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44526

	registered interest
	date	21/03/2014
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps are being taken to ensure that the legal costs accrued over the closure of the Traveller site in Fylde are recovered from the travellers.
	tabling member constituency	Fylde
	tabling member printed	Mark Menzies
	uin	193259
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The High Court and the Court of Appeal upheld the decision of the Secretary of State to dismiss the planning appeal and uphold the enforcement notice in relation to an unauthorised traveller site at Fairfield Road, Hardhorn.</p><p>My Department seeks to recover the costs of litigation from the other parties where this is appropriate, and I can confirm that we will be seeking to do so in this case.</p><p>Flyde Borough Council may also seek to do the same through due legal process; however, this is a matter for the council rather than my Department.</p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis question first answered 03/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
	tabling member	3998 label Biography information for Mark Menzies

47917

	registered interest
	date	09/04/2014
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure that the wishes of the local people and decisions of the local council are given priority in appeal decisions by the Planning Inspectorate.
	tabling member constituency	Fylde
	tabling member printed	Mark Menzies
	uin	196030
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>Planning is a quasi-judicial process; it is a long-standing feature of the planning system that there is a right of appeal, just as there are with other local quasi-judicial decisions such as on licensing applications, gambling applications or parking fines.</p><p>The Localism Act 2011 has strengthened the role of Local Plans and abolished the last Administration's top-down Regional Strategies. Our streamlined National Planning Policy Framework strongly encourages areas to get up-to-date Local Plans in place, and we have been actively supporting councils in doing so. Local Plans now set the framework in which decisions on particular applications are taken, whether locally or at appeal, unless material considerations indicate otherwise.</p><p>Once adopted a neighbourhood plan will also become part of the area's statutory development plan – an example of this Government's localist agenda. Both local and neighbourhood plans are founded on thorough community involvement and are subject to public examination and consultation. Almost 1,000 communities have applied for a neighbourhood planning area to be designated, with 850 areas now designated.</p><p>Planning inspectors will take full account of all the evidence that is before them, including representations made by local residents and other interested parties. Each representation should be considered on their merits, paying careful regard to the relevant policy and material planning considerations.</p><p>Since the National Planning Policy Framework was introduced, the number of appeals received has fallen as has the number allowed. The quality of local decisions also remains high – 99 per cent of decisions are made locally with only approximately 1 per cent of planning applications overturned on appeal. Housing starts and housing construction are also up, as are permissions for new homes. This means there is more local decision-making, and our reforms are supporting badly-needed new homes within a locally-led planning system.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Grantham and Stamford answering member printed Nick Boles question first answered 01/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3995 label Biography information for Nick Boles
	tabling member	3998 label Biography information for Mark Menzies

48455

	registered interest
	date	25/04/2014
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to help local shops in (a) England and (b) Lancashire with the cost of business rates.
	tabling member constituency	Fylde
	tabling member printed	Mark Menzies
	uin	196542
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/05/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>At the Autumn Statement we announced a £1 billion package of business rates support to help shops and local firms. This included a £1,000 discount for two years for smaller shops, pubs and restaurants. Based on local authority reports of the amount of relief awarded, we estimate that 272,300 properties will benefit in England, including 7,740 in Lancashire.</p><p>The support package also included a 50 per cent discount for businesses taking on long-term empty shops, the doubling of small business rate relief for another year, a 2% cap on RPI increases for 2014-2015, allowing businesses to spread their business rates payments over 12 months, and allowing ratepayers that take on a second property to keep their small business rate relief for an extra year.</p><p>The Localism Act has also made it easier for small firms to claim small business rate relief.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis question first answered 06/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
	tabling member	3998 label Biography information for Mark Menzies

224420

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	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	Enterprise Zones
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to promote the use of enterprise zones by businesses.
	tabling member constituency	Fylde
	tabling member printed	Mark Menzies
	uin	225862
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2015 answer text <p>My Department works actively with UK Trade and Investment, BIS sector leads as well as local partners to promote opportunities in Enterprise Zones to businesses across the UK and overseas. UK Trade and Investment encourages and supports overseas companies to consider Enterprise Zones as a good place to set up or expand their businesses. They do this by working to support the marketing efforts on Zones and publicising opportunities for businesses within their international networks.</p><p> </p><p>This collective approach is working. By the end of 2014, more than 450 businesses had come to Enterprise Zones. Alongside this, there has been significant investment in infrastructure, including around £200 million of commitments from the Local Growth Fund. This will help to attract more businesses to Enterprise Zones in future.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 09/03/2015 16:58:09 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	3998 label Biography information for Mark Menzies

384931

	registered interest
	date	23/06/2015
	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	Fracking
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps are being taken to mitigate the noise and sound pollution arising from heavy goods vehicles used in shale gas drilling.
	tabling member constituency	Fylde
	tabling member printed	Mark Menzies
	uin	3687
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2015 answer text <p>Potential noise impacts created by new shale gas development would be taken into account on a case by case basis by local planning authorities when they determine relevant planning applications, or by the Secretary of State in the determination of planning appeals or called-in applications. <br><br>The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that planning decisions should aim to avoid noise from giving rise to significant adverse impacts on health and quality of life as a result of new development, and mitigate and reduce other adverse impacts to a minimum including through the use of conditions.</p> answering member constituency Stockton South answering member printed James Wharton question first answered 30/06/2015 12:45:52 answering member 4123 label Biography information for Lord Wharton of Yarm
	tabling member	3998 label Biography information for Mark Menzies

