Communities and Local Government

The Department for Communities and Local Government10 Downing Street - [http://www.number10.gov.uk/output/Page1490.asp Department for Communities and Local Government] ] (branded as Communities and Local Government) is the United Kingdom government department for communities and local government since May 2006. The department originated in 2001 as the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Background

The department was formed in July 2001 as part of the Cabinet Office with the title Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM), headed by the Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, John Prescott. In May 2002 the ODPM became a separate department after absorbing the Local Government and Regions portfolios from the defunct "Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions". During the 5 May 2006 reshuffle of Blair's government, it was renamed and Ruth Kelly was made the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. The Deputy Prime Minister became a minister without portfolio and his office had purely secretarial functions. Hazel Blears was appointed Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on 28 June 2007. Yvette Cooper used to be employed with this department, but has since got a new job in the Treasury.

Functions

It is responsible for largely the same issues listed on the ODPM website (from June 2005). They are:

* Building Regulations
* Civil Resilience
* Fire and the Fire Service in the UK
* Homelessness
* Housing
* Local Government
* Neighbourhood Renewal:* Neighbourhood Management Pathfinder Programme:* Neighbourhood Renewal Fund
* Planning
* Regions
* Social Exclusion
* Sustainable Communities
* Urban Policy

On its creation it also assumed the community policy function of the Home Office and has since established the 'Commission on Integration and Cohesion', and the now separate Government Equalities Office.

In January 2007, Ruth Kelly announced proposals to bring together the delivery functions of the Housing Corporation, English Partnerships and parts of Communities and Local Government to form a new unified housing and regeneration agency, the 'Homes and Communities Agency' (initially announced as "Communities England"), which is likely to become operational during 2008 or 2009. The department has many offices including 26 Whitehall, Eland House and Ashdown House in London. It is in charge of the Government Offices in the nine regions of England.

Ministers and civil servants

*Secretary of State: The Rt Hon. Hazel Blears, MP
**Minister of State for Local Government: John Healey, MP
**Minister of State for Housing and Planning: The Rt Hon. Margaret Beckett, MP (also attends cabinet)
***Parliamentary Under Secretary of State: Iain Wright, MP
***Parliamentary Under Secretary of State: Sadiq Khan, MP
***Parliamentary Under Secretary: The Rt Hon. The Baroness Andrews, OBE

The Permanent Secretary is Peter Housden.

ee also

* United Kingdom budget
* Council House
* Energy efficiency in British housing
* Housing Corporation
* Housing estate
* Social Exclusion Task Force

References

External links

* [http://www.communities.gov.uk Communities and Local Government]
* [http://www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm_about/documents/page/odpm_about_029314.pdf Organisational chart]