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173891

registered interest
date	15/01/2015
answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Non-domestic Rates: Cash Dispensing
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to his letter of 24 October 2014 to the chief finance officers of English billing authorities, which local authorities have offered a business rate discount to premises with a free-to-use cash machine since the sending of that letter; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Leeds Central
tabling member printed	Hilary Benn
uin	220871
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/01/2015 answer text <p>We do not hold this information centrally. Councils do not need the permission of Whitehall to levy such local discounts.</p><p> </p><p>The Localism Act 2011 gave local authorities in England powers to grant business rates discounts. We have urged authorities to use their powers to provide relief to cash machines where there is a clear community benefit, such as where cash machine providers commit to introduce extra cash machines or reduce charges on existing machines. Central government now funds 50% of local discounts.</p><p> </p><p>We also announced at the 2014 Autumn Statement an extra £650 million of support for 2015-16 business rates bills in England, bringing the total support from 2013 and 2014 Autumn Statement measures to £1.4 billion in 2015-16.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Kris Hopkins question first answered 20/01/2015 17:25:10 answering member 4043 label Biography information for Kris Hopkins
tabling member	413 label Biography information for Hilary Benn

173892

registered interest
date	15/01/2015
answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Local Government: Oxfordshire
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assistance has been (a) requested from or (b) offered by his Department to South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils following the fire at their offices in Crowmarsh Gifford.
tabling member constituency	Leeds Central
tabling member printed	Hilary Benn
uin	220895
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/01/2015 answer text <p>Following the fire at the council offices on 15 January local business continuity arrangements were immediately put into place. Telephone calls were made to Councillor John Cotton, leader of South Oxfordshire District Council, and Councillor Ian Hudspeth, leader of Oxfordshire County Council, on the day to offer support and no central government assistance was requested. I would like to pay tribute to Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service, and to neighbouring fire and rescue services that supported them, for their response to this incident, and to council officials who have maintained essential council services. Officials from Fire, Resilience and Emergencies Directorate have been in contact with Oxfordshire's Chief Fire Officer, Dave Etheridge.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 20/01/2015 17:24:18 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	413 label Biography information for Hilary Benn

173894

registered interest
date	15/01/2015
answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Neighbourhood Plans
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many community-led developments have completed as a result of the Community Right to Build.
tabling member constituency	Wolverhampton North East
tabling member printed	Emma Reynolds
uin	220920
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/02/2015 answer text <p>A key priority for the Coalition Government has been to give communities greater control over shaping the development of their area. The Localism Act 2011 created new powers for communities to write their own neighbourhood plans and to gain planning permission for community-led development through Neighbourhood Development Orders and Community Right to Build Orders.</p><p> </p><p>Nearly 1,400 communities, covering six million people, are now engaged at different stages of the neighbourhood planning process, giving millions of people the chance to participate in identifying, and voting on, where development takes place and what it looks like. All 52 referendums held to date have resulted in big ‘yes’ votes and 34 plans have been ‘made’ (brought into force) and therefore are part of the development plan, the starting point for determining planning applications.</p><p> </p><p>The popularity of neighbourhood planning has shown that when given the opportunity, communities are keen to shape future development in their areas, and we expect the number of community-led developments to increase as more neighbourhood plans are finalised. Over the last two years there have been over 3,100 enquiries and 14,000 web hits relating to the Community Right to Build. The Community Right to Build gives communities the freedom to build new homes, shops, businesses or facilities where they want them, without going through the normal planning application process. Experience has shown that following discussions with the local planning authority for community-led development proposals, community groups have chosen to submit a planning application for their project, rather than a Community Right to Build Order.</p><p> </p><p>To ensure groups undertaking community-led development have the right support and advice to gain planning approval, we broadened the remit of available support funding to assist community groups to bring forward development either through Community Right to Build Orders or community-led planning applications.</p><p> </p><p>This has led to significant take up of funding for community-led projects coming forward, with over 100 applications for funding already approved by the Homes and Communities Agency and the Greater London Authority. Locality and their partners have also been working with 60 groups to provide assistance and advice.</p><p> </p><p>The first three referendums for Community Right to Build Orders took place in December, all of which were passed and are now in force.</p><p> </p><p>We have allocated a further £3.5 million to support the Community Right to Build and community-led planning applications for housing in 2015-18. On 17 February, my department announced a further £6 million funding boost to the community rights programme. This new funding will mean:</p><p> </p><ul><li>like-minded communities will be able to network and learn from each other through the new My Community Network;</li><li>communities will have access to tailored advice through a phone and online advice service to help them use the range of community rights and other neighbourhood approaches;</li><li>100 more neighbourhoods will be supported to use the Our Place approach, enabling councils and other public sector providers, voluntary and community groups, local businesses and the community to work together to tackle important local issues from job creation to health priorities;</li><li>100 communities will receive support to take the first steps in identifying important local issues and develop Community Action Plans;</li><li>50 communities will receive support to develop economic plans to address local economic priorities like job creation and enterprise;</li><li>50 local authority/community partnerships will receive advice, support and grants to support the transfer of multiple or complex publicly owned assets into community ownership; and</li><li>6 new contracts have been awarded to external partners to support communities in using the community rights in 2015-16.</li></ul><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bristol West answering member printed Stephen Williams grouped question UIN 220918 220919 220921 question first answered 24/02/2015 16:42:14 answering member 1492 label Biography information for Stephen Williams previous answer version 39357 answering member constituency Bristol West answering member printed Stephen Williams answering member 1492 label Biography information for Stephen Williams
tabling member	4077 label Biography information for Emma Reynolds

