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

Developing a tourist accommodation registration scheme in England – Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

The government is issuing a call for evidence on the benefits and challenges presented by the rise in short-term and holiday letting seen in England over the last 10 to 15 years. This will inform the development of appropriate policy options, which the government intends to consult on later in 2022.

The UK government’s Tourism Recovery Plan committed to consulting on the introduction of a tourist accommodation registration scheme in England. The purpose of this call for evidence is to gather the information and data necessary to develop proportionate, evidence-based policy options for that consultation.

This consultation closes on 21 September 2022.

Developing a tourist accommodation registration scheme in England - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

UNESCO World Heritage Sites: UK Tentative List Review – Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport

Government are preparing a new Tentative List of natural, cultural and mixed sites for potential nomination for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List, to be submitted to UNESCO later this year, with a view to putting forward nominations to the World Heritage Committee from 2024. They are inviting applications for sites to be included on the new Tentative List.

They are also inviting expressions of interest from experts to be part of the Independent Expert Panel who will assess the applications.

The closing date for submitting the expression of interest form is Friday 6 May 2022.

The closing date for submitting the application form is Friday 15 July 2022.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites - UK Tentative List Review - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Public sector food and catering policy – Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Government states that it is “adopting an ambitious and transformational approach to public sector food and catering. We are determined to use public sector purchasing power to ensure positive change in the food system. Our vision is that public sector food and catering is an exemplar to wider society in delivering positive health, animal welfare, environmental and socio-economic impacts.

Government have developed a set of proposed changes to public sector food and catering policy, including the Government Buying Standards for Food and Catering Services (GBSF), to deliver this vision.

This consultation is expected to be of greatest interest to public sector contracting authorities, food business operators, the food industry, Government departments and agencies, local authorities, consumer groups and public bodies. They also welcome the views of any individual or organisation that has an interest, directly or indirectly.

This consultation closes on 4 September 2022.

Seeking views on possible changes to public sector food and catering policy. - Defra - Citizen Space

Improved food waste reporting by large food businesses in England – Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Government want to know what you think of their options for improving food surplus and waste reporting by large food businesses in England.

They are seeking views on the following:

• options for improving food waste reporting
• types of businesses in scope
• material in scope to be reported
• the reporting process which businesses in scope will need to follow for any regulation
• costs and impacts of any regulation
• enforcement of any regulations

This consultation closes on 5 September 2022.

Improved food waste reporting by large food businesses in England - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Homelessness Prevention Grant 2023/24 onwards: technical consultation – Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

The Homelessness Prevention Grant is provided to all local housing authorities in England to support them in delivering services to prevent and tackle homelessness. For 2022/23, £315.8 million in funding was provided to local authorities through the grant.

This technical consultation is seeking views from local authorities and other interested stakeholders on the approach to the funding arrangements and conditions for the grant for 2023/24 onwards. Government wants to make sure that funding is allocated fairly to authorities based on current homelessness pressures. They also want to improve government’s understanding of how the grant is being spent.

This consultation closes on 26 August 2022.

Homelessness Prevention Grant 2023/24 onwards: technical consultation - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Consultation on the Higher Risk Buildings (Descriptions and Supplementary Provisions) Regulations – Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

This consultation is about the proposed Higher Risk Buildings (Descriptions and Supplementary Provisions) Regulations which complete the definition of higher-risk building for the new building safety regime. It seeks views on the following areas:

1. the overall definition of a building for the purposes of both the design and construction and occupation parts of the new more stringent building safety regime being brought forward by the Building Safety Act;
2. which buildings are included and excluded in relation to the design and construction part of the new regime and the definitions of these buildings;
3. which buildings are excluded in relation to the occupation part of the new regime and the definitions of these buildings; and
4. the method for measuring height and number of storeys.

This consultation does not relate to buildings included in the leaseholder protection scheme or the building remediation funds.

This consultation closes on 21 July 2022.

Consultation on the Higher Risk Buildings (Descriptions and Supplementary Provisions) Regulations - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Electrical safety in social housing: consultation and call for evidence – Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

In the social housing White Paper, government committed to undertaking a consultation on keeping social housing residents safe from electrical harm. This consultation aims “to improve safety for residents in social rented homes and bring greater parity between the rented sectors with regard to safety.” Government is consulting on mandating electrical safety inspection and testing in social homes, and calling for evidence on requirements for owner-occupier leasehold properties in social housing blocks.

This consultation closes on 31 August 2022.

Electrical safety in social housing: consultation and call for evidence - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Compulsory purchase: compensation reforms – Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

This consultation seeks views on amending the compensation provisions in relation to the assessment of prospective planning permission where land is subject to compulsory purchase.

This consultation closes on 19 July 2022.

Compulsory purchase - compensation reforms: consultation - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)