1-20 of 24 results for subject:"Dorset Council"
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To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with Dorset Council and Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service on preventing and responding to wildfires in West Dorset.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with Dorset Council and Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service on preventing and responding to wildfires in West Dorset.
Fire and rescue services have been responding to an exceptionally challenging period of wildfire activity, with multiple significant incidents being managed simultaneously across England and Wales. The Government has taken action to reduce the risk of wildfires igniting, such as the temporary ban on disposable BBQs.
This year, we have made available almost £1.95 billion to standalone fire and rescue authorities in England (excluding York & North Yorkshire and Greater Manchester) through the Local Government Finance Settlement. It is for each fire and rescue authority to decide how best to use that funding, based on local risk.
Defra funding schemes will continue to support land managers to adapt to increasing wildfire risk. This includes practical measures to reduce fire spread and severity, improve access and preparedness for firefighting, and strengthen resilience while also supporting nature and climate objectives. It also includes support for landscape-scale action to reduce wildfire risk and increase resilience.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has recently announced a £97 million investment to upgrade National Resilience assets and equipment. Part of this funding includes a pilot for a national wildfire response capability with specialist firefighters, equipment and training.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to support local authorities such as Dorset Council in managing demand for school transport during peak holiday periods.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to support local authorities such as Dorset Council in managing demand for school transport during peak holiday periods.
Local authorities are responsible for arranging home-to-school travel for eligible children. They use a mix of in-house services, passes for free travel on public transport and contracts with private operators and must ensure the arrangements they make are suitable for the needs of the children travelling.
Most local bus services in England outside London are run on a commercial basis where the operator decides on routes and provision, including the frequency of services and the type of vehicle used. The government is committed to improving bus services and has confirmed investment of over £3 billion until 2028/29 for local authorities and bus operators to maintain and improve bus services.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to support Dorset Council to identify potential brownfield sites for housing development.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to support Dorset Council to identify potential brownfield sites for housing development.
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) makes clear that substantial weight should be given to the value of using suitable brownfield land within settlements, including the development of under-utilised land and buildings to meet the need for homes and other uses.
Through the revisions made to the NPPF on 12 December 2024 we broadened the definition of brownfield land, set a strengthened expectation that applications on brownfield land will be approved, and made clear that plans should promote an uplift in density in urban areas.
On 22 September 2024, the government published a ‘brownfield passport’ working paper inviting views on how we might further prioritise and fast-track building on previously used urban land. This included exploring the role of national policy in setting minimum density expectations for certain types of locations, to support intensification in the right places. Utilising the feedback provided, we intend to consult this year on a new suite of national policies for decision making that will give effect to these proposals.
No brownfield land and infrastructure remediation funding is currently available in West Dorset. However, on 18 June 2025 my Department announced £5 billion of new capital grant funding for infrastructure and land. This funding will be administered by the new National Housing Delivery Fund, through which councils will be able to secure funding for prospective projects, to contribute to the Government’s priority of delivering 1.5 million homes.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with (a) the Environment Agency and (b) Dorset Council on improving safety around cliffs in West Dorset constituency.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with (a) the Environment Agency and (b) Dorset Council on improving safety around cliffs in West Dorset constituency.
Defra works closely with Environment Agency officials at every level and provides constructive challenge and support on Environment Agency’s performance and delivery to protect and enhance the environment and serve the public.
The responsibility for public safety around cliffs and coastlines sits with the Local Authority. Local Authorities can use the most up to date data and information on the coast to assist with their planning and decision making. The new National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Map (NCERM) provides the most up to date national picture of current and future coastal erosion risk for England. The Environment Agency worked with Local Authorities, who supplied local data and verified outputs, to produce this.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with (a) Dorset Council and (b) the Environment Agency on potential alternatives to the no active intervention policy for the Charmouth coastline.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with (a) Dorset Council and (b) the Environment Agency on potential alternatives to the no active intervention policy for the Charmouth coastline.
The Government is investing £36 million in the Coastal Transition Accelerator Programme to support communities, including in Dorset, to explore innovative approaches to adapt to coastal change.
The Environment Agency has published updated National Coastal Erosion Risk Map data, including future climate change scenarios.