173895

registered interest
date	15/01/2015
answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Neighbourhood Plans
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many community groups have exercised the Community Right to Build.
tabling member constituency	Wolverhampton North East
tabling member printed	Emma Reynolds
uin	220921
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/02/2015 answer text <p>A key priority for the Coalition Government has been to give communities greater control over shaping the development of their area. The Localism Act 2011 created new powers for communities to write their own neighbourhood plans and to gain planning permission for community-led development through Neighbourhood Development Orders and Community Right to Build Orders.</p><p> </p><p>Nearly 1,400 communities, covering six million people, are now engaged at different stages of the neighbourhood planning process, giving millions of people the chance to participate in identifying, and voting on, where development takes place and what it looks like. All 52 referendums held to date have resulted in big ‘yes’ votes and 34 plans have been ‘made’ (brought into force) and therefore are part of the development plan, the starting point for determining planning applications.</p><p> </p><p>The popularity of neighbourhood planning has shown that when given the opportunity, communities are keen to shape future development in their areas, and we expect the number of community-led developments to increase as more neighbourhood plans are finalised. Over the last two years there have been over 3,100 enquiries and 14,000 web hits relating to the Community Right to Build. The Community Right to Build gives communities the freedom to build new homes, shops, businesses or facilities where they want them, without going through the normal planning application process. Experience has shown that following discussions with the local planning authority for community-led development proposals, community groups have chosen to submit a planning application for their project, rather than a Community Right to Build Order.</p><p> </p><p>To ensure groups undertaking community-led development have the right support and advice to gain planning approval, we broadened the remit of available support funding to assist community groups to bring forward development either through Community Right to Build Orders or community-led planning applications.</p><p> </p><p>This has led to significant take up of funding for community-led projects coming forward, with over 100 applications for funding already approved by the Homes and Communities Agency and the Greater London Authority. Locality and their partners have also been working with 60 groups to provide assistance and advice.</p><p> </p><p>The first three referendums for Community Right to Build Orders took place in December, all of which were passed and are now in force.</p><p> </p><p>We have allocated a further £3.5 million to support the Community Right to Build and community-led planning applications for housing in 2015-18. On 17 February, my department announced a further £6 million funding boost to the community rights programme. This new funding will mean:</p><p> </p><ul><li>like-minded communities will be able to network and learn from each other through the new My Community Network;</li><li>communities will have access to tailored advice through a phone and online advice service to help them use the range of community rights and other neighbourhood approaches;</li><li>100 more neighbourhoods will be supported to use the Our Place approach, enabling councils and other public sector providers, voluntary and community groups, local businesses and the community to work together to tackle important local issues from job creation to health priorities;</li><li>100 communities will receive support to take the first steps in identifying important local issues and develop Community Action Plans;</li><li>50 communities will receive support to develop economic plans to address local economic priorities like job creation and enterprise;</li><li>50 local authority/community partnerships will receive advice, support and grants to support the transfer of multiple or complex publicly owned assets into community ownership; and</li><li>6 new contracts have been awarded to external partners to support communities in using the community rights in 2015-16.</li></ul><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bristol West answering member printed Stephen Williams grouped question UIN 220918 220919 220920 question first answered 24/02/2015 16:42:14 answering member 1492 label Biography information for Stephen Williams previous answer version 39356 answering member constituency Bristol West answering member printed Stephen Williams answering member 1492 label Biography information for Stephen Williams
tabling member	4077 label Biography information for Emma Reynolds

