Autumn Statement 2023

Andrew reacts to the Chancellor's statement

Some significant good news

Last week, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt. Hon. Jeremy Hunt, M.P., delivered his Autumn Statement and I have finally had an opportunity to read the detail. There is certainly some good news for local government in the Chancellor's statement, including on several issues upon which I and my colleagues have been lobbying Government extensively. 

 

From my point of view, as Cabinet Member for Housing and Estate Renewal, I was particularly pleased by the Chancellor's announcement that there would be an increase in the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates and an increase in homelessness prevention funding, as well as a further extension of the Homes for Ukraine 'thank you' payments to sponsors. 

A few weeks ago I attended and spoke at an emergency homelessness summit organised by the District Councils Network (DCN). The cost of meeting our homelessness obligations is driving a coach and horses through Local Housing Authority budgets and one of the key problems has been the disconnect between LHA rates and the true cost of local market rents. Following the summit, the Leader of Basildon Council, my colleague Cllr. Andrew Baggott (Con, Burstead), co-signed a joint letter from the DCN sent to Government, calling for LHA to be uprated. Councillor Baggott was joined by 118 council leaders, including two thirds of district-level authorities. 

 

It is, therefore, good to see the Chancellor take action by confirming that LHA will be increased to the 30th percentile of local market rents from April 2024. Furthermore, I know there are a number of households in Billericay and around the Borough, who took in Ukrainian refugees under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, so I was pleased to hear the Chancellor announce a further extension to the 'thank you' payments, which remain at £500 per month. He also announced £120 million in new funding for councils to invest in homelessness prevention.

With my longstanding interest in planning matters, as a veteran of the Planning Committee, I also very much welcome the ability for Local Planning Authorities to charge a locally-set premium fee for major planning applications. This will enable LPAs like Basildon Council to recover the full costs of major business planning applications, albeit in return for accelerated decision dates. There is also £5 million in additional funding from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities' Planning Skills Delivery Fund to help LPAs clear planning application backlogs - currently a major problem. 

It was interesting to hear the Chancellor talking about new devolution deals and an intention to expand Level 2 devolution to eligible councils across England. This will undoubtedly include Greater Essex, where Essex County Council and the two unitary authorities of Southend-on-Sea City Council and Thurrock Borough Council have already submitted a Level 2 bid. We will see what benefits this will derive for the people of Essex. It does have the potential to bring more investment and associated financial incentives and boost economic growth locally, including here in Basildon Borough. 

On Business Rates, the Chancellor announced that for 2024-25, the small business muliplier in England will be frozen for the fourth consecutive year and the standard multiplier will be uprated by September's rate of CPI. The current 75% relief for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure properties is also to be extended and English local authorities will be fully compensated for the lost of income resulting from the Business Rates measures, as well as new burdens funding to cover administrative and IT costs. 

Further details on the Autumn Statement 2023 can be found here. The full text of the Chancellor’s speech can be found here.

Billericay High Street Post Office

One Stop due to close November 2024

Andrew will fight to retain services in our High Street

Recently, the Billericay & District Residents’ Association brought to my attention a rumour that the One Stop convenience store in Billericay High Street may be about to close. This, naturally, raised alarm bells with me, as One Stop is also home to our local Post Office. The counter facilities offered at One Stop have become doubly important since so many of the banks vacated the High Street, with residents advised to use the counter service at the Post Office for their day-to-day banking.

Fortunately, we are served by an exceptionally good Economic Development Team at Basildon Council, led by my colleague Cllr. Anthony Hedley as Cabinet Member for Business Engagement. I immediately contacted Councillor Hedley and his very proactive Head of Economic Development and asked them to make some enquiries. 

"The bad news is that One Stop confirmed that they have taken the difficult commercial decision to close their Billericay store, which will necessarily result in the closure of the Post Office branch."

They reacted quickly, reaching out to One Stop and the Post Office. The bad news is that One Stop confirmed that they have taken the difficult commercial decision to close their Billericay store, which will necessarily result in the closure of the Post Office branch.

One Stop recently served 12-months’ notice to the Post Office that they were relinquishing their role as a Postmaster, so both the store and the Post Office will be closing in November 2024. They will continue to provide a service until then – unless a replacement Post Office opens before that. So that gives us a year to make alternative arrangements.  

"I am determined to ensure that we retain Post Office services in Billericay High Street."

There is a Post Office in the Sunnyville Store on Perry Street and at South Green Shops, but I am determined to ensure that we retain Post Office services in Billericay High Street. The Council has already spoken to the Post Office. They confirmed that they had been given notice by One Stop and have already had some interest from potential replacements. They will shortly be formally inviting applications on their website. This is, therefore, very promising. Basildon Council is committed to help in any way we can to secure a replacement Postmaster for Billericay High Street.

In the meantime, the Council is also investigating setting up a ‘Banking Hub’ in Billericay to counter the loss of so many high street banks. One was launched in Rochford a year or so ago and appears to have been successful. Our local MP, John Baron, has also written to both the Post Office and Cash Access UK, opening a dialogue, and requesting a cash access review of Billericay.

"We are all agreed that is essential that arrangements are put in place swiftly to relocate Post Office services in Billericay High Street and I am confident that this provision can be retained."

John Baron is arranging a meeting in the New Year with representatives of all concerned parties to chart a way forward and I will endeavour to keep residents informed of developments. We are all agreed that is essential that arrangements are put in place swiftly to relocate Post Office services in Billericay High Street and I am confident that this provision can be retained.