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Written question asked by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay (Conservative) on Monday, 8 December 2025, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Monday, 22 December 2025. It was answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage (Labour) on Friday, 19 December 2025 on behalf of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Local Government: Publicity

Question

To ask His Majesty's Government how the provisions of paragraph 6 of Schedule 27 to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill will affect public awareness of the activities of local authorities.

Answer

Schedule 27 of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (the Bill) makes a small, specific and practical change to the publication of local authority governance changes. It removes the statutory requirement for councils to publish governance changes in printed newspapers but crucially does not prevent them from doing so if they consider that is the best way to inform their local residents.

In practice this change will affect only a very small number of councils. Over 80% of councils already operate the leader-and-cabinet model of governance. The Bill does not make changes to public notices more generally, for example in relation to planning.


Councils will be able to consider the most effective means to bring changes in local governance arrangements to the attention of the public. They could do this through local newspapers, digital platforms, council websites, or other local channels.


Throughout the passage of the Bill the government has and will continue to engage with a wide range of stakeholders.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL12754
Session
2024-26
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Devolution Local government Publicity
Legislation
English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill 2024-26
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk