Written question asked by Baroness Hamwee (Liberal Democrat), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord McKenzie of Luton (Labour) on Wednesday, 17 June 2009.

Community Empowerment, Housing and Economic Regeneration

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Andrews on 7 May (WA 134), on what grounds they have decided not to take forward "a number of more minor proposals, namely on remote attendance and voting by councillors, payments for councillors on loss of office, and incentives to vote in local elections".

Answer: Most of the proposals for change in the White Paper Communities in Control do not require legislation. For those where legislation is required, the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill, which is currently before Parliament, contains the major provisions, including a number added since introduction. Given the stage of the parliamentary cycle, we have decided to concentrate our energy on this, and not to publish a Draft Community Empowerment Bill, which would have contained only a few more minor proposals. Substantial progress has been made since Communities in Control was published. We published a "Communities Progress Report" on 1 June. Copies are in the Libraries of the House.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 711 c208WA; 4050
Session: 2008-09
Related items: Community Empowerment, Housing and Economic Regeneration
Thursday, 7 May 2009
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects: Councillors Absent voting Attendance Elections Incentives Local government Payments
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk