Chris Seeks Assurances Of Local Authority Prudence & Openness When Selling Assets
Christopher Chope Conservative, Christchurch
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will ensure that any local authority in England which offers for sale an asset in its ownership does so in an open and transparent way which enables external organisations to bid and best value to be obtained.
Lee Rowley Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
Local authorities are responsible for their own financial management and remain responsible to their electorate for their decisions. This includes how they manage and dispose of their assets. However, they must comply with the best value duty, which is clear that a local authority should have regard to economy, efficiency and effectiveness when exercising its functions
Where a local authority (and other public bodies) are disposing of land, they should generally dispose of surplus land at the best possible price reasonably obtainable. The Government recognises, however, that disposing of land at less than best consideration can sometimes create wider public benefits, such as supporting delivery of initiatives or facilitate regeneration projects that deliver new housing. Where land is disposed of at an undervalue, the approval of the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government is required - either through a specific application or under a general consent
The Government expects authorities to demonstrate high standards of financial management and transparency, and authorities must appropriately comply with relevant rules and guidance. Practices followed by authorities should be subject to internal scrutiny, and external auditors annually review whether a council has proper processes in place for achieving value for money as part of their statutory engagement.
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