This strategy commits to a series of measures to fix the broken local audit system, including:
A local audit vision with eight core principles.
The establishment of a statutory and independent Local Audit Office (LAO), with five strategic responsibilities - coordinating the system, contract management, ownership of the Code of Audit Practice, quality oversight and reporting.
Mandating audit committees.
The government is also consulting on a number of specific proposals as part of this strategy, including:
Potential additional functions of the new LAO.
Simplifying financial reporting requirements to ensure they are proportionate.
Improvements to enhance capacity and capability in the local audit sector, such as the introduction of public provision.
Strengthening the relationship between local bodies and their auditor.
Reforming the audit regime.
The paper is found at Local audit reform: a strategy for overhauling the local audit system in England - GOV.UK.
Closing date for responses is 29 January 2025.
The purpose of this consultation was to seek views on the need for a universal definition of ‘care experience’ and what the potential impacts of this could be.
In response to its commitment to keep The Promise, The Scottish Government Keeping the Promise Implementation Plan set out the cross-Government actions and policies that will be taken to bring about the transformational change required to keep the Promise by 2030. This includes a commitment to work with partners across Scotland, including The Promise Scotland, to develop a universal and inclusive definition of ‘care experience’ so that more people can understand and identify with it.
The consultation paper can be found at: Developing a universal definition of 'care experience': consultation - gov.scot (www.gov.scot). Responses were requested via the Scottish Government’s consultation hub Citizen Space.
Closing date for responses was 8 January 2025.
This consultation seeks views on a range of proposals aimed at implementing technical reforms to the compulsory purchase process and compensation rules to make it cheaper, quicker and fairer.
The paper and on-line response link can be found at Compulsory Purchase Process and Compensation Reforms - GOV.UK.
Closing date for responses is 13 February 2025.
The Law Commission has published a consultation paper on compulsory purchase law in England and Wales.
The Commission is reviewing outdated compulsory purchase laws to support a simpler, more modern and more accessible legal framework for the compulsory acquisition of land. It has published a consultation paper as part of a review of the law on compulsory purchase and compensation. Responses to the consultation will inform a final report which will be accompanied by a draft Bill to consolidate the law and make technical changes to ensure that the law is suitable for the modern era.
The consultation paper can be downloaded from the Law Commission project webpage at https://lawcom.gov.uk/project/compulsory-purchase/.
Closing date for responses is 31 March 2025.
To meet the Welsh Government’s commitment to improve the appeals process and provide greater transparency, they plan to make the following changes:
Clearly define the operational responsibilities of each organisation, the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) and the Valuation Tribunal for Wales (VTW), to improve taxpayers’ understanding of who does what and when.
Enable the VOA to provide taxpayers with their own property data and any available evidence used to arrive at their banding earlier in the process, thus improving transparency and allowing people to make informed choices as early as possible.
Ensure the VOA and the VTW clearly set out the choices and next steps in correspondence with the taxpayer and provide an option for taxpayers to withdraw after reviewing property data and evidence provided.
Remove the automatic referral of an unresolved proposal to the VTW, allowing autonomy for taxpayers to decide how far into the process they wish to go.
The paper can be found at https://www.gov.wales/proposed-changes-council-tax-proposals-and-appeals-system.
Closing date for comments is 3 April 2025.
This call for evidence seeks views on the merits of and considerations for changing the credit union common bond requirement for membership in Great Britain, under the Credit Unions Act 1979.
Credit unions are member-owned and democratically controlled financial institutions which primarily provide loans and savings products to their members. Under the Credit Unions Act 1979, credit union members must have specific common bonds between them. These are the links and common communities between members.
The aim of this call for evidence is to understand whether there is a case to change parts of the common bond requirement, in order to help credit unions grow sustainably and ensure this aspect of the legislative framework for credit unions is fit for the 21st century.
This call for evidence only seeks views on the common bond for credit unions in England, Wales, and Scotland. This is because responsibility for credit unions in Northern Ireland is a devolved matter for the Northern Ireland Executive.
The consultation paper can be found https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/credit-union-common-bond-reform?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications-topic&utm_source=243cbac8-5e8d-4ad1-a5fd-277ac90d6208&utm_content=daily.
Closing date for responses is 6 March 2025.
