Powers of Local Councils
There have been votes in Parliament on the extent of powers devolved to local government on a range of matters from planning to the regulation of street trading.
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Neil Howard
Charles Walker generally voted against more powers for local councils
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TheyWorkForYou has calculated this MP’s stance based on votes we have grouped on this topic. Learn more.
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data on PublicWhip.org.uk. We are in the process of moving away from using the PublicWhip and there may be some discrepancies between the two sites.
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On 28 Feb 2022:
Charles Walker was absent for a vote on Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill — Clause 139 — Secure 16 to 19 Academies
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On 14 Jul 2021:
Charles Walker was absent for a vote on Planning and Local Representation
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On 13 Dec 2016:
Charles Walker voted against making the demolition or change of use of pubs or other drinking establishments subject to planning permission.
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On 9 May 2016:
Charles Walker voted not to exempt local councils from having to require discounted starter homes on certain new developments if they provide affordable home ownership via other routes.
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On 3 May 2016:
Charles Walker voted for central Government, rather than local councils, to determine how many starter homes to be sold to first time buyers at a discount are to be required to be provided in new residential developments.
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On 3 May 2016:
Charles Walker voted to require local councils to charge high income social housing tenants rent at levels set by central Government.
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On 9 Mar 2016:
Charles Walker voted to give local government powers to vary the restrictions on large shops opening on Sundays.
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On 10 Nov 2015:
Charles Walker voted against requiring the consent of the devolved administrations and local government before applying new regulations on trade union activity within their areas of responsibility.
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On 14 Oct 2015:
Charles Walker voted in favour of allowing more devolution of powers to local councils and to enable councils to collaboratively form regional combined authorities.
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On 10 Mar 2015:
Charles Walker voted to let planning authorities insist Londoners wishing to rent out their homes for short periods have specific planning permission to do so on the grounds the authority considers that it is "necessary" rather than merely "desirable" to "protect the amenity of the locality".
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On 16 Apr 2013:
Charles Walker was absent for a vote on Growth and Infrastructure Bill — Development orders: development within the curtilage of a dwelling house
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On 17 Dec 2012:
Charles Walker voted for an option to make planning applications directly to the Secretary of State in areas where the local planning authority is deemed to be performing poorly.
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On 21 May 2012:
Charles Walker voted to allow local councils to retain a proportion of the business rates generated in their area and to localise assisting those in financial need to pay their council tax.
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On 7 Dec 2011:
Charles Walker voted against giving authorised council officers, PCSOs and accredited civilians the power to require an individual's name and address when issuing fixed penalty notices.
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On 18 May 2011:
Charles Walker voted against only allowing the Mayor of London to designate a Mayoral development area if the majority of councils covering the area agree to the designation.
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On 18 May 2011:
Charles Walker voted to devolve more powers to local councils and local people particularly in relation to social housing and planning.
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On 17 May 2011:
Charles Walker voted t to limit the power of the Secretary of State to repeal laws considered to detract from the general power of competence for local authorities.
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On 17 May 2011:
Charles Walker voted for the Secretary of State to have the power to implement change a local council's system of governance to a mayor and cabinet executive.
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On 11 May 2011:
Charles Walker was absent for a vote on Education Bill — Clause 34 — Role of Local Authority in Implementation of Decisions by School Admissions Adjudicator
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On 8 Feb 2011:
Charles Walker was absent for a vote on Education Bill (second reading)
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On 17 Jan 2011:
Charles Walker voted to devolve more powers to local councils and local people particularly in relation to social housing and planning.
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On 17 Jan 2011:
Charles Walker voted to authorise spending relating to the Localism Bill, enabling the devolution of more powers to local councils and local people particularly in relation to social housing and planning.
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On 13 Oct 2010:
Charles Walker voted to give more powers to London local authorities.
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On 26 Jul 2010:
Charles Walker voted to enable more schools in England to gain "Academy Status" and the consequent financial independence and removal from local authority control.
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On 19 Jul 2010:
Charles Walker voted to enable more schools in England to gain "Academy Status" and the consequent financial independence and removal from local authority control.
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On 19 Jul 2010:
Charles Walker voted to enable more schools in England to gain "Academy Status" and the consequent financial independence and removal from local authority control.
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On 10 Jan 2024:
Charles Walker voted yes on Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill: Third Reading
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On 21 Feb 2022:
Charles Walker was absent for a vote on Skills and Post-16 Education Bill — Clause 2 — Designation of Employer Representative Bodies
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On 23 May 2018:
Charles Walker voted to allow local councils in West Somerset and Taunton Deane to propose boundary changes without requiring a review or recommendation from the Local Government Boundary Commission.
