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Written question asked by James Cleverly (Conservative) on Monday, 22 June 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 24 June 2026. It was answered by Nesil Caliskan (Labour) on Tuesday, 30 June 2026 on behalf of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Local Government: Meetings

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the statutory guidance, Appointing mayoral commissioners and setting/reporting allowances, updated 9 June 2026, paragraph 81, what guidance his Department has provided or plans to provide to local authorities on how a reasonable excuse for (a) refusing to attend a meeting, (b) refusing to provide information and (c) refusing to answer questions should be determined.

Answer

In regulations, we intend to create a power for Local Scrutiny Committees to impose a civil penalty in certain circumstances. This can be where; a person fails to attend a meeting, a person fails to answer a question at a meeting; a person fails to provide a committee with information or a document, and, where a person misleads a committee.

Regulations and associated statutory guidance made under the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act will set out further details including who would be in scope of such civil penalties and what may constitute a reasonable excuse. We are consulting with Mayoral Strategic Authorities and will bring forward more detail in due course.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
11671
Session
2026-27
Subjects
Local government Meetings
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk