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National Assembly for Wales (Legislative Competence) (Local Government) Order 2010

My Lords, I thank the Minister for laying this order before us so clearly. The primary purpose of this LCO is to confer competence upon the Welsh Assembly to make primary legislation in relation to community councils in Wales. According to the Explanatory Memorandum, the Assembly Government wish to enhance and strengthen the role of community councils and enable them to deliver a wider range of services and actions locally. To that extent, we welcome the order. We believe strongly that power should be devolved to the closest possible level to the citizen. In many cases, it is the community council that is closest to and most responsive to the needs of the citizen and if the Assembly Government propose to develop the role of the community councils in this regard, we applaud it. Other matters covered by the proposed order are the remuneration of county and county borough councillors and the recruitment of candidates to serve on county, county borough and community councils. There are two questions I would wish to put to the Minister. The first relates to matter 12, which would provide the Assembly with competence to make provision relating to grants by Welsh Ministers to community councils. At the moment, the bulk of community council income is provided by way of council tax precept. It would be a concern if community councils were to have to rely exclusively or even primarily upon grants from the Assembly Government and the principle of the council tax precept were to be undermined or displaced. What assurances can the Minister give in that regard? My second question relates to matter 12.13, which would allow the Assembly to put in place measures to help raise standards of local government by community councils. As the Explanatory Memorandum points out, in England this is presently achieved by the quality parish and town council scheme, which is established on a voluntary basis. Why have the Welsh Ministers decided not to pursue the voluntary route but rather to opt for legislation? Further than that, I have no other observations.