Download or read book Government Response to the Committee s Fourth Report of Session 2004 05 on the ODPM Annual Report and Accounts 2004 written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: ODPM: Housing, Planning, Local Government and the Regions Committee and published by . This book was released on 2005-07-21 with total page 7 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Government response to HCP 58, session 2004-05 (ISBN 0215021533)
Download or read book ODPM Annual Report and Accounts 2005 written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: ODPM: Housing, Planning, Local Government and the Regions Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2006-01-26 with total page 104 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Incorporating HCP 680, session 2005-06.
Download or read book Communities and Local Government s Departmental Annual Report 2008 written by Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Communities and Local Government Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2009 with total page 150 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In its report of last year on the Communities and Local Government's Departmental Annual Report 2007 (HC 170, session 2007-08, ISBN 9780215037978) the Committee commented on the particular nature of the Department's work: on its unusual reliance for the achievement of the goals Government has set it on a plethora of other Departments, agencies, non-departmental bodies, local authorities and other stakeholders; on the long, devolved delivery chains by which those goals therefore have to be delivered; and on the skills of influence, brokering and negotiation which are required to achieve them. In this Report the Committee assesses the progress made since last. The most recent Cabinet Office Capability Review concludes that there has been a positive "direction of travel" for CLG in that period, but the Committee concludes that there is still some way to go before CLG can be said to be performing at the highest achievable level of effectiveness. The Department's overall performance against its Public Service Agreement targets is likewise moving in the right direction but still short of full effectiveness. Achievement of efficiency targets is applauded. Finally, the report considers examples of particular policies which highlight some of the Department's strengths and weaknesses, and follow up some issues in earlier inquiries. These issues include: eco-towns; the Decent Homes programme; Home Information Packs; Fire Service response times; Firebuy; the FiReControl programme. The report also considers the Department's response to the serious flooding of summer 2007, and to the reviews which followed; and the mismanagement of European Regional Development Fund monies.
Download or read book ODPM Annual Report and Accounts 2004 written by Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. ODPM: Housing, Planning, Local Government and the Regions Committee and published by . This book was released on 2005-01-26 with total page 64 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Committee's report examines the 2004 annual report of Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (Cm 6206, ISBN 0101620624) published in April 2004, the second annual report produced since the creation of the ODPM in May 2002. The Committee notes its concern that further changes in departmental structure and strategic priorities during 2004 has led to inconsistent management and a lack of focus on projects within the Department; and makes further recommendations on the structure and layout of the annual report, in order to improve clarity of information, particularly with regards to the reporting of performance targets.
Download or read book Communities and Local Government s departmental annual report 2009 and the performance of the Department in 2008 09 written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Communities and Local Government Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2010-03-05 with total page 196 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Incorporating HC 1038-i-ii, session 2008-09. The DCLG departmental annual report 2009 was published as Cm. 7598 (ISBN 9780101759823)
Download or read book Is there a future for regional government written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Communities and Local Government Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2007-03-14 with total page 110 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This inquiry was prompted by the fact that although it is more than twelve months since a referendum rejected the plans for a regional assembly for the North-East, there has been no new direction for the Government's regional policy. The Committee focused on two main questions: how does the current system of regional governance actually work; and what role city-regions play in the future development of regional policy. In conclusion it recommended "the Government should commit itself to a clear city-regions policy, indicating the extent of city-region feasibility, and the powers and resources which will be made available, so that this alternative to regional governance can be properly explored."
Download or read book Affordability and the Supply of Housing written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: ODPM: Housing, Planning, Local Government and the Regions Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2006-06-20 with total page 86 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Committee's report finds that the Government's plans for a major house-building programme are based on the widespread belief that increasing the volume of housing stock is the most important way to tackle the crisis of unaffordable housing in the UK; however, as housing policy is increasingly based on household growth projections, it is important that these projections are kept under review as firmer information becomes available. Promoting homeownership is an underlying objective of the Government's programme, but although it offers unparalleled opportunities for some households to accumulate wealth, it is not a viable option for many others, and therefore the provision of social housing for rent should be given equal priority. A simple supply and demand model cannot be applied to the housing market, and the multitude of factors affecting house prices means that it is very difficult to support an increase in housing supply simply on the basis of improving affordability. The report also highlights concerns that local authority powers to prioritise developments on brown field sites in urban areas should not be eroded; and that the house-building programme in the wider South East will have to be carefully managed as it is an area with major water shortages and significant flood plains.
Download or read book Re licensing written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: ODPM: Housing, Planning, Local Government and the Regions Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2006-03-17 with total page 112 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Licensing Act 2003 brought ten existing licensing schemes administered by local authorities into one new regime, and created more flexible licensing hours. This report concentrates on the technicalities of licensing: all those applying for a licence for the first time or needing a new licence under the Act had to submit applications by a certain date. The transition period was in 2005, and it soon became apparent that people involved in the 're-licensing' process were encountering difficulties. The Committee finds that the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has failed to administer the transition period effectively. Despite a two-year gap between the passing of the legislation and the implementation of the Act, regulations and guidance were issued late, and proved to be contradictory and confusing. Local authorities were unable to train staff or prepare application materials in good time. There was inadequate support from central government for local authorities. Many licensing fees rose dramatically, leading to concerns that some small businesses might abandon their licensable activities. The regulatory burden on residents, licensees and local authorities appears to have increased. The government does not appear to recognise some of the issues hindering the smooth operation of the Act. Overly-prescriptive regulations and unhelpful constraints on local government structure are both causing difficulties.
Download or read book Local government finance written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Communities and Local Government Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2007-08-07 with total page 44 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Sir Michael Lyons, in his report "Place-shaping: a shared ambition for the future of local government" (2007, ISBN 9780119898545) proposed allowing local authorities to make marginal changes to the national non-domestic rate which businesses pay as their contribution to the provision of local services. The Government's recent green paper "The governance of Britain" (Cm. 7170, ISBN 9780101717021) contemplates enabling local communities to take decisions about how to use local funds, and a substantive response to the Lyons report is expected later in 2007. The Committee builds on these developments to argue that local authorities should be able to levy a supplementary business rate to increase or decrease the business rate paid by local businesses. Whilst the decision-making should be left to local authorities, the Government should set down some basic parameters to define the operation of supplementary business rates and confine the purposes to which any revenue generated might be applied. This reform to local government revenue should be seen as a first step in a development process of financial devolution.
Download or read book Equality written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Communities and Local Government Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2007-08-02 with total page 118 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Committee undertook this enquiry to examine the issues surrounding the establishment of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR) and to further the debate on equality in preparation for the introduction of a Single Equality Bill. Despite some practical concerns that the CEHR might not be ready in time, that its budget will not be sufficient, and there might be some loss of expertise, the Committee supports the creation of a body that will bring together all the strands of equality and human rights. At the same time the Government should press ahead with a Single Equality Bill to remove simplify current provisions, remove anomalies; and promote action to prevent unfair discrimination.
Download or read book Fire and Rescue Service written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Communities and Local Government Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2006-07-12 with total page 108 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Government detailed its plans to reform and modernise the Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) in its White Paper (Cm 5808, ISBN 0101580827) published in June 2003, and these subsequently became law under the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004. The Committee's report examines the progress made to implement this challenging reform programme, following on from a previous report by its predecessor Committee (HCP 43-I, session 2003-04; ISBN 0215014936) published in January 2004. The Committee has focused on a number of key issues, including: the impact of the introduction of regional control centres and new FireLink radio services; fire prevention and risk assessment; governance and funding arrangements; staffing issues and policies to promote diversity within the FRS; performance measurement and management; and progress on joint working approaches between the FRS and other emergency services. Findings include: the unprecedented changes being implemented represent a positive change in emphasis for the FRS to a more pro-active role in fire prevention and risk management; the Government needs to make a stronger business case to convince and reassure the FRS that the project to create nine regional control centres (called the FiReControl model) will bring enhanced resilience and efficiency; and that the Government should ensure the new FireLink radio project includes the fire-ground technological upgrade.
Download or read book Work of the Committee In 2008 09 written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Communities and Local Government Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2009 with total page 48 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: work of the Committee In 2008-09 : First report of session 2009-10, report, together with formal Minutes
Download or read book The Balance of Power written by and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2009-05 with total page 88 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The balance of power between central and local government matters because it affects the responsibility and accountability for delivery of services and improvements to local people and communities. Democracy is strengthened where local people understand what local government is responsible for in terms of both policy and resources, where they can hold to account local government for its performance, and where, crucially, they believe that local government can make a real difference. Local authorities should have the freedom to shape the development of their communities and the scope to unlock the full potential of local innovation. Yet the predominant trend, particularly since the second world war, has been for central government to increase its powers and responsibilities at the expense of local government. This report looks at the current role of local government, assessing where it could be more proactive in making best use of existing structures, and where change is required elsewhere - by central government and its agencies and by Parliament - to increase the scope for autonomous local government activity. It considers the role of central government, and the advantages to be gained at both the local and the national levels from adopting a "minimalist" as opposed to a "maximalist" role in relation to local government, advocating further cultural change within central government to facilitate a decentralised balance of power structure. The Committee also addresses the pressing need for reform of local government financial arrangements, with a view to enabling local government to raise more of its own money.
