Sixth Report - Supporting our high streets after COVID-19
Select Committee
Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
HC 37
10 December 2021
Government response
Supporting Our High Streets After Covid-19: Government response to the Select Committee report · published 29 Mar 2022
Recommendations & Conclusions
6 results
1
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 24
We commend the Government for acting decisively and quickly to implement a wide-ranging package that...
Conclusion
We commend the Government for acting decisively and quickly to implement a wide-ranging package that supported high street businesses during the covid-19 pandemic. We additionally commend the Government for taking steps to avoid a cliff- edge of support, both by …
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Government Response Summary
The government agrees on the importance of learning lessons from the pandemic and states it continually monitored economic impacts and engaged with the retail sector. It has also commissioned an external evaluation of the Business Support Grant programme's delivery effectiveness.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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2
Recommendation
Acknowledged
Para 25
The Government’s commitment in its hospitality strategy to learning lessons from the pandemic for the...
Recommendation
The Government’s commitment in its hospitality strategy to learning lessons from the pandemic for the hospitality sector is a welcome start, but it should do so for high streets and town centres in the round. Learning lessons will not only …
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Government Response Summary
The government acknowledged the importance of learning lessons from the pandemic's impact on high streets and town centres, citing ongoing monitoring, engagement with the retail sector, and an external evaluation of the Business Support Grant programme.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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6
Recommendation
Acknowledged
Para 57
In line with our predecessor Committee’s recommendations and our report on the planning system in...
Recommendation
In line with our predecessor Committee’s recommendations and our report on the planning system in England, Local Plans and strategies for high streets and town centres must be updated regularly in order to keep pace with changing trends. This will …
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Government Response Summary
The government acknowledged the importance of up-to-date Local Plans and stated they are considering measures to support their implementation, but did not commit to annually publishing a list of high street strategies and their update status.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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13
Recommendation
Acknowledged
Para 67
The Government’s commitment in its Build Back Better High Streets strategy to work with stakeholders...
Recommendation
The Government’s commitment in its Build Back Better High Streets strategy to work with stakeholders on how property owners and community groups can be better engaged with Business Improvement Districts is welcome, albeit vague. This work should include consideration of …
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Government Response Summary
The government acknowledged the suggestions for additional BID models and stated they would keep them under consideration, but did not commit to a review or to collecting and publishing new examples, instead pointing to existing resources.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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18
Recommendation
Acknowledged
Para 95
It is important for the Government not just to evaluate the success of the individual...
Recommendation
It is important for the Government not just to evaluate the success of the individual funds, but also to have a clear framework for how the different funds will work together to achieve high street and town centre regeneration at …
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Government Response Summary
The government states it will set out a plan for streamlining the funding landscape this year, including a commitment to help local stakeholders navigate funding opportunities, rather than directly committing to an overarching evaluation framework for its Build Back Better High Streets Strategy.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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26
Recommendation
Acknowledged
We welcome many of the Government’s reforms to business rates, in particular the more frequent...
Recommendation
We welcome many of the Government’s reforms to business rates, in particular the more frequent revaluations and the 12-month holiday from increases arising from investing in improvements. But we are concerned that they do not amount to long-term or fundamental …
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Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the need for business rate reform, outlining existing measures such as 3-yearly revaluations and a completed technical consultation. It highlights current support through the 50% relief and an extended multiplier freeze but does not explicitly set out a plan for when the current reliefs end.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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