173896

registered interest
date	15/01/2015
answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Neighbourhood Plans
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many bids there have been to the fund to assist community groups with the Community Right to Build; how many such bids were successful; and how much has been allocated from that fund.
tabling member constituency	Wolverhampton North East
tabling member printed	Emma Reynolds
uin	220918
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/02/2015 answer text <p>A key priority for the Coalition Government has been to give communities greater control over shaping the development of their area. The Localism Act 2011 created new powers for communities to write their own neighbourhood plans and to gain planning permission for community-led development through Neighbourhood Development Orders and Community Right to Build Orders.</p><p> </p><p>Nearly 1,400 communities, covering six million people, are now engaged at different stages of the neighbourhood planning process, giving millions of people the chance to participate in identifying, and voting on, where development takes place and what it looks like. All 52 referendums held to date have resulted in big ‘yes’ votes and 34 plans have been ‘made’ (brought into force) and therefore are part of the development plan, the starting point for determining planning applications.</p><p> </p><p>The popularity of neighbourhood planning has shown that when given the opportunity, communities are keen to shape future development in their areas, and we expect the number of community-led developments to increase as more neighbourhood plans are finalised. Over the last two years there have been over 3,100 enquiries and 14,000 web hits relating to the Community Right to Build. The Community Right to Build gives communities the freedom to build new homes, shops, businesses or facilities where they want them, without going through the normal planning application process. Experience has shown that following discussions with the local planning authority for community-led development proposals, community groups have chosen to submit a planning application for their project, rather than a Community Right to Build Order.</p><p> </p><p>To ensure groups undertaking community-led development have the right support and advice to gain planning approval, we broadened the remit of available support funding to assist community groups to bring forward development either through Community Right to Build Orders or community-led planning applications.</p><p> </p><p>This has led to significant take up of funding for community-led projects coming forward, with over 100 applications for funding already approved by the Homes and Communities Agency and the Greater London Authority. Locality and their partners have also been working with 60 groups to provide assistance and advice.</p><p> </p><p>The first three referendums for Community Right to Build Orders took place in December, all of which were passed and are now in force.</p><p> </p><p>We have allocated a further £3.5 million to support the Community Right to Build and community-led planning applications for housing in 2015-18. On 17 February, my department announced a further £6 million funding boost to the community rights programme. This new funding will mean:</p><p> </p><ul><li>like-minded communities will be able to network and learn from each other through the new My Community Network;</li><li>communities will have access to tailored advice through a phone and online advice service to help them use the range of community rights and other neighbourhood approaches;</li><li>100 more neighbourhoods will be supported to use the Our Place approach, enabling councils and other public sector providers, voluntary and community groups, local businesses and the community to work together to tackle important local issues from job creation to health priorities;</li><li>100 communities will receive support to take the first steps in identifying important local issues and develop Community Action Plans;</li><li>50 communities will receive support to develop economic plans to address local economic priorities like job creation and enterprise;</li><li>50 local authority/community partnerships will receive advice, support and grants to support the transfer of multiple or complex publicly owned assets into community ownership; and</li><li>6 new contracts have been awarded to external partners to support communities in using the community rights in 2015-16.</li></ul><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bristol West answering member printed Stephen Williams grouped question UIN 220919 220920 220921 question first answered 24/02/2015 16:42:14 answering member 1492 label Biography information for Stephen Williams previous answer version 39362 answering member constituency Bristol West answering member printed Stephen Williams answering member 1492 label Biography information for Stephen Williams
tabling member	4077 label Biography information for Emma Reynolds

