Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Local Service Delivery

Monday 21 November 2022 · 12 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 9 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Government confirmed additional funding for local government in 2023-24.
  • The Minister expressed commitment to working with local councils to ensure necessary infrastructure is completed.
  • The Minister is willing to discuss funding and service delivery issues with any local council.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Simon Baynes
Local Government
Context

The question addresses the tools and funding provided by the Department to support local authorities in delivering services.

Question

What steps is the Department taking to provide tools and funding to help local leaders deliver services?

Answer from Lee Rowley

The Government hugely value the work of local authorities and make significant taxpayer subsidy available to ensure that the work they do is successful. Last week, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor confirmed additional funding will be made available for local government in 2023-24, particularly with regard to adult social care.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not specify what tools are being provided to local authorities.

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Q2 James Morris Con
Economy Local Government
Context

The question references the Conservative party's manifesto commitment to level up across the United Kingdom, emphasizing the need for action rather than rhetoric.

Question

Does the Minister agree that now is the time for us to take action on levelling up in places such as Halesowen and Rowley Regis, where communities are crying out for prioritisation of projects? We need action this day.

Answer from Lee Rowley

My hon. Friend is absolutely right that levelling up is hugely important not just for communities in the west midlands but all across the country. He is a huge advocate for the work being done across the west midlands and in his constituency.

Not addressed: The answer did not address whether action would be taken immediately on levelling-up projects in Halesowen and Rowley Regis.

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Q3 Rob Butler
Transport Local Government
Context

The question pertains to the successful securing of £170 million from the housing infrastructure fund by Buckinghamshire Council, aimed at delivering Aylesbury's link roads programme.

Question

Will my hon. Friend work with me and the council to help us get a little bit of necessary flexibility on the precise way that the funding is deployed, to ensure that this vital new infrastructure is completed?

Answer from Lee Rowley

The Government are absolutely committed to ensuring that infrastructure is in place at the right time. My hon. Friend has worked incredibly hard in this place to make clear that the traffic challenges in Aylesbury are because of pressure from new housing, hence this grant.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not commit to providing additional flexibility on deploying funding.

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Q4 Simon Baynes
Local Government
Context

The question centers on the need to ensure that future UK Government funding includes provisions for councils to further develop their project management skills and resources.

Question

Can the Minister ensure that future UK Government funding always contains provision for councils to grow further their own project management skills and resources?

Answer from Lee Rowley

My hon. Friend makes an important point about capacity within local government and the opportunities this Government are making available for local councils to make decisions on how to make their area better over the long term.

Not addressed: The answer did not commit to including provisions for project management skills in future funding.

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Q5 Clive Betts Lab Sheffield South East
Economy Local Government
Context

The question highlights the Local Government Association's calculation that councils are facing extra inflation costs of £2.5 billion this year and additional £3.5 billion next year, questioning the adequacy of government funding support.

Question

Surely £3.5 billion versus £0.6 billion means significant cuts to council services or the prospect, as the LGA has said, of some councils going bankrupt next year?

Answer from Lee Rowley

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman who brings a huge amount of experience from his Select Committee perspective, but the combination of what the Government have offered is a substantial increase in funds from 2023-24 plus recognition that local councils can make decisions about their council tax bases.

Not addressed: The answer did not address whether the current funding level adequately covers inflationary costs for local government.

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Q6 Barbara Keeley Lab
Social Care Local Government
Context

The question questions the adequacy of council tax increases as a solution for funding high-demand local services, citing Salford's situation.

Question

How will Salford pay for the high-demand services it needs when raising council tax seems to be the Government's favoured solution to local government funding needs?

Answer from Lee Rowley

One of the services highlighted as under pressure is adult social care. There is additional money going into adult social care, while acknowledging and understanding the principle that local tax bases are important within this discussion.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not specify specific measures to help Salford meet its high-demand service costs.

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Q7 Kerry McCarthy Lab Bristol East
Local Government
Context

The Bristol City Council faces an £87.6 million shortfall over the next five years and has implemented efficiency savings.

Question

I invite the Minister to come to Bristol to sit down and talk to the council about what it has done over the years to try to ensure it can deliver services. We now face an £87.6 million shortfall over the next five years. Will he come to Bristol to see what the true picture is on the ground?

Answer from Lee Rowley

I am happy to talk to any local council to understand the pressures and challenges it faces. I have already been in a meeting with representatives from Leicestershire County Council, who made their points known, and I would be happy to talk to my hon. Friend further about this matter.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not commit to visiting Bristol specifically but stated willingness to meet councils in general.

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Q8 Alberto Costa Con South Leicestershire
Local Government
Context

Leicester County Council is the lowest-funded upper-tier authority in England.

Question

Being able to raise council tax is a welcome measure. Will the Minister meet me and representatives of Leicestershire County Council to discuss its fairer funding situation?

Answer from Lee Rowley

I am happy to talk to any local council to understand the pressures and challenges it faces. I have already been in a meeting with representatives from Leicestershire County Council, who made their points known, and I would be happy to talk to my hon. Friend further about this matter.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not commit to an additional meeting but stated willingness to discuss matters already raised in previous meetings.

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Q9 Kim Leadbeater Lab Spen Valley
Economy Parliamentary Procedure Local Government
Context

A levelling-up bid was submitted to transform Batley town centre, aiming to create new shopping and leisure opportunities.

Question

I have submitted a levelling-up bid for Batley town centre. Given the severe impact of inflation and rising costs on local authority budgets, does the Minister agree that Government support is now more vital than ever?

Answer from Lee Rowley

I congratulate the hon. Lady on making the case for important changes. We can already see successful delivery of levelling-up funds and town funds across the country, and I hope that further applications are successful.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not commit to Government support but acknowledged the importance of levelling-up bids.

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Q10 Lia Nici
Local Government
Context

Great Grimsby has secured a town deal and received future high streets funding, but progress is slow.

Question

Will the Secretary of State come back to Great Grimsby to push the council forward to ensure things are happening on the ground quickly?

Answer from Lee Rowley

My hon. Friend's constituency is an excellent example of transformation through Department support. One of us will be very happy to come to Great Grimsby to support the work being done.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not commit to a specific visit but stated willingness in principle to assist.

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Q11 Stephen Flynn SNP Aberdeen South
Business & Trade
Context

The north-east of Scotland's green freeport bid has been submitted for five months without a decision from the UK Government.

Question

Can the Minister provide clarity on when a decision will be made regarding the north-east of Scotland's green freeport bid? If he cannot, will he and the Secretary of State meet me to discuss it?

Answer from Lee Rowley

We know that freeports have transformative potential. We are looking forward to making announcements in due course.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not provide a timeline or confirm meetings but stated anticipation for future announcements.

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Q12 Sarah Owen Lab Luton North
Taxation Local Government
Context

Local government leaders have warned of potential bankruptcy due to the inability to raise taxes adequately.

Question

Before the Chancellor's statement, Conservative leaders of Kent County Council and Hampshire County Council wrote to the Prime Minister warning of their likely bankruptcy. The Government forced councils to raise tax instead of addressing concerns. Local government experts estimate that Tory plans will bring in more than £80 per household in Surrey but only £39 in Manchester and Hull. How can the Minister justify this when non-doms avoid paying between £1 billion and £3 billion-worth of tax?

Answer from Lee Rowley

The hon. Lady highlights issues but ultimately, there must be a link between services and taxation. We recognise this while still providing billions in taxpayer subsidy from the centre to improve lives and services.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not directly address the uneven tax burden or non-dom avoidance issues raised.

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