The Bankruptcy and Diligence (Scotland) Bill completed its progress through the Scottish Parliament on 6 June 2024. Section 1 of the Bill requires Scottish Ministers to create a moratorium on debt recovery action by creditors against individuals who have a mental illness. This is an enabling power which lays out the framework for the moratorium with the detail of the process to be provided in secondary legislation.
A draft of the Debt Recovery (Mental Health Moratorium) (Scotland) Regulations has now been produced. This is based on the expert Mental Health Moratorium working group's recommendation, feedback from the Mental Health Moratorium public consultation, and various debates during scrutiny of the Bankruptcy and Diligence (Scotland) Bill.
This consultation has been formed from the draft Regulations (although please note that some minor changes have been made to the Regulations since they were shared with the Scottish Parliament). Feedback received during this consultation will enable us to finalise and commence the Mental Health Moratorium Regulations subject to the will of Parliament.
The consultation could be found at https://consult.gov.scot/economic-development/debt-recovery-mental-health-moratorium-regulations/
Deadline for responses is 17 March 2025.
This consultation sought views on the detail and practical implications of allowing remote and hybrid attendance at local authority meetings.
It also tested views on the possible introduction of proxy voting for those occasions when an elected member, due to personal circumstances, may be unable to attend even remotely. For example, during maternity, paternity or adoption leave.
The consultation could be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/enabling-remote-attendance-and-proxy-voting-at-local-authority-meetings.
The closing date for responses was 19 December 2024.
This consultation seeks views, in particular from representatives of local government, on proposals for the local government finance settlement for 2025-26. The settlement is an annual process to distribute core resources to local government and consists of grant, council tax and locally retained business rates. Following consultation, the government will determine the final amounts of the Revenue Support Grant, and the section 31 grants distributed alongside the settlement, and their allocations to receiving authorities and the specified body, as part of determining the overall allocation of this year’s settlement made to each local authority in England.
This consultation document, together with accompanying documents including the draft Local Government Finance Report for 2025-26, notifies representatives of local government and members of the public of the government’s proposals for policies across the upcoming settlement. This includes: the general nature of the basis of Revenue Support Grant distribution; the general nature of the basis of the calculation of ‘tariff’ and ‘top up’ payments that form part of the business rates retention system; the determination of the ‘central’ and ‘local share’ of business rates for 2025-26; the general nature of the basis of the distribution of section 31 grants alongside the settlement; and council tax referendum principles set through the settlement process.
On 28 November, the government published a policy statement setting out the government’s intentions for the 2025-26 settlement and the direction of travel to fix the foundations of local government in 2026-27 and beyond. This consultation builds on and invites views on the proposals set out in that statement for 2025-26 only.
The consultation can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-provisional-local-government-finance-settlement-2025-to-2026/consultation-provisional-local-government-finance-settlement-2025-to-26#annex-b-address-details-and-list-of-consultation-questions
Deadline for responses is 15 January 2025.
General
The Scottish Government would like to invite you to respond to this consultation on a local authority General Power of Competence.
They are pleased to be taking forward this work as part of their commitment to joint partnership working with COSLA and Local Government and would like to ask for your views and perspectives on potential legislative changes to enable local authorities to more effectively deliver public services.
A General Power of Competence
A General Power of Competence is commonly defined as a statutory power to do “anything that individuals may generally do”, and is currently available to local authorities in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
A number of representations have been made to the Scottish Government seeking the introduction of a similar General Power of Competence for local authorities in Scotland.
However, despite the existence of a General Power of Competence in England, Wales and Northern Island, many local authorities continue to be reluctant to use that power to explore activity beyond those functions explicitly set out in statute, due to concerns as to potential legal challenge and interpretations by the courts of the limitations of the scope of this power.
This consultation therefore seeks to establish what functions, beyond those already conferred by statute, local authorities in Scotland may wish to pursue and whether new legislation or amendments to existing legislation would be required to deliver those additional functions.
This consultation also seeks to explore how best to deliver a level of confidence and assurance to local authorities to ensure that any further powers are utilised effectively.
Responses are sought, in relation to both existing legislative powers in Scotland and the wider legislative powers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, on the barriers to using such power, the concerns and perceived risks and potential conflict with other legislative provisions.