173898

registered interest
date	15/01/2015
answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Neighbourhood Plans
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many community referendums there have been as a result of the Community Right to Build.
tabling member constituency	Wolverhampton North East
tabling member printed	Emma Reynolds
uin	220919
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/02/2015 answer text <p>A key priority for the Coalition Government has been to give communities greater control over shaping the development of their area. The Localism Act 2011 created new powers for communities to write their own neighbourhood plans and to gain planning permission for community-led development through Neighbourhood Development Orders and Community Right to Build Orders.</p><p> </p><p>Nearly 1,400 communities, covering six million people, are now engaged at different stages of the neighbourhood planning process, giving millions of people the chance to participate in identifying, and voting on, where development takes place and what it looks like. All 52 referendums held to date have resulted in big ‘yes’ votes and 34 plans have been ‘made’ (brought into force) and therefore are part of the development plan, the starting point for determining planning applications.</p><p> </p><p>The popularity of neighbourhood planning has shown that when given the opportunity, communities are keen to shape future development in their areas, and we expect the number of community-led developments to increase as more neighbourhood plans are finalised. Over the last two years there have been over 3,100 enquiries and 14,000 web hits relating to the Community Right to Build. The Community Right to Build gives communities the freedom to build new homes, shops, businesses or facilities where they want them, without going through the normal planning application process. Experience has shown that following discussions with the local planning authority for community-led development proposals, community groups have chosen to submit a planning application for their project, rather than a Community Right to Build Order.</p><p> </p><p>To ensure groups undertaking community-led development have the right support and advice to gain planning approval, we broadened the remit of available support funding to assist community groups to bring forward development either through Community Right to Build Orders or community-led planning applications.</p><p> </p><p>This has led to significant take up of funding for community-led projects coming forward, with over 100 applications for funding already approved by the Homes and Communities Agency and the Greater London Authority. Locality and their partners have also been working with 60 groups to provide assistance and advice.</p><p> </p><p>The first three referendums for Community Right to Build Orders took place in December, all of which were passed and are now in force.</p><p> </p><p>We have allocated a further £3.5 million to support the Community Right to Build and community-led planning applications for housing in 2015-18. On 17 February, my department announced a further £6 million funding boost to the community rights programme. This new funding will mean:</p><p> </p><ul><li>like-minded communities will be able to network and learn from each other through the new My Community Network;</li><li>communities will have access to tailored advice through a phone and online advice service to help them use the range of community rights and other neighbourhood approaches;</li><li>100 more neighbourhoods will be supported to use the Our Place approach, enabling councils and other public sector providers, voluntary and community groups, local businesses and the community to work together to tackle important local issues from job creation to health priorities;</li><li>100 communities will receive support to take the first steps in identifying important local issues and develop Community Action Plans;</li><li>50 communities will receive support to develop economic plans to address local economic priorities like job creation and enterprise;</li><li>50 local authority/community partnerships will receive advice, support and grants to support the transfer of multiple or complex publicly owned assets into community ownership; and</li><li>6 new contracts have been awarded to external partners to support communities in using the community rights in 2015-16.</li></ul><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bristol West answering member printed Stephen Williams grouped question UIN 220918 220920 220921 question first answered 24/02/2015 16:42:14 answering member 1492 label Biography information for Stephen Williams previous answer version 39358 answering member constituency Bristol West answering member printed Stephen Williams answering member 1492 label Biography information for Stephen Williams
tabling member	4077 label Biography information for Emma Reynolds

