On behalf of its membership, the cross-party LGA regularly submits to Government
consultations, briefs parliamentarians and responds to a wide range of parliamentary inquiries. Our recent
responses to government consultations and parliamentary briefings can be found here.
It is concerning that bill does not make non-discretionary provision for new burdens funding for lead enforcement authorities. It is vital that the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) conducts a full assessment of the resources councils need to effectively administer the redress scheme and the costs of setting up a scheme. New burdens funding should then be allocated accordingly.
It is vital that new burdens funding is provided to councils to support the proactive work necessary to ensure compliance with the legislation. This will enable councils to ensure compliance through supporting freeholders to understand and comply with the new requirements, with financial penalties being used as a matter of last resort.
This briefing aims to provide useful advice for any councils becoming unitary authorities and shares an overview of lessons learnt from a number of councils who have brought regulatory services together during this process.
The Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill aims to drive local growth, empower local leaders to regenerate their areas, and ensure everyone can share in the United Kingdom’s success.
We are pleased that the Government has proposed to speed up the process and make good on its commitment to offer all of England the opportunity to benefit from a devolution deal by 2030. It is also important that councils of all sizes are engaged in the devolution process.
We are deeply concerned that the proposed risk-mitigation measures in clause 71 of the Bill potentially give the Secretary of State significant powers to intervene in a local authority. There is a danger that the formula-based approach outlined in the Bill could impact more widely than intended. It is vital that the Government undertakes full engagement with the sector, including full consultation before enacting the regulations arising from the Bill.