My Lords, this is an important issue on which we have tried to come to a solution. I thank my noble friend Lady Berridge for bringing forward this amendment and explaining the issue so well. It speaks to the wider issue of ensuring that local identities rooted in geography and...

My Lords, this is an important issue on which we have tried to come to a solution. I thank my noble friend Lady Berridge for bringing forward this amendment and explaining the issue so well. It speaks to the wider issue of ensuring that local identities rooted in geography and...

My Lords, Amendment 318B, in the name of my noble friend Lord Norton of Louth, is a modest and sensible

proposal but one of constitutional importance. The amendment would simply require that, within five years of the Act coming into force, the Secretary of State conduct a review of its...

My Lords, Amendment 318B, in the name of my noble friend Lord Norton of Louth, is a modest and sensible

proposal but one of constitutional importance. The amendment would simply require that, within five years of the Act coming into force, the Secretary of State conduct a review of its...

My Lords, at its heart this group of amendments speaks to something fundamental—the importance of preserving those local assets that bind communities together. Whether they are pubs, sports grounds, community halls or green

spaces, these are important spaces for local people. They are the places of shared identity and connection....

My Lords, at its heart this group of amendments speaks to something fundamental—the importance of preserving those local assets that bind communities together. Whether they are pubs, sports grounds, community halls or green

spaces, these are important spaces for local people. They are the places of shared identity and connection....

My Lords, I rise to speak to the first group of amendments in my name, which reflect the concerns that we have repeatedly expressed during the passage of this Bill about imposing top-down reorganisation of local government without local consent. Amendments 187 and 194 oppose Clause 57 and Schedule 26...

My Lords, I rise to speak to the first group of amendments in my name, which reflect the concerns that we have repeatedly expressed during the passage of this Bill about imposing top-down reorganisation of local government without local consent. Amendments 187 and 194 oppose Clause 57 and Schedule 26...

My Lords, these Benches also align with everything that has been said about the great Lord Beecham. I wrote down a number of things to say, but it has all been said. He was a hero in local government. When I became a new young councillor, his was the one...

My Lords, these Benches also align with everything that has been said about the great Lord Beecham. I wrote down a number of things to say, but it has all been said. He was a hero in local government. When I became a new young councillor, his was the one...

My Lords, I thank all noble Lords for their valuable contributions to the debate. It is an extremely important group of amendments. I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Pinnock, for tabling her amendments and, as always, making the eloquent

case for them. These Benches are united with the Liberal Democrat...

My Lords, I thank all noble Lords for their valuable contributions to the debate. It is an extremely important group of amendments. I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Pinnock, for tabling her amendments and, as always, making the eloquent

case for them. These Benches are united with the Liberal Democrat...

Moved by

Baroness Scott of Bybrook

214: After Clause 60, insert the following new Clause—

“Promotion of parish governance

(1) The Secretary of State must develop and implement a strategy for parish governance in England, particularly for areas that are currently unparished.

(2) In carrying out this duty, the Secretary of State must—

(a) issue guidance...

Moved by

Baroness Scott of Bybrook

214: After Clause 60, insert the following new Clause—

“Promotion of parish governance

(1) The Secretary of State must develop and implement a strategy for parish governance in England, particularly for areas that are currently unparished.

(2) In carrying out this duty, the Secretary of State must—

(a) issue guidance...

My Lords, I was really disappointed with the response from the Minister to my amendment. All that it asked was for the Government to promote parish governance and to support principal authorities to consider the creation of town and parish councils where appropriate. We did not get anything positive from...

My Lords, I was really disappointed with the response from the Minister to my amendment. All that it asked was for the Government to promote parish governance and to support principal authorities to consider the creation of town and parish councils where appropriate. We did not get anything positive from...

Moved by

Baroness Scott of Bybrook

218: Leave out Clause 61

Member's explanatory statement

This removes the provisions which re-introduce the supplementary vote system for the elections of mayors and police and crime commissioners.

Moved by

Baroness Scott of Bybrook

218: Leave out Clause 61

Member's explanatory statement

This removes the provisions which re-introduce the supplementary vote system for the elections of mayors and police and crime commissioners.