Views are also sought on how best to ensure that legislation contains the right balance of flexibility and control to mitigate risks arising from any greater statutory freedoms.
The consultation can be found at https://consult.gov.scot/local-government-and-communities/a-local-authority-general-power-of-competence/.
Closing date for responses is 28 March 2025.
The Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG) Committee has launched an inquiry looking at whether the local government finance system in England is fit for purpose.
At a time of significant service and cost pressures on local authorities, and of tight council budgets, the cross-party Committee will take a broad look at the local government funding and finance system.
The HCLG Committee’s inquiry will examine the significant funding pressures in local government and will also look at the level of control which local authorities have over both the funding they receive and their costs for providing services.
Public evidence sessions are expected to commence in February 2025. Witness details will be confirmed and announced in due course but the Committee are likely to hear from witnesses including local authority finance directors, local government elected representatives, and the MHCLG Minister.
The report can be found at https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/17/housing-communities-and-local-government-committee/news/204229/the-funding-and-sustainability-of-local-government-finance-housing-communities-and-local-government-committee-launches-new-inquiry/.
This consultation seeks views on the approach to local authority funding reform through the local government finance settlement from 2026-27.
This consultation seeks views on the approach to determining new funding allocations for local authorities and fire and rescue authorities. It covers: guiding objectives and principles; measuring differences in demand for services and the cost of delivering them; measuring differences in locally available resources; the New Homes Bonus; and implementing changes and keeping allocations up-to-date. It also covers: ways the Government can reduce demands on local government to empower them to deliver for communities; and sales, fees and charges reform. It invites views on the possible equalities impacts of these proposals.
The consultation can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/local-authority-funding-reform-objectives-and-principles.
Closing date for responses is 12 February 2025.
This consultation seeks views on introducing measures to strengthen the standards and conduct regime in England and ensure consistency of approach amongst councils investigating serious breaches of their member codes of conduct, including the introduction of the power of suspension.
Specific proposals being consulted upon for legislative change include:
The introduction of a mandatory minimum code of conduct for local authorities in England.
A requirement that all principal authorities convene formal standards committees to make decisions on code of conduct breaches, and publish the outcomes of all formal investigations.
The introduction of the power for all local authorities (including combined authorities) to suspend councillors or mayors found in serious breach of their code of conduct and, as appropriate, interim suspension for the most serious and complex cases that may involve police investigations.
A new category of disqualification for gross misconduct and those subject to a sanction of suspension more than once in a 5-year period.
A role for a national body to deal with appeals.
In addition, the consultation seeks views on how to empower victims affected by councillor misconduct to come forward and what additional support would be appropriate to consider.
The consultation can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/strengthening-the-standards-and-conduct-framework-for-local-authorities-in-england.
Closing date for responses is 26 February 2025.
At the Autumn Budget 2024, the government announced its intention to introduce permanently lower business rates for retail, hospitality and leisure properties from 2026-27 to level the playing field for the high-street.
This paper sets out the government’s priority areas of reform to achieve the remaining objectives. The paper includes the following chapters:
Chapter 1 explains why the government believes the business rates system needs to be reformed.
Chapter 2 details the immediate actions taken by the government in Autumn Budget 2024 to protect the high street.
Chapter 3 sets out the government’s areas of interest for further reform.
Chapter 4 sets out the government’s next steps and how stakeholders can participate.
The government is interested in receiving representations from all interested parties and stakeholders on the priority areas set out in chapter 3. They are especially interested in receiving representations from businesses and their representatives, local authorities, and rating agents.
They will be conducting engagement between November 2024 and March 2025, with an initial phase of engagement before Christmas.
The paper can be found at Transforming business rates - GOV.UK.
Written submissions on the priority areas set out, are to be received no later than March 2025, via transformingbusinessrates@hmtreasury.gov.uk.
The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language, Mark Drakeford MS, has launched a consultation on the Welsh Government’s proposal to withdraw charitable non-domestic rates relief from private schools, from 1 April 2025. In Wales, private schools are registered as ‘independent schools’.
The consultation sets out the Welsh Government’s proposal and asks for views.
The consultation can be found at https://www.gov.wales/charitable-non-domestic-rates-relief-private-schools.
The deadline for responses was 16 December 2024.