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On 23 May 2018:
Charles Walker voted to allow a proposal for a single tier of local government in Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole to be made by the area's local councils without the requirement of an invitation from the Secretary of State.
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On 8 May 2018:
Charles Walker voted not to give local councils the freedom to decide if benefits to cover housing costs should be reduced in respect of excess bedrooms in cases of new local council secure tenancies offered to victims of domestic abuse.
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On 13 Dec 2016:
Charles Walker voted to give a Secretary of State the power to ban certain types of planning condition in England.
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On 9 May 2016:
Charles Walker voted against giving local councils a right to retain payments in respect of vacant high value council houses to provide new social homes where they can demonstrate a need for them.
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On 3 May 2016:
Charles Walker voted against requiring the local retention of funds from selling high value council homes where there is a local need for social housing.
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On 13 Apr 2016:
Charles Walker voted in favour of turning all primary and secondary schools in England to become academies, shifting control over them from local councils to central government.
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On 21 Oct 2015:
Charles Walker voted to allow the creation of a combined authority to be made conditional on the authority having an elected mayor.
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On 11 Feb 2015:
Charles Walker voted to require a more extensive set of conditions be met prior to consent for hydraulic fracturing being given.
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On 5 Nov 2014:
Charles Walker voted against local government having powers to develop more integrated, frequent, cheaper and greener bus services with integrated Oyster card-style ticketing.
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On 8 Jan 2014:
Charles Walker voted against boosting housing supply by reforming the development industry; against measures to tackle landbanking; against a new generation of New Towns and Garden Cities and against giving local authorities a new right to grow to deliver the homes their communities need.
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On 8 Jan 2014:
Charles Walker was absent for a vote on Opposition Day — Fixed Odds Betting Terminals and Betting Shops
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On 8 Jan 2014:
Charles Walker voted against giving local government more powers to regulate betting shops and fixed odds betting terminals.
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On 17 Dec 2013:
Charles Walker voted against a proposal to only allow the Secretary of State to issue a direction to a local council relating to compliance with the code of practice on local authority publicity where evidence of a breach of a code has been sent to the authority and, if the authority has replied, that a report from the Secretary of State in light of that reply has been published.
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On 16 Oct 2013:
Charles Walker voted against giving more powers to local communities in relation to high streets and town and city centres.
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On 23 Jan 2013:
Charles Walker voted against more regulation of the private rental sector, against a national register of landlords, against clearer information on charges, and against the promotion of longer tenancies when tenants want them.
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On 21 Feb 2012:
Charles Walker was absent for a vote on London Local Authorities Bill — Clause 9 — Street trading: vehicles and the internet
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On 31 Jan 2012:
Charles Walker voted against requiring local councils to keep the amount they spend on council tax reductions for those in financial need the same from year to year.
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On 25 Jan 2012:
Charles Walker voted against enabling all non-domestic premises in London, rather than just commercial or retail premises, to be subject to notices making requirements in relation to litter or refuse such as the provision of, and emptying of a bin.
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On 18 Jan 2012:
Charles Walker voted against delaying enabling local councils to keep money raised from business rates in their areas.
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On 11 Jan 2012:
Charles Walker voted to allow local councils to retain a proportion of the business rates generated in their area and to localise assisting those in financial need to pay their council tax.
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On 10 Jan 2012:
Charles Walker voted to allow local councils to retain a proportion of the business rates generated in their area and to localise assisting those in financial need to pay their council tax.
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On 17 May 2011:
Charles Walker voted against making specific planning permission be required for betting shops rather than allowing any premises with permission for use for financial and professional services to become a betting shop.
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On 31 Mar 2011:
Charles Walker voted to empower local government officials, as well as police officers, to direct that prohibited activity in Parliament Square must either cease, or not start.
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On 31 Mar 2011:
Charles Walker voted to introduce Police and Crime Commissioners, to give local councils more powers in relation to licensing, and in support of the other measures in the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill.
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On 30 Mar 2011:
Charles Walker was absent for a vote on Local Government Publicity
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On 13 Dec 2010:
Charles Walker voted to introduce Police and Crime Commissioners, to give local councils more powers in relation to licensing, and in support of the other measures in the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill.
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On 13 Dec 2010:
Charles Walker was absent for a vote on Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill — Money
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