John Penrose

Conservative MP for Weston-Super-Mare

@JohnPenroseNews https://facebook.com/john.penrose.37

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.

Photo: Neil Howard

John Penrose 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.

You can browse the source 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.

Major votes

  • On 28 Feb 2022: John Penrose voted not to allow local councils to run secure schools, youth custody establishments, for 16 to 19 year olds. Show vote
  • On 14 Jul 2021: John Penrose was absent for a vote on Planning and Local Representation Show vote
  • On 13 Dec 2016: John Penrose voted against making the demolition or change of use of pubs or other drinking establishments subject to planning permission. Show vote
  • On 9 May 2016: John Penrose 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. Show vote
  • On 3 May 2016: John Penrose 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. Show vote
  • On 3 May 2016: John Penrose voted to require local councils to charge high income social housing tenants rent at levels set by central Government. Show vote
  • On 9 Mar 2016: John Penrose voted to give local government powers to vary the restrictions on large shops opening on Sundays. Show vote
  • On 10 Nov 2015: John Penrose 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. Show vote
  • On 14 Oct 2015: John Penrose voted in favour of allowing more devolution of powers to local councils and to enable councils to collaboratively form regional combined authorities. Show vote
  • On 10 Mar 2015: John Penrose 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". Show vote
  • On 16 Apr 2013: John Penrose voted against giving local councils the power to remove householders' permitted development rights. Show vote
  • On 17 Dec 2012: John Penrose was absent for a vote on Growth and Infrastructure Bill — Clause 1 — Planning Applications Directly to Secretary of State Show vote
  • On 21 May 2012: John Penrose 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. Show vote
  • On 7 Dec 2011: John Penrose was absent for a vote on London Local Authorities Bill — Clause 4 — Power to Require Name and Address for Council Officers, PCSOs and Accredited Individuals When Issuing FPNs Show vote
  • On 18 May 2011: John Penrose 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. Show vote
  • On 18 May 2011: John Penrose voted to devolve more powers to local councils and local people particularly in relation to social housing and planning. Show vote
  • On 17 May 2011: John Penrose 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. Show vote
  • On 17 May 2011: John Penrose 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. Show vote
  • On 11 May 2011: John Penrose was absent for a vote on Education Bill — Clause 34 — Role of Local Authority in Implementation of Decisions by School Admissions Adjudicator Show vote
  • On 8 Feb 2011: John Penrose voted to allow the establishment of free schools, to abolish a range of teaching related bodies, to allow student loan interest to be charged at market rates, and to allow teachers to search pupils. Show vote
  • On 17 Jan 2011: John Penrose voted to devolve more powers to local councils and local people particularly in relation to social housing and planning. Show vote
  • On 17 Jan 2011: John Penrose 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. Show vote
  • On 13 Oct 2010: John Penrose voted to give more powers to London local authorities. Show vote
  • On 26 Jul 2010: John Penrose voted to enable more schools in England to gain "Academy Status" and the consequent financial independence and removal from local authority control. Show vote
  • On 19 Jul 2010: John Penrose voted to enable more schools in England to gain "Academy Status" and the consequent financial independence and removal from local authority control. Show vote
  • On 19 Jul 2010: John Penrose voted to enable more schools in England to gain "Academy Status" and the consequent financial independence and removal from local authority control. Show vote

Minor votes

  • On 21 Feb 2022: John Penrose voted not require the consent of the relevant local authority, Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and, where relevant, Mayoral Combined Authority before a body is designated the employer representative body for an area and given a role in developing the local skills improvement plan which public post-16 technical education or training providers would be required to have regard to. Show vote
  • On 23 May 2018: John Penrose 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. Show vote
  • On 23 May 2018: John Penrose 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. Show vote
  • On 8 May 2018: John Penrose 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. Show vote
  • On 13 Dec 2016: John Penrose voted to give a Secretary of State the power to ban certain types of planning condition in England. Show vote
  • On 9 May 2016: John Penrose 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. Show vote
  • On 3 May 2016: John Penrose voted against requiring the local retention of funds from selling high value council homes where there is a local need for social housing. Show vote
  • On 13 Apr 2016: John Penrose 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. Show vote
  • On 21 Oct 2015: John Penrose voted to allow the creation of a combined authority to be made conditional on the authority having an elected mayor. Show vote
  • On 11 Feb 2015: John Penrose voted to require a more extensive set of conditions be met prior to consent for hydraulic fracturing being given. Show vote
  • On 5 Nov 2014: John Penrose voted against local government having powers to develop more integrated, frequent, cheaper and greener bus services with integrated Oyster card-style ticketing. Show vote
  • On 8 Jan 2014: John Penrose 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. Show vote
  • On 8 Jan 2014: John Penrose voted against giving local councils powers to prevent the proliferation of fixed odds betting terminals and betting shops Show vote
  • On 8 Jan 2014: John Penrose voted against giving local government more powers to regulate betting shops and fixed odds betting terminals. Show vote
  • On 17 Dec 2013: John Penrose 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. Show vote
  • On 16 Oct 2013: John Penrose voted against giving more powers to local communities in relation to high streets and town and city centres. Show vote
  • On 23 Jan 2013: John Penrose 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. Show vote
  • On 21 Feb 2012: John Penrose was absent for a vote on London Local Authorities Bill — Clause 9 — Street trading: vehicles and the internet Show vote
  • On 31 Jan 2012: John Penrose 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. Show vote
  • On 25 Jan 2012: John Penrose was absent for a vote on London Local Authorities Bill — Street Litter Control Notices — Application to All Non Domestic Premises Show vote
  • On 18 Jan 2012: John Penrose voted against delaying enabling local councils to keep money raised from business rates in their areas. Show vote
  • On 11 Jan 2012: John Penrose was absent for a vote on Local Government Finance Bill — Carry over to next Parliamentary session Show vote
  • On 10 Jan 2012: John Penrose 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. Show vote
  • On 17 May 2011: John Penrose 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. Show vote
  • On 31 Mar 2011: John Penrose 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. Show vote
  • On 31 Mar 2011: John Penrose 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. Show vote
  • On 30 Mar 2011: John Penrose voted to recommend publicity by local authorities be lawful, cost effective, objective etc. Show vote
  • On 13 Dec 2010: John Penrose 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. Show vote
  • On 13 Dec 2010: John Penrose 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. Show vote

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