To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how many cases of (a) freehold and (b) management company misconduct have been reported in the last 12 months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how many cases of (a) freehold and (b) management company misconduct have been reported in the last 12 months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will take steps to require Tower Hamlets Council to publish the report on Mazars investigation into allegations of misconduct in the authority's Youth Service in the period up to 2016.

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will take steps to require Tower Hamlets Council to publish the report on Mazars investigation into allegations of misconduct in the authority's Youth Service in the period up to 2016.

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether any statutory provisions allow the leader of parish or town councils (a) found to have mismanaged, (b) found to have committed misconduct and (c) who do not set a balanced budget to be (i) struck off or...

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether any statutory provisions allow the leader of parish or town councils (a) found to have mismanaged, (b) found to have committed misconduct and (c) who do not set a balanced budget to be (i) struck off or...

Moved by

Baroness Pinnock

1: Clause 1, page 2, line 20, at end insert—

“(7A) Before the first determination to which this section applies is made, the Valuation Office Agency must publish a statement outlining—

(a) how many checks, challenges or appeals in relation to a material changes of circumstances due to the coronavirus...

Moved by

Baroness Pinnock

1: Clause 1, page 2, line 20, at end insert—

“(7A) Before the first determination to which this section applies is made, the Valuation Office Agency must publish a statement outlining—

(a) how many checks, challenges or appeals in relation to a material changes of circumstances due to the coronavirus...

My Lords, I draw the attention of the House to my relevant interests as set out in the register, as a vice-president of the Local Government Association and as a member of Kirklees Council. I am speaking on Amendment 1 in my name and that of my noble friend Lord...

My Lords, I draw the attention of the House to my relevant interests as set out in the register, as a vice-president of the Local Government Association and as a member of Kirklees Council. I am speaking on Amendment 1 in my name and that of my noble friend Lord...

My Lords, I declare my interests, particularly as a vice-president of the LGA. I will speak to Amendment 2, in my name, and to Amendment 1, as introduced by the noble Baroness, Lady Pinnock.

As we begin Report, I remind the House that we are broadly supportive of the Bill and...

My Lords, I declare my interests, particularly as a vice-president of the LGA. I will speak to Amendment 2, in my name, and to Amendment 1, as introduced by the noble Baroness, Lady Pinnock.

As we begin Report, I remind the House that we are broadly supportive of the Bill and...

My Lords, I want to add my comments on Amendment 2. I remind the House of my interests: I advise SME businesses and am also a landlord.

Increasingly, a number of people that I talk to, specifically in the retail sector, are very concerned that the Government are not listening to...

My Lords, I want to add my comments on Amendment 2. I remind the House of my interests: I advise SME businesses and am also a landlord.

Increasingly, a number of people that I talk to, specifically in the retail sector, are very concerned that the Government are not listening to...

I thank noble Lords for raising two important issues. The noble Baroness, Lady Pinnock, asked whether we will have data to know whether the £1.5 billion is enough and that we are not short-changing local government in any way. The noble Baroness, Lady Blake of Leeds, wanted to know about...

I thank noble Lords for raising two important issues. The noble Baroness, Lady Pinnock, asked whether we will have data to know whether the £1.5 billion is enough and that we are not short-changing local government in any way. The noble Baroness, Lady Blake of Leeds, wanted to know about...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for his response. We clearly had evidence of the volume of appeals by businesses. I am still concerned about the value of those and whether sufficient money is being made available to recompense businesses, but we will come to that in the next debate....

My Lords, I thank the Minister for his response. We clearly had evidence of the volume of appeals by businesses. I am still concerned about the value of those and whether sufficient money is being made available to recompense businesses, but we will come to that in the next debate....

Moved by

Baroness Blake of Leeds

3: After Clause 1, insert the following new Clause—

“Advice to local authorities

Before 1 March 2022, the Secretary of State must publish a statement containing advice to local authorities on the implementation of this Act.”

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment would ensure that the Secretary of State publishes advice...

Moved by

Baroness Blake of Leeds

3: After Clause 1, insert the following new Clause—

“Advice to local authorities

Before 1 March 2022, the Secretary of State must publish a statement containing advice to local authorities on the implementation of this Act.”

