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Community Development

Volume 489: debated on Thursday 12 March 2009

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 14 January 2009, Official Report, columns 768-9W, on community development, for what reasons her Department decided not to proceed with plans for the establishment of neighbourhood improvement districts. (262541)

The Government decided not to proceed with neighbourhood improvement districts (NIDs) because there was no hard evidence of demand for them, but clear public concern about council tax levels, and NIDs would have increased burdens on council tax payers. In addition, local authorities, including parish councils, already have powers to provide many of the services that a NID could provide, such as local wardens or neighbourhood managers. The Government have simplified the process for setting up parishes, and have also passed legislation enabling parish councils to be set up in areas that previously could not have them (e.g. London).