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 Consultations here

Simpler recycling in England: additional policies – Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs

Government want to know what you think about 2 proposed policies that aim to support the delivery of simpler recycling in England.

These proposed policies relate to:

• an expansion of the list of relevant non-domestic premises that will need to comply with new requirements for simpler recycling
• additional information that waste collectors will need to record in the digital waste tracking service

This consultation closes on 20 November 2023

Simpler recycling in England: additional policies - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Consultation on directions to the Regulator of Social Housing: tenant rights and complaints – Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities

This consultation seeks views on a proposed direction from the Secretary of State to the Regulator of Social Housing, using powers under section 197 of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 as amended.

Government state: “Through the changes outlined in the Social Housing White Paper, the government is taking extensive action to ensure tenants are protected, have decent quality homes, and are treated with fairness and respect.”

The Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023 requires the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to give a direction to the Regulator for the purpose of securing that registered providers of social housing are required to provide their tenants of low-cost rental accommodation with information about their tenants’ rights and how their tenants can make a complaint.

This consultation seeks views on a proposal to use this power to direct the Regulator to set standards relating to the provision of information to tenants on making complaints, tenants’ rights, and relevant regulatory requirements.

This consultation closes on 22 November 2023.

Consultation on directions to the Regulator of Social Housing: tenant rights and complaints - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Call for evidence: non-statutory flexible working – Department for Business & Trade

Flexible working is a change to an employee’s working hours, location or pattern. For many people, after pay, access to flexible working is the key thing that they look for from an employer.

Flexible working is a broad term. It can relate to working hours or pattern: part-time, term-time, flexi-time, compressed hours, or adjusting start and finish times. It can also include flexibility over where someone works.

Arrangements for flexible working can be agreed between employers and employees on a contractual or non-contractual basis. Employees may ask for flexible working through the statutory right to request, or an informal non-statutory route – for example a discussion with their manager.

Informal flexible working can benefit individuals and businesses alike. Government wants to explore this further through this call for evidence. They are seeking views from individuals and businesses on their experiences of non-statutory flexible working and how it operates in practice.

This consultation closes on 7 November 2023.

Call for evidence: non-statutory flexible working - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)