David Burrowes – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Burrowes on 2016-01-21.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether the local government finance settlement will be subject to a needs-led review.

Mr Marcus Jones

The consultation on the provisional local government finance settlement for 2016-17 closed on 15 January. We are considering carefully all the responses and other representations made and will present final proposals soon to enable local authorities to set their budgets for 2016-17.

At the outset of the current system of business rates retention in 2013-14, we said there would be periodic reviews to take account of changes to needs and resources. As part of the move towards 100% business rates retention by the end of this Parliament, we will work with local government on the approach to implementing these reforms, including on the treatment of needs and resources, and will consult on proposed changes.