The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will scrutinise the system of
developer contributions to improve local areas on Monday
30th June at 3.30pm.
Such contributions are important for delivering infrastructure
and affordable housing. However, the National Audit Office's own
recent report found a complex system with only light-touch
oversight from Government. Developers can manipulate financial
viability assessments in order to negotiate down their
contributions. Additionally, staffing challenges hamper local
authorities' ability to negotiate with developers and deliver
infrastructure effectively.
Following the NAO's report, the Committee will question senior
officials from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local
Government (MHCLG) exploring the challenges within the system,
and how to get it working efficiently and effectively. Members
are likely to explore progress on MHCLG's programme of
improvements announced last year, including plans to address
workforce challenges for local authority planning professionals
and to accelerate the delivery of new homes.
MHCLG is also likely to be questioned on its responses to the
PAC's recent dangerous claddingand
tackling homelessness
reports (dangerous cladding govt response here and tackling
homelessness response here). The PAC found
little assurance in government's cladding response that MHCLG is
really putting residents at the heart of its remediation plans.
On tackling homelessness, the government's response did not
directly address the PAC's concerns around people being placed in
accommodation out of their own area.
Witnesses
From 3.30pm:
-
, Permanent Secretary at
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG)
- Joanna Key, Director General, Regeneration, Housing and
Planning at MHCLG
- William Burgon, Director for Planning at MHCLG
