Contributions
783 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDBuilding SafetyMy Lords, in reference to the Statement, I have to say how irritating it is that statistics are selected to project a positive picture of progress made on the remediation of…27 Mar 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform BillMy Lords, I thank the Minister for being so generous with her time in discussing the content of this Bill and for being willing, on behalf of the Government, to front it. As we…27 Mar 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform BillOf 1909.27 Mar 2024HANSARDLocal Government FinancesMy Lords, I thank my noble friend Lord Shipley for securing this debate, and for his excellent and analytical introduction, and all noble Lords for the many local examples that…21 Mar 2024HANSARDWest Midlands Combined Authority (Transfer of Police and Crime Commissioner Functions) Order 2024My Lords, I am very pleased that the noble Lord, Lord Bach, has again brought the attention of this House to this difficult issue. I want to emphasise just three points. First, in…13 Mar 2024HANSARDPollution in Rivers and Regulation of Private Water CompaniesMy Lords, I thank my noble friend Lady Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville for tabling this very important topic for debate. She has described the consequences for our rivers of…29 Feb 2024HANSARDHousing Benefit: Temporary AccommodationMy Lords, I have relevant interests in this issue. Does the noble Lord agree that it is not just the excessive cost of temporary accommodation that we should be thinking about but…28 Feb 2024HANSARDNon-Domestic Rating (Rates Retention: Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2024My Lords, I draw the Committee’s attention to my interests as a councillor and a vice-president of the Local Government Association. I thank the Minister for her detailed…27 Feb 2024HANSARDLeasehold: Property Management CompaniesMy Lords, some freeholders, although not all, treat their leaseholders as a cash cow. I have two examples for the Minister. First, there was a ground rent increase—and there is no…19 Feb 2024HANSARDLocal Planning Authorities: StaffingMy Lords, the Minister mentioned the increase in planning fees, and she is quite right, but when the Government made that increase they knew that it would not cover the costs of…12 Feb 2024HANSARDTemporary Accommodation CostsMy Lords, as the Minister has rightly said, the Government are allocating £1 billion to reduce homelessness. Unfortunately, it is clearly not working, as homelessness is at a…31 Jan 2024HANSARDTeesworks Joint VentureMy Lords, I thank the Minister for the Statement. What a sad state of affairs it is that a vital and very large regeneration project in the north-east of England has to be the…30 Jan 2024HANSARDLong-term Plan for HousingMy Lords, I remind the House of my registered interests as a councillor in Kirklees—where we have an up-to-date local plan—and as a vice-president of the Local Government…11 Jan 2024HANSARDFire Safety Regulations and GuidanceMy Lords, I remind the House of my relevant interests as a councillor in Kirklees in West Yorkshire and a vice-president of the Local Government Association. My noble friend Lord…14 Dec 2023HANSARDBuilding Repairs: VATMy Lords—14 Dec 2023HANSARDBuilding Repairs: VATMy Lords, I have relevant interests recorded in the register. I want to turn our attention to people’s homes. Some 20 years ago, Kirklees Council offered free loft and cavity wall…14 Dec 2023HANSARDYork and North Yorkshire Combined Authority Order 2023My Lords, I remind the Committee of my interests as a councillor in the adjacent West Yorkshire area and a vice-president of the Local Government Association. Devolving powers on…13 Dec 2023HANSARDYork and North Yorkshire Combined Authority Order 2023I am sorry to interrupt, but government Ministers continually say that above-inflation grants have been provided to local authorities in the last year or so. However, for those…13 Dec 2023HANSARDAutumn Statement 2023My Lords, I too welcome the noble Baroness, Lady Vere, to her new ministerial post and I remind the House of my direct interests in local government, as set out in the register.…29 Nov 2023HANSARDKing’s SpeechMy Lords, it has been a really interesting, wide-ranging and well-informed debate. I hope Ministers have been listening carefully, because they have been given plenty of ideas,…09 Nov 2023