The IRRV’s response can be found at https://www.irrv.net/documents/weblinks/2024/12/IRRV_Response_Private_Schools_Wales_Consultation_2024.pdf.
A consultation on a package of proposed reforms to the structure, investments, and governance of the Local Government Pension Scheme.
This consultation seeks views on proposals designed to strengthen the management of Local Government Pension Scheme investments. The proposals relate to the topics of asset pooling, local and regional investment, and scheme governance.
The consultation can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/local-government-pension-scheme-england-and-wales-fit-for-the-future?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications-topic&utm_source=d1fe4792-a454-4c2b-87ab-745c60cd42c9&utm_content=daily..
The deadline for responses is 16 January 2025.
The DWP released official statistics in development and a statistical consultation on developing new statistics based on the Social Metrics Commission approach to poverty measurement. The consultation ran from 18 January to 11 April 2024.
The consultation can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/below-average-resources-developing-a-new-poverty-measure.
The consultation response will be published on 23 January 2025, as part of the release of Below Average Resources statistics for financial year 2022 to 2023.
The government sought views on a draft Direction to the Regulator of Social Housing. The Direction would require the Regulator to set a regulatory standard on rents that will apply to Registered Providers of social housing.
This encompassed:
Private Registered Providers (including housing associations that are Private Registered Providers).
Local authority Registered Providers (such as local authorities with retained housing stock)
Section 197 of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 gives the Secretary of State the power to direct the Regulator of Social Housing to set a standard on rent, and about the content of that standard. Once issued, a Direction is binding on the Regulator.
They proposed to use this power to issue a new Direction to the Regulator on rent. The proposed Direction has been published alongside this consultation.
The consultation could be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-future-social-housing-rent-policy.
The closing date for responses was 23 December 2024.
The consultation seeks views on refining 2 areas of the UK subsidy control regime:
Changing the thresholds for referral of subsidies to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).
Creating new streamlined routes for public authorities to use to deliver subsidies more quickly and easily in specific circumstances.
The paper can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/refining-the-uk-subsidy-control-regime/refining-the-uk-subsidy-control-regime-consultation-document.
The closing date for comments is 21 January 2025.
The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) aims to improve its statistics to ensure they continue to best meet the needs of users. Following a review of business floorspace statistics, they have identified two possible ways to measure and classify floorspace within the statistics. Floorspace can continue to be classified at an overall hereditament level; or floorspace can be measured at a more granular level and aggregated by the use of each section of a hereditament.
The purpose of the consultation is to understand how floorspace statistics are used and therefore which of the two methods will better meet user needs. The document sets out the broad differences in the two approaches and invites feedback from users. It is published alongside a Quality Assurance of Administrative Data (QAAD) report which provides more detail on our non-domestic property attribute data, to give users the necessary information to respond.
The consultation can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/non-domestic-rating-business-floorspace-quality-assurance-of-administrative-data-and-public-consultation/public-consultation-on-business-floorspace-statistics-published-by-the-valuation-office-agency.
The deadline for responses is 30 January 2025.
A Welsh translation was added on 23 December 2024
The Law Commission’s first Consultation Paper on “Business Tenancies: the right to renew” was published on 19 November. Publication marks the beginning of a 3-month consultation period, ending on 19 February 2025.
Their Business Tenancies project is a review of the 1954 Act. The Act gives business tenants a legal right to another tenancy when their existing tenancy comes to an end (a right known as “security of tenure”), subject to the landlord’s ability to oppose another tenancy in certain circumstances.
The Consultation Paper asks key questions about the possible options to reform the 1954 Act. In particular, they consider the pros and cons of the current “contracting-out” model of security of tenure and consider three alternative models: mandatory security of tenure, abolition of security of tenure and a “contracting-in” model. They seek consultees’ views on which model they prefer. They also seek views on whether or not the types of business tenancy which can benefit from security of tenure – the Act’s scope – are the right ones.
After they have analysed all the responses to our first Consultation Paper and reached conclusions on the issues it raises, they will then expect to publish a second, technical Consultation Paper.
Alongside the Consultation Paper, they published a short survey on the impact of Part 2 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 (“the 1954 Act”) on the current commercial leasehold market.
The consultation can be found here. The survey can be found here.
The deadline for responses is 19 February 2025.
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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