Hetal Patel backs Government’s new Neighbourhood Guarantee to Support the High Street and Responsible Retail

The Fed’s National President has welcomed the Government’s new Neighbourhood Guarantee which was announced on Thursday 21 May 2026 by the Government’s Communities Secretary Steve Reed MP. This includes measures promising to give stronger powers to regulate local government to regulate tobacco and vapes shops.

Hetal Patel said: “We welcome a more coordinated approach by local and national government in this area. Whilst we await more information about what this will mean in practice, in principle this seems like a very positive initiative.”

Secretary of State, Steve Reed MP said: “The Government’s new Neighbourhood Guarantee sets minimum standards local people can expect to see and hold public services to account. And if things don’t improve, there are new powers to force change. This is all about showing respect for the places people call home.”

Other measures the Government have stated the initiative will include are as follows:

• Neighbourhood Guarantees on key issues that matter to local people including on street cleanliness, potholes and other matters identified by local people.
• Community Power Pilots in up to 25 areas, giving local people the ability to “co-design services such as youth programs, and shape community safety”.
• A crackdown on private profiteering by private companies providing services to councils.