173960

registered interest
date	15/01/2015
answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Local Government Services
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many bids under the Community Right to Challenge have been assessed by local authorities.
tabling member constituency	Wolverhampton North East
tabling member printed	Emma Reynolds
uin	220946
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/02/2015 answer text <p>The Department does not collect or collate administrative data from local authorities on the number of Expressions of Interest they receive under the Community Right to Challenge. We do however carry out follow up surveys with community groups and parish councils that have used the Community Right to Challenge support service. The Department also collates intelligence from local authorities, where they speak to us about an Expression of Interest. <br><br>From this, we are aware of 51 Expressions of Interest submissions to councils, but this is not a comprehensive figure. Of these, we know of seven completed procurement exercises, four of which have resulted in the organisation that submitted the Expressions of Interest winning a contract. We know of two other cases where an Expression of Interest has been accepted and a procurement triggered, but not completed.</p><p> </p><p>We know that voluntary groups remain interested in the Community Right to Challenge. The most recent follow up survey of organisations using the Community Right to Challenge support service showed that a further 43 groups, out of 105 respondents, were intending to submit an Expression of Interest in the next 12 months.<br><br>We do know that Challenge is recognised by the voluntary and community and parish sectors as being helpful in opening up relationships with lcoal authorities. In a recent survey of 188 enquirers to the advice service, 25% were in negotiation with their council on potential commissioning and said negotiation had come about as a direct result of the Challenge legislation. Almost half (48%) felt that their local authority was more open to contracting with eligible bodies than before the legislation came into force and 25% were working with ttheir authorities on commissioning as a result of the legislation. 70% felt the support they received had improved their contrct readiness and 82% were expecting to bid for the delivery of public services. Timescales for procurement exercises are sdignificant but we are working with support providers to monitor the number of organisations that succeed in winning contracts.<br><br>This information is informing our future programme of work especially around commissioning processes. Community groups advise us that they are encouraged by the shift in culture and the changing mind-sets of procurement and commissioning officiers in councils across England as a result of the Localism Act 2011. They tell us the community rights have prompted many councils to examine how local public services are commissioned in their area.<br><br>Through our support programme we have supported 376 groups with specialist referrals and provided 216 groups with financial assistance to develop their capacity to bid for and deliver services.</p> answering member constituency Bristol West answering member printed Stephen Williams grouped question UIN 220944 220945 220947 question first answered 24/02/2015 13:21:14 answering member 1492 label Biography information for Stephen Williams
tabling member	4077 label Biography information for Emma Reynolds

173961

registered interest
date	15/01/2015
answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Local Government Services
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many bids under the Community Right to Challenge have been made local authorities.
tabling member constituency	Wolverhampton North East
tabling member printed	Emma Reynolds
uin	220947
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/02/2015 answer text <p>The Department does not collect or collate administrative data from local authorities on the number of Expressions of Interest they receive under the Community Right to Challenge. We do however carry out follow up surveys with community groups and parish councils that have used the Community Right to Challenge support service. The Department also collates intelligence from local authorities, where they speak to us about an Expression of Interest. <br><br>From this, we are aware of 51 Expressions of Interest submissions to councils, but this is not a comprehensive figure. Of these, we know of seven completed procurement exercises, four of which have resulted in the organisation that submitted the Expressions of Interest winning a contract. We know of two other cases where an Expression of Interest has been accepted and a procurement triggered, but not completed.</p><p> </p><p>We know that voluntary groups remain interested in the Community Right to Challenge. The most recent follow up survey of organisations using the Community Right to Challenge support service showed that a further 43 groups, out of 105 respondents, were intending to submit an Expression of Interest in the next 12 months.<br><br>We do know that Challenge is recognised by the voluntary and community and parish sectors as being helpful in opening up relationships with lcoal authorities. In a recent survey of 188 enquirers to the advice service, 25% were in negotiation with their council on potential commissioning and said negotiation had come about as a direct result of the Challenge legislation. Almost half (48%) felt that their local authority was more open to contracting with eligible bodies than before the legislation came into force and 25% were working with ttheir authorities on commissioning as a result of the legislation. 70% felt the support they received had improved their contrct readiness and 82% were expecting to bid for the delivery of public services. Timescales for procurement exercises are sdignificant but we are working with support providers to monitor the number of organisations that succeed in winning contracts.<br><br>This information is informing our future programme of work especially around commissioning processes. Community groups advise us that they are encouraged by the shift in culture and the changing mind-sets of procurement and commissioning officiers in councils across England as a result of the Localism Act 2011. They tell us the community rights have prompted many councils to examine how local public services are commissioned in their area.<br><br>Through our support programme we have supported 376 groups with specialist referrals and provided 216 groups with financial assistance to develop their capacity to bid for and deliver services.</p> answering member constituency Bristol West answering member printed Stephen Williams grouped question UIN 220944 220945 220946 question first answered 24/02/2015 13:21:14 answering member 1492 label Biography information for Stephen Williams
tabling member	4077 label Biography information for Emma Reynolds

