The external auditing of local bodies is vital in supporting democratic accountability and providing assurance for local people and their elected representatives. The backlog in the publication of audited accounts of local bodies in England has grown to an unacceptable level.
This consultation sought views on amending the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 as part of a package of cross-system measures to clear the backlog and put the system on a sustainable footing.
The draft statutory instrument covered the core elements of the proposed amendments to the Regulations.
The Joint Statement, agreed with system partners, provided vital context and explains the cross-system proposals and how the various elements are intended to interact.
The consultation could be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/addressing-the-local-audit-backlog-in-england-consultation?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications-topic&utm_source=e719b71d-2f8d-49e0-9a7b-f5bbfc0f55e1&utm_content=daily.
Closing date for responses was 7 March 2024.
This study seeks to explore current or recent (since 2019) take-up campaigns and other initiatives aimed at tackling unclaimed benefits among severely disabled people and people who have serious long-term health conditions (including those with life-limiting (terminal) illness), their families and carers.
The overall research project (a wider study of issues around benefit take-up among these groups) is led by Dr. Joanna Davies, of King’s College London. The present survey of benefit take-up initiatives and campaigns (the subject of this questionnaire) is being undertaken by Geoff Fimister, who has over 50 years’ experience in the area of social security and related issues.
The research is funded by Marie Curie, who have a particular focus on people who are terminally ill, their families and carers. However, this questionnaire survey is concerned more widely with people who are substantially disabled or have long-term health conditions.
They are interested in benefits such as:-
Personal Independence Payment (Adult Disability Payment in Scotland)
Attendance Allowance
Universal Credit (for disabled people)
Housing Benefit (for disabled pension age claimants)
Pension Credit (where the target group is disabled pensioners)
Council Tax Support/ Reduction (formerly Council Tax Benefit)
Carers’ benefits
They would also be interested in take-up campaigns and initiatives targeting other benefits, where the main focus is on severely disabled people and people who have serious long-term health conditions.
A key aim of this survey will be to develop ideas and good practice guidance to be widely disseminated, for example, to central and local government; health service practitioners; and advice service providers.
They may, in their survey report, refer to your service by name unless you ask them not to. None of their questions requires individual claimants to be identified – please comprehensively anonymise any case illustrations.
It would be a great help if you would complete this questionnaire at https://www.irrv.net/documents/weblinks/2024/3/Benefit_take-up_questionnaire_severely_disabled_people.docx and return by 30 April 2024.
This document summarises the responses received to the consultation, confirms the policy position on these exceptions, and provides further detail on how the government will amend the criteria following the consultation. The government will issue guidance for councils and the public on the empty homes and second homes premium.
The summary of responses can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/proposals-to-exempt-categories-of-dwellings-from-the-council-tax-premiums/outcome/summary-of-responses-and-governments-response-to-the-consultation-on-proposals-to-exempt-categories-of-dwellings-from-the-council-tax-premiums-in-eng.
The IRRV’s response to the original consultation can be found at https://www.irrv.net/documents/weblinks/2024/3/IRRV-Response-Consultation-Council-Tax-Premiums.pdf.
Support with Council Tax payments through the Welsh Government’s Council Tax Reduction Scheme (‘the scheme’) is an important part of welfare support for households on low incomes. The scheme, which is administered locally by councils, has historically had low take-up from potentially eligible residents and the number of households receiving a Council Tax reduction continues to fall.
This technical consultation proposes a number of changes to the scheme to make it easier to access and simpler to administer. Nothing in this consultation places new restrictions on existing eligibility for the scheme.
The consultation can be found at https://www.gov.wales/proposed-changes-council-tax-reduction-scheme.
Closing date for responses is 6 June 2024.
The consultation paper ‘Implementing increases to selected court and tribunal fees’ was published in November 2023.
The consultation invited comments on the proposal to increase a selection of court and tribunal fees by 10% to partially reflect changes in the consumer price index (CPI) since 2021, the last time that fees were increased.
This document is the post-consultation report for the consultation. It covers:
The background to the report.
A summary of the responses to the report.
A detailed response to the specific questions raised in the report.
the next steps following this consultation response.
The response document can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/implementing-increases-to-selected-court-and-tribunal-fees?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications-topic&utm_source=8dc08db0-dd01-455f-913e-c27a2acac1f3&utm_content=daily#full-publication-update-history.
The Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) consulted on its proposals for the delivery of its debt advice strategy.
The consultation set out MaPS' approach to debt advice up to 2028. It explored how they interpret their remit in relation to debt advice and the role that they could take in working with the wider debt sector on some of the key issues and challenges identified.
The consultation could be found at https://maps.org.uk/en/publications/consultations-and-responses/2024/consultation-on-MaPS-proposals-for-delivery-of-debt-advice-strategy#.
