A brief summary of current government consultations of potential interest to RSN members. This is not intended as an exhaustive list of all relevant consultations.

→ Download a printable version of the Government Consultationst here

Future of Transport: rural strategy: call for evidence – Department for Transport

This call for evidence seeks views and evidence from all those with an interest in rural transport.

Following the government’s Future of mobility: urban strategy, which was published in March 2019, the Department for Transport are now seeking views and evidence on what could be incorporated into a Future of Transport: rural strategy.

The consultation document has 3 sections:

• the context of the Future of Transport: rural strategy
• the government’s assessment of the mobility trends in rural areas, and the emerging opportunities for rural environments that are being witnessed in transport innovation – this section seeks views on whether government have identified these correctly and further evidence for these trends
• consideration of the approach that the government could take to help shape these opportunities to benefit rural areas

This consultation is part of the Future of Transport programme, which aims “to shape transport innovation and secure the UK’s position as a leader in the transport sector of the future.”

This consultation closes on 16 February 2021.

Future of Transport: rural strategy – call for evidence - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

New model for Shared Ownership: technical consultation – Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government

The government is introducing a new model for Shared Ownership. This model will:

1. Reduce the minimum initial share from 25% to 10%
2. Introduce a new gradual staircasing offer, to allow people to buy additional shares in their home in 1% instalments with heavily reduced fees
3. Introduce a 10-year period during which the shared owner will receive support from their landlord to pay for essential repairs
4. Give Shared Ownership leaseholders (shared owners) more control when they come to sell their home

This consultation seeks to capture views on how to best implement the new model for Shared Ownership to ensure it can be smoothly adopted by providers and lenders, and effectively supports aspiring homeowners.

This consultation closes on 17 December 2020.

New model for Shared Ownership: technical consultation - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Domestic smoke and carbon monoxide alarms – Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government

This consultation seeks views on:

1. Amending the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015 to require social landlords to ensure at least one smoke alarm is installed on each storey of the premises on which there is a room used wholly or partly as living accommodation.
2. Amending the statutory guidance (Approved Document J) supporting Part J of the Building Regulations to require that carbon monoxide alarms are fitted alongside the installation of fixed combustion appliances of any fuel type (excluding gas cookers).
3. Amending the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015 to require private and social landlords to install a carbon monoxide alarm in any room used as living accommodation where a fixed combustion appliance is used (excluding gas cookers).

This consultation closes on 11 January 2021.

Domestic smoke and carbon monoxide alarms - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Union connectivity review: call for evidence – Department for Transport

On 30 June, the Prime Minister announced an independent review, led by Sir Peter Hendy, of how the quality and availability of transport infrastructure across the UK can support economic growth and quality of life across the whole of the UK.

This union connectivity review will provide independent advice to the UK government.

The government has asked Sir Peter to consult widely, and this call for evidence seeks views and responses from:

• industry
• academics
• local authorities
• engineering experts
• the general public

This consultation closes on 30 December 2020.

Union connectivity review: call for evidence - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Local air quality management: public authorities call for evidence – Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs

Government are seeking views and evidence on which public authorities should be considered for designation by the Environment Secretary as ‘Relevant Public Authorities’. A relevant public authority may then be required to co-operate with local authorities acting as an ‘Air Quality Partner’ within the Local Air Quality Management Framework.

This is under a new power which we intend to introduce through the Environment Bill, amending Part IV of the Environment Act 1995.

In particular, they are looking to understand:

• the bodies’ contribution to local air pollution
• the actions the bodies could realistically take to reduce the contribution in a local context
• the resource implications for the body

Responses are welcomed from local authorities and potential relevant public authorities.

This consultation closes on 18 January 2021.

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/local-air-quality-management-public-authorities-call-for-evidence

Toilet provision for men and women: call for evidence – Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government

This call for evidence launches a technical review of provision of toilets for men and women.

Women often have to face excessive queues for toilets or don’t have access to appropriate facilities that meet their needs when out. In some cases this can mean women are reluctant to go out or take trips that many take for granted.

Over recent years there has also been a trend towards replacing female only facilities with gender neutral toilets.

The review aims to address this by considering the ratio of female toilets needed versus the number for men, given the need for women to always use cubicles. It would also take into account the needs of all members of the community, to ensure there is a fair provision of accessible and gender-neutral toilets.

The review will also look at signage, which should be clearer and use gender-specific language, to avoid confusion.

This consultation closes on 29 January 2021.

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/toilet-provision-for-men-and-women-call-for-evidence

Improving the energy performance of privately rented homes – Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy

The government has committed to upgrade as many private rented sector homes as possible to Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Band C by 2030, where practical, cost-effective and affordable.

This consultation sets out a suite of policy proposals towards achieving this. These proposals aim to bring significant benefits to landlords, tenants and the environment including:

• reducing energy bills and increased comfort for tenants and supporting delivery of our statutory fuel poverty target of EPC C by 2030
• potential property value improvements for landlords
• delivering carbon emission savings over Carbon Budgets 4 and 5, making progress towards our net zero target

This consultation closes on 30 December 2020.

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/improving-the-energy-performance-of-privately-rented-homes