Shoreline Management Plans, developed by local councils, guide long-term strategies for managing flood and erosion risks. The SMP policies for Charmouth were considered during the development of SMP16 ‘Durlston Head to Rame Head’ and will be reviewed as part of the current SMP refresh process. Dorset Council and the Environment Agency are part of the SMP16 management group for South Devon & Dorset, who can consider any new data for this area which may have implications for the current SMP policies.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with local authorities on flood resilience in West Dorset constituency.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with local authorities on flood resilience in West Dorset constituency.
The Environment Agency (EA) works in partnership with Dorset Council to improve flood resilience across the county. Engagement on flood resilience takes place where the risk is highest and where the highest numbers of flooded properties are reported. Through an active flood warden programme, the EA engage regularly with volunteers and Town and Parish Councils and provide them with Flood Action Guides, flood resilience newsletters and additional information to help raise flood risk awareness, preparedness, and resilience. Recently 17 West Dorset Communities and Dorset Council were represented at lunch and learn sessions.
New targeted Flood Warning Areas (FWAs) are identified based on risk using overtopping rates and working with other organisations. Several properties have had Flood Defence Grant-in-Aid investment into Property Flood Resilience in West Dorset, including over 25 in Sydling St Nicholas where a community test event is planned in the autumn.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions she has had with Dorset Council on expanding social housing provision in West Dorset.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions she has had with Dorset Council on expanding social housing provision in West Dorset.
The Deputy Prime Minister wrote to all local authorities, including Dorset Council, after the Spending Review detailing the announcements made in relation to social and affordable housing.
For an overview of them, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 58440 on 17 June 2025.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to support Dorset council to ensure housing developments in West Dorset are (a) affordable and (b) suitable for young families.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to support Dorset council to ensure housing developments in West Dorset are (a) affordable and (b) suitable for young families.
It is for local planning authorities to assess the size, type and tenure of housing needed for different groups in the community, including young families and older residents.
As set out in the Written Ministerial Statement I made on 26 November 2024 (HCWS249), the government is giving careful consideration to the recommendations from the Older People’s Housing Taskforce report.
Whilst second homes and short-term lets can benefit local economies, the government appreciate that excessive concentrations in some areas of the country can impact the availability and affordability of homes, both to rent and buy. In addition to the measures the government has already committed to, including a registration scheme for short term lets and changes to the furnished holiday lets rules, we continue to consider what additional powers we might give local authorities to enable them to respond to the pressures created by excessive concentrations of short-term lets and second homes.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has had recent discussions with Dorset Council on (a) retaining and (b) attracting young families through new housing provision in West Dorset.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has had recent discussions with Dorset Council on (a) retaining and (b) attracting young families through new housing provision in West Dorset.
It is for local planning authorities to assess the size, type and tenure of housing needed for different groups in the community, including young families and older residents.
As set out in the Written Ministerial Statement I made on 26 November 2024 (HCWS249), the government is giving careful consideration to the recommendations from the Older People’s Housing Taskforce report.
Whilst second homes and short-term lets can benefit local economies, the government appreciate that excessive concentrations in some areas of the country can impact the availability and affordability of homes, both to rent and buy. In addition to the measures the government has already committed to, including a registration scheme for short term lets and changes to the furnished holiday lets rules, we continue to consider what additional powers we might give local authorities to enable them to respond to the pressures created by excessive concentrations of short-term lets and second homes.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will provide additional support to Dorset Council to help develop local nutrient mitigation schemes.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will provide additional support to Dorset Council to help develop local nutrient mitigation schemes.
In December 2023, the previous government awarded Dorset council £4.63m in Round 1 of the Local Nutrient Mitigation Fund to support the delivery of local nutrient mitigation schemes that would provide mitigation and unblock stalled development.
The present government awarded Poole Harbour a further £100,000 in Nutrient Support Funding in Autumn 2024.
These funds are intended to be used and recycled locally in a way which helps to unlock housing while mitigating the effects of nutrient pollution.
The government has not made an assessment of the potential impact of the scheme on affordability.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the status is of the revised Harbour Revision Order relating to the Harbour managed by Dorset Council; and when she expects it to be approved.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the status is of the revised Harbour Revision Order relating to the Harbour managed by Dorset Council; and when she expects it to be approved.
