§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many park home sites operate under planning permission but without licences. [34814]
§ Ms KeebleUnder the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960 most park home sites must have a site licence issued by the local authority. There are some exemptions from the need for a licence, for example, in respect of parks operated by local authorities or sites used to accommodate those engaged in building work. We do not hold information on the number of sites for which licences are not held.
§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to prevent the operation of park home sites without a full licence. [34815]
§ Ms KeebleOne of the recommendations of the Park Homes Working Party was that there should be a requirement for local authorities to be notified of a change of ownership of a park, so as to allow a licence to be issued the new owner. In our response to the Working Party's recommendations, we have indicated that we agree that a formal requirement for notification of a sale could help authorities to operate controls more effectively. We will consider this, along with other recommendations, when taking forward the agenda for reform set out in our recent response to the Working Party's report.
§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what action he will take to spread best practice in the park home industry to all park home sites. [34813]
§ Ms KeebleFollowing recommendations made by the Park Homes Working Party, we have commissioned and published good practice guidance to local authorities on their roles with regard to harassment and illegal eviction, and site licensing. In addition, the Working Party suggested that the park home industry's voluntary model agreement for residents and site owners should be reviewed following discussion between residents' and site owners' bodies. We have welcomed this proposal and discussions between the parties have already begun.
§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what action he will take to prevent abuse of service charges for park home residents. [34812]
§ Ms KeebleFollowing a recommendation made by the Park Homes Working Party, we have commissioned a study of the economics of the park homes industry to assist in consideration of the principles on which pitch fees should be set and reviewed, and the maximum level of commission which should be set. We will consider the position on the payments made by park home residents in the light of the findings of this study.
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§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to reform the Mobile Homes Act 1983; and if he will make a statement. [34811]
§ Ms KeebleProposals for amendments to the Mobile Homes Act 1983 were included in the recommendations of the Park Homes Working Party. Following consultation, we issued our response to the working party's report on 29 November last year, and placed copies of it in the Library of the House. This gives a detailed response to each of the working party's recommendations and indicates how we intend to take them forward.