Download or read book Housing and the Credit Crunch written by Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Communities and Local Government Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2009 with total page 276 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this report the Communities and Local Government Committee says the Government must stick to its long term house building targets, despite the credit crunch, but a greater proportion of the homes built should be social housing. The Committee is concerned that the £975 million borrowed by the Government from its 2010-11 budgets to build social rented housing now is not new money, and that the Government has been unable to say how that borrowing will be replaced. The Committee urges the Department for Communities and Local Government to: put pressure on the Treasury to ensure measures to revive the mortgage markets are implemented immediately; increase construction of new social housing, both to provide for housing need and as a means of maintaining capacity in the homebuilding industry whilst the market recovers; accelerate refurbishment programmes for social housing; acquire further social housing through the purchase of unsold stock and street properties; consider the purchase of unsold family homes which have been on the market for more than a year; encourage public sector bodies to make land available for the development of new homes. The report also urges the Government to do more to help those at risk of repossession by considering sanctions against lenders who repossess too quickly and by doing more to protect tenants and homeowners from unscrupulous landlords. An Office of Fair Trading recommendation for sale-and-rent back schemes should be implemented as a matter of urgency to protect the growing number of households falling behind in mortgage payments. The Committee would like to see more done to support housing associations, including increasing social housing grant where necessary.
Download or read book FiReControl written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Communities and Local Government Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2010 with total page 196 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Government's programme to replace 46 local fire and rescue service control rooms with nine purpose-built regional control centres has been inadequately planned, poorly executed, and badly managed. Given the investment of public funds already committed, and the benefits that will accrue, the MPs conclude that the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) should press ahead with the FireControl project so long as Ministers can agree urgently a viable project plan that will see the project go live by a target date of mid-2011 and in which the main stakeholders can have confidence. The excessive cost of abandoning the project - an extra £8 million more than it will cost to complete - indicates the Department should continue with the project so long as it also: examines alternatives and provides assurances that FiReControl represents the best viable option for the future of Fire and Rescue Services; resolves its contractual dispute with EADS and implements a viable project plan; addresses the shortcomings in its management of the project; consults fully with FRS staff and professionals to define end-user requirements; provides assurances that the safety and security of the Olympic Games will not be compromised by the roll-out of new Regional Control Centres. DCLG should urgently to draw up and consult on contingency plans for any further failures in the FiReControl programme to ensure ongoing safe and effective fire and rescue services cover across the whole country.
Download or read book Local authority investments written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Communities and Local Government Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2009-06-11 with total page 84 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The collapse of Icelandic financial institutions in the autumn of 2008 brought to light not only the surprisingly large amounts of money invested by local authorities, but also the fact that local authorities had invested nearly £1 billion in Iceland, funds that were consequently at risk. This prompted the Committee to launch an inquiry into local authority investments, in order to understand current practice, to study the roles and responsibilities of various groups and individuals involved, and to make recommendations intended to limit the exposure of local authority funds to such risk in future. The unusual nature of the recent financial situation should not excuse failures that occurred in local authority financial arrangements. The inquiry reveals a degree of misunderstanding, misinformation and complacency on the part of some crucial players, both within local authorities and in the wider financial sector, which contributed to the putting of taxpayers' money at unnecessary risk. There is significant room for improvement in the guidance and codes of practice for local authorities: to be more explicit in certain areas in order to make the system more transparent; to explain where the responsibilities lie, both in executing and in overseeing treasury management, including more rigorous training and reporting; and to highlight the variations of service on offer by different external service providers. It was the role of external service providers, specifically some of the treasury management advisers, which caused the Committee most concern and the Financial Services Authority should investigate the services provided by them as soon as possible and should take a more active role in their regulation.
Download or read book Market failure written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Communities and Local Government Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2009-07-23 with total page 92 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Committee undertook this inquiry into traditional retail markets to determine whether local authorities and central government should be doing more to support them. The Committee has come to appreciate the complex and diverse nature of the traditional retail markets sector. A significant number of all types of markets continue to thrive, but the number in decline appears to be greater than the number that is not. There are a number of reasons for the decline, the most significant being increased competition from supermarkets, other alternative cheap retail outlets and the internet. Nevertheless, a growing number of markets are adapting successfully to change. Local authorities and central government should care about markets, because of the multi-faceted nature of the benefits that successful markets can bring to local towns and communities. The report identifies five key benefits: economic; social (eg in encouraging social cohesion); assisting the regeneration of town centres; promoting healthy eating; and reducing environmental impacts in the retail sector. On finance and management the report notes lessons from elsewhere in Europe; identifies best practice, and recommends that councils consider using prudential borrowing, market champions at a senior level within the council, and co-operation with the private sector. The report also addresses; the challenges facing medium and small town councils seeking to keep smaller, local markets alive; the need for better promotion and recruitment and training for existing traders and market managers; the strategic role of central government.