Closing date for responses was 3 April 2024.
ECB’s draft Business Plan for 2024/25 was open for consultation.
This consultation paper introduced the Enforcement Conduct Board’s (ECB) draft business plan for 2024/25. The 2024/25 business plan was the second of their full business plans. A draft was presented in Annex A to this consultation, which set out their key strategic priorities and planned deliverables for the year ahead.
The consultation could be found at https://enforcementconductboard.org/our-work/#businessplan.
Closing date for responses was 4 April 2024.
The IRRV response is at https://www.irrv.net/documents/weblinks/2024/4/IRRV_response_Consultation_on_ECB_Business_Plan_030424.pdf.
This consultation sets out proposals for the National Fraud Initiative (NFI) 2024/25 work programme and associated scale of fees.
The NFI work programme includes data that we intend to collect and match as part of the NFI 2024/25 data matching exercise, to help detect and prevent fraud. The proposed fee scale sets out the cost to NFI participants for matching this data.
The purpose of this consultation is to seek views from organisations required under legislation to submit data to the NFI, and other relevant organisations, on the proposed data requirements and fees for the NFI 2024/25 exercise.
The consultation can could be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/national-fraud-initiative-2024-to-2025-work-programme-and-fees?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications-topic&utm_source=773a3812-b30f-40f1-974b-2767f175376a&utm_content=daily.
Closing date for responses is 30 April 2024.
The Minister for Finance and Local Government intends to put before the Senedd a proposal to change land transaction tax rules to allow homebuyers, in specified difficult circumstances, extensions to the current 3-year periods.
The proposal will be put before the Senedd once the responses to this consultation have been considered.
The consultation could be found at https://www.gov.wales/land-transaction-tax-higher-residential-rates-proposals-to-amend-the-refund-and-exception-rules.
The closing date for responses was 17 March 2024.
The government is continuing to monitor the impacts of the current protections and has been made aware of a perceived issue in the qualifying criteria for the protections, for people who own their principal home jointly, and additional properties jointly. However, the department does not have any data on the number of leaseholders this issue is impacting. As part of the policy development, this call for evidence sought to understand the scale of the issue, and to consider whether any changes could be proposed by the government. The department therefore sought evidence from both leaseholders and landlords on who may be affected if this policy is changed. This is why they launched a call for evidence.
They understand a change in policy that increases the number of leases granted protections will impact on the amount of service charge for non-cladding related remediation a landlord is able to collect in an affected building. This is where additional leasehold properties in their building will benefit from the protections, and they would like to understand the impact on landlords of this proposed change in policy.
To note, this only affected landlords of buildings in England.
The consultation could be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/jointly-owned-leasehold-properties?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications-topic&utm_source=224da5e8-5f4f-4364-a14e-a1077c248da1&utm_content=daily.
Closing date for responses was 5 April 2024.
The government has responded to the Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities Select Committee’s inquiry on financial distress in local authorities published on 1 February 2024.
The response can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/financial-distress-in-local-authorities-government-response-to-the-select-committee-report/financial-distress-in-local-authorities-government-response-to-the-select-committee-report.
Senedd Cymru’s Local Government and Housing Committee released a consultation scrutinising the Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill.
Specifically, the Bill scrutinises:-
The general principles of the Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill and whether there is a need for legislation to deliver the Bill’s stated policy objectives (see the Bill page for further details).
Any potential barriers to the implementation of the Bill’s provisions, and whether the Bill and accompanying Explanatory Memorandum and Regulatory Impact Assessment take adequate account of them.
Whether there are any unintended consequences arising from the Bill.
The Welsh Government’s assessment of the financial and other impacts of the Bill as set out in Part 2 of the Explanatory Memorandum.
The appropriateness of the powers in the Bill for Welsh Ministers to make subordinate legislation (as set out in Part 1: Chapter 5 of the Explanatory Memorandum).
Matters relating to the competence of the Senedd including compatibility with the European Convention on Human Rights.
The balance between the information contained on the face of the Bill and what is left to subordinate legislation.
Any matter related to the quality of the legislation.
Any other matter related to the constitutional or other implications of the Bill.
The consultation can be found at https://business.senedd.wales/mgConsultationDisplay.aspx?id=539&RPID=1035567228&cp=yes.
Closing date for responses was 15 January 2024.
The IRRV’s response can be found at https://www.irrv.net/documents/weblinks/2024/1/IRRV_Response_LGFBill_150123.pdf.
Matthew Evans (an IRRV Member) presented oral evidence on Thursday, 25 January 2024 on behalf of the Institute before the Welsh Parliament in Cardiff, on the topic of the Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill. A link to the session recording can be found at https://www.senedd.tv/Meeting/Archive/e6ce8701-7978-427e-bf06-6be985606cb3?autostart=True. The session content runs from 41:40 to 1:38:00.
