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Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill

moved Amendment No. 203: 203: After Clause 202, insert the following new Clause— ““Case tribunals: powers In section 79(5) of the Local Government Act 2000 (c. 22) (decisions of case tribunals) for ““one year”” substitute ““six months””.”” The noble Baroness said: My Lords, the Local Government Act 2000, which introduced the ethical standards regime that we are debating, contains provision for the case tribunal to suspend from office for up to 12 months a councillor found guilty of a particular act. A number of councillors in recent years have been suspended in this way. It was interesting that the noble Baroness, Lady Hanham, said on the last but one group of amendments that the issue was being debated as a result of a case involving the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone. Many other people have been subjected to this imperfect regime, but because they do not have the money, are not vocal or do not have friends in high places, their cases have often not been discussed. It has taken Ken Livingstone to bring this issue to the fore. This question of suspension from office for a year troubles me on account of the democratic process, because, if a councillor is suspended from office for 12 months, the area that they represent remains unrepresented. In other contexts—for example, if a local councillor gets a job that takes them away from the area—they can take leave of absence for six months, after which there would have to be a by-election. It seems inconsistent that an area can be left unrepresented for a year because of a suspension from office, whereas six months is considered long enough for other reasons. I would be interested to hear whether the Government have had any thoughts about the issue of suspension from office for a year and how the question of a democratic deficit—not even that, but a democratic hole—in representation should be addressed. I beg to move.