173962

registered interest
date	15/01/2015
answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Property Development
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many disposal notices he has issued as a result of bids under the Community Right to Reclaim Land.
tabling member constituency	Wolverhampton North East
tabling member printed	Emma Reynolds
uin	220951
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/03/2015 answer text <p>I have attached a table which outlines the actions we have taken in response to each substantive request under the Right to Reclaim since its introduction in 2011. Each case is considered on its individual merits. Even where a direction to dispose is not issued, the whole process of challenging the local authority can help fast-track their own disposal plans. We do not hold information on the status of the applicant.</p><p> </p><p>The act of Whitehall forcing councils to dispose of land is controversial, there is a high threshold for deciding whether a disposal can be ordered..</p><p> </p><p>There is a strong commitment from the Government to making the best use of its land and disposing of land that is no longer needed. As such in addition to the Right to Reclaim Land powers which relate primarily to local government or other public bodies, a new Right to Contest was created in January 2014. This gives individuals, communities and businesses the ability to challenge Government on land and property owned by Whitehall departments and their agencies which is being used, but where, if sold, a better economic use could be made of it. Whilst theoretically people can still use the Community Right to Reclaim Land for Government land, in practice, most will now be dealt with under Right to Contest.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis grouped question UIN 220948 220949 220950 220952 question first answered 26/03/2015 15:24:20 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis attachment 1 file name 220948, 220950, 220949, 220951, 220952 Reynolds.xlsx title Community Right to Recalim Land
tabling member	4077 label Biography information for Emma Reynolds

173963

registered interest
date	15/01/2015
answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Property Development
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many sites have been disposed of as a result of disposal notices issued by his Department under the Community Right to Reclaim Land.
tabling member constituency	Wolverhampton North East
tabling member printed	Emma Reynolds
uin	220952
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/03/2015 answer text <p>I have attached a table which outlines the actions we have taken in response to each substantive request under the Right to Reclaim since its introduction in 2011. Each case is considered on its individual merits. Even where a direction to dispose is not issued, the whole process of challenging the local authority can help fast-track their own disposal plans. We do not hold information on the status of the applicant.</p><p> </p><p>The act of Whitehall forcing councils to dispose of land is controversial, there is a high threshold for deciding whether a disposal can be ordered..</p><p> </p><p>There is a strong commitment from the Government to making the best use of its land and disposing of land that is no longer needed. As such in addition to the Right to Reclaim Land powers which relate primarily to local government or other public bodies, a new Right to Contest was created in January 2014. This gives individuals, communities and businesses the ability to challenge Government on land and property owned by Whitehall departments and their agencies which is being used, but where, if sold, a better economic use could be made of it. Whilst theoretically people can still use the Community Right to Reclaim Land for Government land, in practice, most will now be dealt with under Right to Contest.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis grouped question UIN 220948 220949 220950 220951 question first answered 26/03/2015 15:24:20 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis attachment 1 file name 220948, 220950, 220949, 220951, 220952 Reynolds.xlsx title Community Right to Recalim Land
tabling member	4077 label Biography information for Emma Reynolds