Source · Select Committees · Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
Recommendation 18
18
Deferred
Urge Secretary of State to confirm Oflog Chair pre-appointment hearing status for committee scrutiny.
Recommendation
We are closely monitoring the establishment of the Office for Local Government which we believe could help to improve the functioning of local government. However, it is regrettable that the Secretary of State has not yet confirmed that the position of Oflog Chair will be subject to pre-appointment hearing by our Committee, despite our having first written to him about this matter in January 2023. We also find it regrettable that that Oflog does not yet have a permanent Chair. We consider the position of Oflog Chair to be critical to the functioning of local government and believe that Oflog, more widely, has a vital role to play in supporting taxpayers. We urge the Secretary of State to confirm in writing immediately that the position of Oflog Chair will be added to the list of posts subject to pre-appointment hearings by our Committee. (Paragraph 88) Council tax reform
Government Response Summary
The government defers confirming that the Oflog Chair position will be subject to pre-appointment scrutiny, stating the Department will consider if the role meets the criteria as part of its preparations for appointing a permanent Chair.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
The Department has written to the Committee on the 19 December 2023 regarding the Committee’s inquiry on Oflog. As part of our preparations for the appointment of a permanent Oflog Chair, the Department will consider whether the role meets the criteria for pre-appointment scrutiny and if so, will write to your committee seeking a hearing date.