419886

	registered interest
	date	09/10/2015
	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	Enterprise Zones: Lancashire
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what progress has been made in developing enterprise zones at (a) Blackpool Airport and (b) Warton.
	tabling member constituency	Fylde
	tabling member printed	Mark Menzies
	uin	10824
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/10/2015 answer text <p>Since the Lancashire Enterprise Zone was established in 2012 the Local Enterprise Partnership and UK Trade and Investment have actively promoted the Enterprise Zone as a good place for companies to set up or expand their businesses.</p><p>Two companies have also set up on the Enterprise Zone’s other site at Warton, already attracting 25 jobs.</p><p>Work has recently started on BAE’s training facility on the Enterprise Zone site in Samlesbury. This is a part of BAE’s national commitment to double the number of apprentices they train bringing important opportunities and skills to the area. The new facility is expected to be completed by September 2016.</p><p>An announcement about the Blackpool Airport site will be made in due course.</p> answering member constituency Stockton South answering member printed James Wharton question first answered 19/10/2015 16:47:07 answering member 4123 label Biography information for Lord Wharton of Yarm
	tabling member	3998 label Biography information for Mark Menzies

421326

	registered interest
	date	14/10/2015
	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	Fracking
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will ensure that decisions on shale gas well locations are taken by local authorities.
	tabling member constituency	Fylde
	tabling member printed	Mark Menzies
	uin	11807
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/10/2015 answer text <p>Planning law requires that applications for planning permission must be determined in accordance with the Local Development Plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise. This is why our planning guidance encourages Local Minerals Plans, where appropriate, to give clear guidance and criteria for the location and assessment of hydrocarbon extraction within Petroleum Licence Areas. I refer my hon. Friend to the Written Ministerial Statements of 16 September (HCWS201 and HCWS202) which set out the Government’s policy on timely decision-taking on planning applications relating to shale gas extraction.</p> answering member constituency Stockton South answering member printed James Wharton question first answered 19/10/2015 14:15:44 answering member 4123 label Biography information for Lord Wharton of Yarm
	tabling member	3998 label Biography information for Mark Menzies

433444

	registered interest
	date	01/12/2015
	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	Fracking: Lancashire
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, for what reasons he has decided to recover the planning appeals by Caudrilla Resources to build shale gas wells at Roseacre and Preston New Road.
	tabling member constituency	Fylde
	tabling member printed	Mark Menzies
	uin	18301
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/12/2015 answer text <p>The reasons for the Secretary of State’s decision are set out in his letter to parties. This makes clear that the drilling appeals involve proposals for exploring and developing shale gas which amount to proposals for development of major importance having more than local significance and proposals which raise important or novel issues of development control, and/ or legal difficulties.</p> answering member constituency Stockton South answering member printed James Wharton question first answered 09/12/2015 17:07:57 answering member 4123 label Biography information for Lord Wharton of Yarm
	tabling member	3998 label Biography information for Mark Menzies

433933

	registered interest
	date	03/12/2015
	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	Fracking: Planning Permission
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what his policy is on pausing planning applications to build shale gas wells until after the Environment Agency has completed its consultation and published guidance for onshore oil and gas operations in the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Fylde
	tabling member printed	Mark Menzies
	uin	18624
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/12/2015 answer text <p>There is no policy to delay the determination of shale gas planning proposals pending the completion of the Environment Agency’s consultation on their updated Onshore Oil and Gas Sector Guidance issued on 26 November.</p><p>The Government has in place a comprehensive regulatory framework for shale gas development. As part of this, the Environment Agency’s views on schemes can be taken into account by local planning authorities, or by the Secretary of State where relevant, in the determination of planning proposals for shale gas development.</p> answering member constituency Stockton South answering member printed James Wharton question first answered 09/12/2015 17:15:23 answering member 4123 label Biography information for Lord Wharton of Yarm
	tabling member	3998 label Biography information for Mark Menzies

433934

	registered interest
	date	03/12/2015
	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	Fracking: Lancashire
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what he weight he plans to give to the views of people living close to the proposed shale gas well at Roseacre and Preston New Road in the process for considering planning appeals by Cuadrilla Resources to build wells at those sites.
	tabling member constituency	Fylde
	tabling member printed	Mark Menzies
	uin	18625
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2015 answer text <p>A planning appeal is a quasi-judicial process, and every application needs to be considered on its individual merits, with due process, in light of the relevant material considerations. To avoid prejudicing the decisions, I should not comment further but can reassure my hon. Friend that all relevant issues identified by local people in the current appeals by Cuadrilla Resources will be given very careful consideration.</p> answering member constituency Stockton South answering member printed James Wharton question first answered 10/12/2015 16:26:59 answering member 4123 label Biography information for Lord Wharton of Yarm
	tabling member	3998 label Biography information for Mark Menzies