It is a fitting climax in that I get slapped down. I know that the wording is common. That does not make it right. The Minister used the phrase ““tidying up””. In the amendments that we are no doubt about to race through, we see the complexity and scale of...

It is a fitting climax in that I get slapped down. I know that the wording is common. That does not make it right. The Minister used the phrase ““tidying up””. In the amendments that we are no doubt about to race through, we see the complexity and scale of...

moved Amendments Nos. 247A to 249: 247A: Clause 243, page 170, line 39, after ““10,”” insert ““(Consequential amendments relating to joint waste authorities),”” 248: Clause 243, page 170, line 39, after ““10,”” insert ““13,”” 249: Clause 243, page 170, line 39, after second ““9,”” insert ““14,”” On Question, amendments agreed...

moved Amendments Nos. 247A to 249: 247A: Clause 243, page 170, line 39, after ““10,”” insert ““(Consequential amendments relating to joint waste authorities),”” 248: Clause 243, page 170, line 39, after ““10,”” insert ““13,”” 249: Clause 243, page 170, line 39, after second ““9,”” insert ““14,”” On Question, amendments agreed...

moved Amendment No. 247: 247: Clause 239, page 169, line 21, leave out ““or 8”” and insert ““, 9(3A)(b) or 10(2A)(b)”” The noble Baroness said: As with most legislation that passes through this House, a number of consequential technical amendments are required to give effect to the Bill’s provisions which...

moved Amendment No. 247: 247: Clause 239, page 169, line 21, leave out ““or 8”” and insert ““, 9(3A)(b) or 10(2A)(b)”” The noble Baroness said: As with most legislation that passes through this House, a number of consequential technical amendments are required to give effect to the Bill’s provisions which...

I understand that Amendment No. 255C excludes all members of an executive from a standards committee. Why did the Government think that necessary? What is being amended is the exclusion of the leader from the standards committee, but the executive is a part of the authority. There is a whiff...

I understand that Amendment No. 255C excludes all members of an executive from a standards committee. Why did the Government think that necessary? What is being amended is the exclusion of the leader from the standards committee, but the executive is a part of the authority. There is a whiff...

There is nothing sinister in Amendment No. 255C. By amending Section 53 of the Local Government Act 2000 so that members of an elected executive are unable to sit on a standards committee of a local authority, it is consistent with the existing arrangements, which prevent an elected mayor or...

There is nothing sinister in Amendment No. 255C. By amending Section 53 of the Local Government Act 2000 so that members of an elected executive are unable to sit on a standards committee of a local authority, it is consistent with the existing arrangements, which prevent an elected mayor or...

moved Amendment No. 247ZA: 247ZA: Clause 242, page 170, line 32, leave out ““supplementing or”” The noble Baroness said: This may be the last amendment that has not been debated. I am sorry that I cannot end the Committee stage with more of a bang. However, Amendment No. 247ZA again...

moved Amendment No. 247ZA: 247ZA: Clause 242, page 170, line 32, leave out ““supplementing or”” The noble Baroness said: This may be the last amendment that has not been debated. I am sorry that I cannot end the Committee stage with more of a bang. However, Amendment No. 247ZA again...

I am most grateful to the Minister for that very helpful reply. It is particularly good to know that the Government are intent on consulting local government and doing something about this matter. She has not put a timescale on it, but perhaps that would be going too far. I...

I am most grateful to the Minister for that very helpful reply. It is particularly good to know that the Government are intent on consulting local government and doing something about this matter. She has not put a timescale on it, but perhaps that would be going too far. I...

moved Amendment No. 246CA: 246CA: After Clause 238, insert the following new Clause— ““Independent Commission for Local Government Finance for England (1) There is to be a body corporate called the Independent Commission for Local Government Finance for England. (2) Schedule (The Independent Commission for Local Government Finance for England)...

moved Amendment No. 246CA: 246CA: After Clause 238, insert the following new Clause— ““Independent Commission for Local Government Finance for England (1) There is to be a body corporate called the Independent Commission for Local Government Finance for England. (2) Schedule (The Independent Commission for Local Government Finance for England)...

moved Amendment No. 246CB: 246CB: After Clause 238, insert the following new Clause— ““Community strategies to promote well-being ( ) In section 4 of the Local Government Act 2000 (c. 22) (strategies for promoting well-being), after subsection (1) insert— ““(1A) A community strategy prepared under subsection (1) or modified under...

moved Amendment No. 246CB: 246CB: After Clause 238, insert the following new Clause— ““Community strategies to promote well-being ( ) In section 4 of the Local Government Act 2000 (c. 22) (strategies for promoting well-being), after subsection (1) insert— ““(1A) A community strategy prepared under subsection (1) or modified under...

