1 March
- Transport
Questions, House of Commons
- Question
on discussion of the UN Sustainable Development Goals at the next Commonwealth
Heads of Government meeting (Lord McConnell, Labour) , House of Lords
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Question
on effectiveness
of PCCs in holding their chief constables and police forces to account (Lord
Sherbourne, Conservative)
If you have queries in relation to the items above or any other parliamentary issues, please feel free to get in touch with the Public Affairs team.
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