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment would ensure that the Secretary of State publishes advice...

In this group we also have Amendments 7 and 8, in the name of the noble Baroness, Lady Pinnock.

I move this amendment to seek confirmation

“that the Secretary of State publishes advice to local authorities on the implementation of this Act.”

Clearly, there has been some movement on this issue; there was...

In this group we also have Amendments 7 and 8, in the name of the noble Baroness, Lady Pinnock.

I move this amendment to seek confirmation

“that the Secretary of State publishes advice to local authorities on the implementation of this Act.”

Clearly, there has been some movement on this issue; there was...

My Lords, Amendments 7 and 8 in my name pursue an issue I raised both at Second Reading and in Committee regarding the complete mystery surrounding the £1.5 billion of taxpayers’ money that the Government propose to use as recompense for businesses in removing their rights to appeal their business...

My Lords, Amendments 7 and 8 in my name pursue an issue I raised both at Second Reading and in Committee regarding the complete mystery surrounding the £1.5 billion of taxpayers’ money that the Government propose to use as recompense for businesses in removing their rights to appeal their business...

My Lords, I will do my very best. I start by saying that local authorities are protected by what is known as the local tax income guarantee; I know the noble Baroness, Lady Pinnock, knows about that. Three critical questions have been raised, and I will take time in answering...

My Lords, I will do my very best. I start by saying that local authorities are protected by what is known as the local tax income guarantee; I know the noble Baroness, Lady Pinnock, knows about that. Three critical questions have been raised, and I will take time in answering...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for taking our concerns very seriously and for going away and having conversations with some very senior people. I am sure I speak for the noble Lords on the Liberal Democrat Benches when I say that we appreciate that. In Committee this concern was...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for taking our concerns very seriously and for going away and having conversations with some very senior people. I am sure I speak for the noble Lords on the Liberal Democrat Benches when I say that we appreciate that. In Committee this concern was...

The Government always keep these matters under review. We recognise the importance of business rates in providing the financial stability and underpinning for local councils, and I can make that commitment, as with all government policy.

The Government always keep these matters under review. We recognise the importance of business rates in providing the financial stability and underpinning for local councils, and I can make that commitment, as with all government policy.

With those reassurances, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment.

With those reassurances, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment.

Moved by

Baroness Blake of Leeds

4: After Clause 3, insert the following new Clause—

“Insolvency Service finances and resources

(1) Before 1 March 2022, the Secretary of State must make a statement on the impact of this Act on the financial situation of the Insolvency Service.

(2) The statement must include an assessment as...

Moved by

Baroness Blake of Leeds

4: After Clause 3, insert the following new Clause—

“Insolvency Service finances and resources

(1) Before 1 March 2022, the Secretary of State must make a statement on the impact of this Act on the financial situation of the Insolvency Service.

(2) The statement must include an assessment as...

This amendment relates to part of the situation discussed in Committee: that this a hybrid Bill which has caused some conversation and comment over its different stages.

In moving Amendment 4 in my name, I will also reference Amendments 5 and 6. Amendment 4 would place an obligation on the Secretary...

This amendment relates to part of the situation discussed in Committee: that this a hybrid Bill which has caused some conversation and comment over its different stages.

In moving Amendment 4 in my name, I will also reference Amendments 5 and 6. Amendment 4 would place an obligation on the Secretary...

My Lords, I have put my name to Amendments 5 and 6, although, with all credit to the noble Lord, Lord Fox, his team did most of the work in compiling the text. Given the hybrid nature of the Bill, I need to declare a completely different set of interests,...

My Lords, I have put my name to Amendments 5 and 6, although, with all credit to the noble Lord, Lord Fox, his team did most of the work in compiling the text. Given the hybrid nature of the Bill, I need to declare a completely different set of interests,...

My Lords, Amendments 4, 5 and 6 seek to put reporting requirements into statute, and I am happy to comment on them. I am grateful to noble Lords for giving me the opportunity to talk both about the process of investigation and disqualification and the reporting work that the Insolvency...

My Lords, Amendments 4, 5 and 6 seek to put reporting requirements into statute, and I am happy to comment on them. I am grateful to noble Lords for giving me the opportunity to talk both about the process of investigation and disqualification and the reporting work that the Insolvency...