I know that the noble Lord feels passionately about this. I am at one with him about the outcomes he wants to achieve. He brings added value to this House as a result of his experience, and it would be good to have a proper debate rather than a truncated...

I know that the noble Lord feels passionately about this. I am at one with him about the outcomes he wants to achieve. He brings added value to this House as a result of his experience, and it would be good to have a proper debate rather than a truncated...

I agree with the noble Baroness that these are important issues. I shall respond fairly quickly, which does not reflect the importance attached to the issues raised. This was not a firm proposal from Sir Michael. He raised it as a possibility. The idea has powerful advocates and I understand...

I agree with the noble Baroness that these are important issues. I shall respond fairly quickly, which does not reflect the importance attached to the issues raised. This was not a firm proposal from Sir Michael. He raised it as a possibility. The idea has powerful advocates and I understand...

I am grateful for the responses. Perhaps I did not explain that, as in Australia, the base increase in grant is always set by the Government. That is the Government’s job. It is simply the distribution, equalisation, population, demographic changes and the cost of new legislation which goes to the...

I am grateful for the responses. Perhaps I did not explain that, as in Australia, the base increase in grant is always set by the Government. That is the Government’s job. It is simply the distribution, equalisation, population, demographic changes and the cost of new legislation which goes to the...

I assure the noble Baroness that I do not intend to come back to this and repeat my remarks because, standing on its own, I think that it was a very good contribution. I rest my case.

I assure the noble Baroness that I do not intend to come back to this and repeat my remarks because, standing on its own, I think that it was a very good contribution. I rest my case.

Interesting matters have been raised. Given the time, it is not appropriate to have the full-scale debate that I should like. However, I make a couple of comments. I absolutely take the point about the implication of all this—that local authorities would be left with next to no discretion. I...

Interesting matters have been raised. Given the time, it is not appropriate to have the full-scale debate that I should like. However, I make a couple of comments. I absolutely take the point about the implication of all this—that local authorities would be left with next to no discretion. I...

Proposed new Subsection (1D) of the amendment states: "““The powers mentioned in subsection (1B) may include any of the following””," which obviously implies that they could include all of the following. When I realise the enormous cost implications of decisions that might be taken independently, but which have to be...

Proposed new Subsection (1D) of the amendment states: "““The powers mentioned in subsection (1B) may include any of the following””," which obviously implies that they could include all of the following. When I realise the enormous cost implications of decisions that might be taken independently, but which have to be...

I always hesitate to interrupt the noble Lord, Lord Graham. I think that he is talking to Amendment No. 246CB, which looks as if it follows on from Amendment No. 246CA, which is about the independent commission. However, the independent commission is carried on in Amendment No. 252B. I think...

I always hesitate to interrupt the noble Lord, Lord Graham. I think that he is talking to Amendment No. 246CB, which looks as if it follows on from Amendment No. 246CA, which is about the independent commission. However, the independent commission is carried on in Amendment No. 252B. I think...

I respect very much the intention of the amendment, but I wonder whether it takes fully into account the recent trend towards that intention. When I read the amendment, I am grateful that it includes the part of the Local Government Act which says, "““(strategies for promoting well-being) and any...

I respect very much the intention of the amendment, but I wonder whether it takes fully into account the recent trend towards that intention. When I read the amendment, I am grateful that it includes the part of the Local Government Act which says, "““(strategies for promoting well-being) and any...

Not for the first time my noble friend has put his finger on the spot. He has exposed very eloquently the paradox of the amendment. I was going to start by saying that under the amendment the Secretary of State would pick up a new power to add to the...

Not for the first time my noble friend has put his finger on the spot. He has exposed very eloquently the paradox of the amendment. I was going to start by saying that under the amendment the Secretary of State would pick up a new power to add to the...

Hansard will be very confused by the pronunciation. The name is Councillor Merrick Cockell. He is getting called all sorts of things and I happen to know him quite well.

Hansard will be very confused by the pronunciation. The name is Councillor Merrick Cockell. He is getting called all sorts of things and I happen to know him quite well.