The department does not manage the process of Harbour orders, as this process is led by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO). The MMO is unusually busy with Harbour orders at present but is working continuously to process all harbour orders.
For an accurate status update of the harbour order in question, we suggest the Council contacts the MMO directly.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the dispersal arrangements are for the migrants on the barge in Portland Port when their time on the vessel comes to an end; where they will then be housed; and what responsibilities Dorset Council will have for them.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the dispersal arrangements are for the migrants on the barge in Portland Port when their time on the vessel comes to an end; where they will then be housed; and what responsibilities Dorset Council will have for them.
The accommodation have been contracted for 18 months. We are assessing how long asylum seekers will be accommodated before being moved further through the accommodation system.
I am grateful to the Minister for giving way. I know that the debate is not easy for him, and I appreciate that. As he rightly said, the Home Office is now talking to all the bodies it should have been speaking to, but that is not the point. The...
I am grateful to the Minister for giving way. I know that the debate is not easy for him, and I appreciate that. As he rightly said, the Home Office is now talking to all the bodies it should have been speaking to, but that is not the point. The...
I hope that in the time I have available, which I appreciate is not a great deal, I can answer as many of his questions as possible.
As soon as it became apparent that Portland Port could provide the support required, and before a contract was signed or a decision made...
I hope that in the time I have available, which I appreciate is not a great deal, I can answer as many of his questions as possible.
As soon as it became apparent that Portland Port could provide the support required, and before a contract was signed or a decision made...
The reason that people object is simply that we do not have the resources to cope with this. The Minister is putting a potential landmine into a highly restricted port, where young men will be trapped in a barge for many hours a day, with a few being let off...
The reason that people object is simply that we do not have the resources to cope with this. The Minister is putting a potential landmine into a highly restricted port, where young men will be trapped in a barge for many hours a day, with a few being let off...
Perhaps I can answer some of those questions, because we do have answers and we did think carefully about each of those questions prior to making the decision to proceed with the policy and to apply it to my hon. Friend’s constituency.
With respect to healthcare, we have worked with the...
Perhaps I can answer some of those questions, because we do have answers and we did think carefully about each of those questions prior to making the decision to proceed with the policy and to apply it to my hon. Friend’s constituency.
With respect to healthcare, we have worked with the...
Can the Minister confirm that this Stockholm Biddy—I think that is what it is called—is designed to accommodate 222 people, as it is according
to the internet, and will be taking 506? How will the barge be refurbished to accommodate these young men? How many rooms will be in fours,...
Can the Minister confirm that this Stockholm Biddy—I think that is what it is called—is designed to accommodate 222 people, as it is according
to the internet, and will be taking 506? How will the barge be refurbished to accommodate these young men? How many rooms will be in fours,...
I am not sure of the source to which my hon. Friend is referring, but we will not be putting more migrants on the vessel than is safe and appropriate. I do know that barges of this kind can accommodate either one individual per room or, in many cases, two....
I am not sure of the source to which my hon. Friend is referring, but we will not be putting more migrants on the vessel than is safe and appropriate. I do know that barges of this kind can accommodate either one individual per room or, in many cases, two....
As my right hon. Friend will know, my neighbouring constituency is in many respects—although not entirely—affected in the same way as that of my hon. Friend the Member for South Dorset (Richard Drax). I am grateful for the brief dialogue that I had with civil servants a couple of weeks...
As my right hon. Friend will know, my neighbouring constituency is in many respects—although not entirely—affected in the same way as that of my hon. Friend the Member for South Dorset (Richard Drax). I am grateful for the brief dialogue that I had with civil servants a couple of weeks...
I know that my hon. Friend met my officials, and I am sorry I could not be there as well; I was at a Cobra meeting to discuss the Border Force presence in Sudan this week. However, I think we will be meeting again soon so that my officials and...
I know that my hon. Friend met my officials, and I am sorry I could not be there as well; I was at a Cobra meeting to discuss the Border Force presence in Sudan this week. However, I think we will be meeting again soon so that my officials and...