On 15 March 2025, the Local Government and Housing Committee’s Stage 1 report on the Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill was published. This can be found at https://www.irrv.net/documents/weblinks/2024/3/LGF%20Bill%20Stage%201%20report%20(en).pdf.
Having considered the evidence presented on the broad range of provisions in this Bill, it was concluded that, on balance, and taken in its entirety, they support its general principles. However, it is evident that there are a number of areas on which further consideration by the Welsh Government is necessary. This report details their consideration of each of the provisions within the Bill and their subsequent recommendations, which seek to make the improvements they believe are needed to strengthen this legislation.
The Summary of Responses to the Business Rates Avoidance and Evasion Consultation sets out the views expressed to the government during the consultation and outlines reforms to combat abuse of the system.
The government is extending the Empty Property Relief “reset period”, from six weeks to three months (13 weeks) from 1 April 2024 in England. This will reduce the financial incentive to avoid business rates on empty properties through “box shifting”. The government is also announcing a consultation on a “General Anti-Avoidance Rule” for business rates in England, and committing to improved communications for ratepayers to help combat “rogue” business rates agents.
The summary of responses can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/business-rates-avoidance-and-evasion-consultation?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications-topic&utm_source=232bea13-c5fe-4a10-9fbd-f8571056d2c5&utm_content=daily.
The IRRV’s response to the original consultation can be found at https://www.irrv.net/documents/weblinks/2023/9/IRRV-Response-Consultation-Rates-Avoidance-and-Evasion-Final.pdf.
Local authorities have the legal responsibility to provide social care and support to their respective assessed citizens, either within their own home, or in a residential care setting, and have the discretion to charge for those services.
Noting the increasing extreme financial pressures on local authorities, this consultation document seeks views on amending the regulations and code of practice governing local authority charging for social care and support services under the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014. The consultation specifically seeks views on a proposed increase to the non-residential maximum weekly charge, currently set at £100.
The proposed change would ensure only individuals who have the financial means to pay an increased maximum weekly charge would do so. This would be determined by the usual process, as part of the financial means test carried out by an individual’s local authority. Therefore, not everyone currently paying the maximum weekly amount of £100 would be required to pay an increased amount.
The consultation can be found at https://www.gov.wales/raising-weekly-maximum-charge-adult-non-residential-care-and-support.
Closing date for responses is 13 May 2024.
The Department for Infrastructure launched a consultation on options for introducing water and sewerage charges.
The consultation, which had its content approved by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, provided an overview of potential water and sewerage charging revenue-raising options that could be introduced in Northern Ireland, with a focus on creating sustainable public finances.
It set out and sought views on the main pathways through which water and sewerage charging could be introduced, how a relief scheme to protect vulnerable people might be developed, and how charging might be billed and collected.
It also asked about three other revenue-raising options:-
Charging customers for domestic septic tank desludging.
Recovering the cost of roads drainage from all customers.
The removal of the domestic allowance for non-domestic customers.
All non-domestic customers in Northern Ireland are charged for water and those who discharge to the public sewer are also subject to sewerage charges, and trade effluent charges where applicable. In cases where a property is used for both non-domestic and domestic purposes, the use of water and sewerage is considered as non-domestic use.
A domestic allowance is a free volume of water and/or sewage which is subtracted from the volume as recorded by the meter, before calculating the volumetric charge. This revenue raising option would involve the removal of the allowance currently received by non-domestic customers for domestic usage, meaning that such customers would be required to pay more.
The consultation could be found at Water and sewerage charges – options for revenue raising | Department for Infrastructure (infrastructure-ni.gov.uk).
Closing date for responses was 13 March 2024.
The IRRV’s response can be found at https://www.irrv.net/documents/weblinks/2024/3/IRRV_response_Consultation_on_Water_and_Sewerage_Charges_Northern_Ireland.pdf.
A new inquiry from the Work and Pensions Committee investigated how disabled people could be better supported to start and stay in work and the effectiveness of the Government’s recent efforts to narrow the disability employment gap.
The inquiry examined the progress being made in reducing the difference between the proportion of disabled and non-disabled people in employment since the Committee’s 2021 report, which warned that DWP’s national programme for supporting disabled people in work was not working. Further Committee reports have also voiced concern about Work Capability Assessments and made other recommendations on improving support for disabled workers.
The inquiry could be found at https://committees.parliament.uk/work/8271/disability-employment/.
Deadline for call of evidence was 28 March 2024.
A library containing Institute responses to Consultations, Inquiries, Surveys etc. can be found at https://www.irrv.net/homenew/item.php?wid=20&iid=27496.
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