King's Speech 2023: reaction from the sector

Local Government Lawyer rounds up the sector’s reaction to today's King's Speech.

Bills covering data protection, housing, licensing and the ‘economic activities’ of public bodies are among a raft of new legislation announced in the King’s Speech today (7 November).

Overall

Cllr Sir Stephen Houghton, Chair of the Special Interest group of Municipal Authorities (SIGOMA)

"Today’s King’s Speech contained nothing for local government at a time when council finances are at breaking point, and local authorities are crying out for the devolved powers and funding to deliver crucial housing, transport, and net zero projects essential to 'levelling up'.

"We are witnessing a record number of local authorities facing S114 - putting vital services at risk in dozens of councils. Our members were desperate for some answers and assurances in today's announcement. It is now essential that the Government use the upcoming Autumn Statement to stabilise council finances – a vital last opportunity to help support our members.”

Renters reform

Cllr Darren Rodwell, Housing spokesperson for the Local Government Association

“This Bill will help to achieve better standards in the private rented sector through increasing the rights of tenants and enabling them to better hold landlords to account. It will also increase councils’ oversight of and ability to enforce against the small minority of landlords guilty of criminal behaviour.

“The removal of ‘no fault’ evictions is a significant step towards tackling our national homelessness crisis. Whilst the LGA remains concerned by the delay to its implementation as a result of backlogs in the court system, we believe the Government should consider publishing the evidence base for the delay and bring forward the abolition of Section 21 at pace.

“We also support measures that will enable councils to keep the proceeds of financial penalties to reinvest in enforcement activity. However, this funding won’t cover the costs of the new duties in the Bill or the scale of the proactive work that is needed to improve standards for tenants.

“We will continue to work with government to ensure that councils have the right powers, skills, capacity and resources to undertake effective enforcement activity. This includes removing the requirement for Secretary of State approval for larger selective licensing schemes.”

A Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RCIS) spokesperson

"RCIS is glad that the government has committed to abolishing Section 21 'no-fault' evictions. We agree that the court system must be reformed and digitalised, however the lack of timescale for such will be of little comfort to renters, who are also facing increasing rents and decreasing choices of homes whilst we continue to under-deliver on new housing supply."

Automated vehicles reform

Cllr Darren Rodwell, Transport spokesperson for the Local Government Association

“Autonomous Vehicles have potential to dramatically improve people’s quality of life, especially in areas where bus services struggle to support them. It is important the law keeps up with new technology and trends in the way we travel.

“Councils will continue to prioritise safety and public health, regardless of mode of travel, alongside plans to keep roads congestion free, buses moving and make walking and cycling the first choice for short journeys to reduce carbon emissions.

“Councils are already leading the way in digitalising their Traffic Regulation Orders to manage their streets more effectively and efficiently, while preparing the ground for autonomous vehicles. It is important these changes end a long overdue, outdated and expensive requirement for these orders, and other council notices, to be published in local newspapers.

“Government also needs to act to help pedestrians and road users by regulating the estimated 750,000 private e-scooters already on our roads, the majority of which are used illegally and by banning pavement parking, which would make footpaths accessible to all parts of society.”

The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill (Martyn's Law)

Cllr Heather Kidd, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Safer & Stronger Communities Board

“Councils want to work with government to protect local places from attacks. We are pleased government has acted on our concerns around ensuring the bill is proportional and not unduly burdensome on local communities, and it is good there will be further consultation on balancing this with keeping people safe.”

Andy Grimsey, Solicitor at law firm Poppleston Allen

“As readers may know the Draft Bill aims to place a duty on qualifying public premises or events to take certain steps to reduce the threat of terrorism to the public. Those qualifying premises will be either Standard duty tier (public premises with a capacity of 100 – 799) or Enhanced duty tier (public premises with a capacity of over 800 individuals).

"The Bill may be subject to significant scrutiny given concerns raised by the Home Affairs Select Committee and industry representatives, including in the leisure sector, so we might see amendments as it makes its journey through both Houses.

"The Government has stated that in order to ensure the Bill is deliverable for smaller venues it will, before the Bill enters Parliament, launch a consultation on the Standard Tier ‘to ensure the Bill’s measures strike the right balance between public protection and avoiding undue burdens on smaller premises such as village halls, churches, and other community venues."

Justice system reform

Nick Vineall KC, Chair of the Bar Council

“The King’s speech has set out an ambitious parliamentary agenda including various Bills affecting the justice sector. The court system has suffered over a decade of underfunding and legal aid cuts have denied many people effective access to justice. Additional funding is urgently required both to ensure that the courts and justice system can adequately function and to enable the delivery of the draft legislation announced today."

Leasehold reform

A Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RCIS) spokesperson

“RICS is pleased that legislation will be introduced to make it cheaper and easier for leaseholders to purchase their leasehold property and tackle unfair service charges.

“This should provide greater protections and certainties for both tenants and landlords. Also, the new Ombudsman offers tenants greater protection and support in challenging unfair practices by landlords.”

Planning reform

A Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RCIS) spokesperson

“The planning system in the UK is one of the issues that need to be fixed to ensure housebuilding. RICS welcomes the government's continued focus to regenerate towns and ‘put local people in control of their future’. Our recent construction survey revealed that a notable drop in housebuilding caused overall construction workloads to fall.

“Changes to permitted development rights or removal of planning needs for extensions and conversions must be managed to avoid rabbit hutch homes; RICS regularly sees properties where relaxation in planning rules has come at the detriment of quality, safety, and sustainability.”