My Lords, this group covers three substantive issues: supplementary voting for the election of mayors, election delays and flexible voting pilots.

On supplementary voting, the Conservative Party has long supported first past the post, which allows voters to vote out top politicians who do not deliver, both locally and nationally. We...

My Lords, this group covers three substantive issues: supplementary voting for the election of mayors, election delays and flexible voting pilots.

On supplementary voting, the Conservative Party has long supported first past the post, which allows voters to vote out top politicians who do not deliver, both locally and nationally. We...

My Lords, I first thank the Minister for her useful response on flexible voting. It is right that the Government have committed to proper parliamentary scrutiny, but we may return to the issue of flexible voting when we consider the Representation of the People Bill, which is currently before the...

My Lords, I first thank the Minister for her useful response on flexible voting. It is right that the Government have committed to proper parliamentary scrutiny, but we may return to the issue of flexible voting when we consider the Representation of the People Bill, which is currently before the...

Lords report stage third day. Amendments 192 and 193 agreed to. Amendment 197 agreed to on division (247 to 187). Amendment 212 agreed to. Amendment 214 agreed to on division (257 to 180). Amendment 217 disagreed to on division (69 to 332). Amendment 218 disagreed to on division (178 to 231). Amendment 218A agreed to. Amendment 219 disagreed to on division (65 to 173). Amendments 243 and 245 agreed to. Amendment 246 agreed to on division (214 to 156). Amendment 248D (to amendment 248) disagreed to on division (135 to 154). Amendment 248 agreed to on division (162 to 55). Amendments 252 and 264 to 267 agreed to. Amendment 268 disagreed to on division (46 to 117). Amendments 269 to 279 agreed to. Amendment 280A (to amendment 280) disagreed to on division (30 to 130). Amendments 280 to 286 and 288 to 305 agreed to. Amendment 307 disagreed to on division (27 to 89). Amendments 312 to 316, 319 to 324B, 325A, 327 and 328 agreed to. Bill, as amended, ordered to be printed (HL Bill 185).

Lords report stage third day. Amendments 192 and 193 agreed to. Amendment 197 agreed to on division (247 to 187). Amendment 212 agreed to. Amendment 214 agreed to on division (257 to 180). Amendment 217 disagreed to on division (69 to 332). Amendment 218 disagreed to on division (178 to...

My Lords, the government amendments in this group are technical and consequential in nature, relating to Parts 4, 5 and 6, and we do not intend to challenge them in any way.

I am pleased that I have this opportunity to thank the noble Lord, Lord Thurlow, and possibly the noble...

My Lords, the government amendments in this group are technical and consequential in nature, relating to Parts 4, 5 and 6, and we do not intend to challenge them in any way.

I am pleased that I have this opportunity to thank the noble Lord, Lord Thurlow, and possibly the noble...

Moved by

Baroness Scott of Bybrook

187: Leave out Clause 57

Moved by

Baroness Scott of Bybrook

187: Leave out Clause 57

My Lords, I will speak briefly to my noble friend Lord Lucas’s opposition to the question. His intention is not to frustrate the purpose of the legislation but to probe an important constitutional question: how powers exercised by the national park authorities will intersect with those newly empowered devolved authorities....

My Lords, I will speak briefly to my noble friend Lord Lucas’s opposition to the question. His intention is not to frustrate the purpose of the legislation but to probe an important constitutional question: how powers exercised by the national park authorities will intersect with those newly empowered devolved authorities....

I did ask about this: if there is a disagreement between the national park authority and the mayor, who takes precedence?

I did ask about this: if there is a disagreement between the national park authority and the mayor, who takes precedence?

My Lords, we absolutely understand the intention behind this amendment. Social media clearly brings its challenges, particularly around misinformation, public confidence and data security—all serious matters. However, we do not agree that this is an appropriate statutory duty to place on local authorities.

Councils are already under immense operational and financial...

My Lords, we absolutely understand the intention behind this amendment. Social media clearly brings its challenges, particularly around misinformation, public confidence and data security—all serious matters. However, we do not agree that this is an appropriate statutory duty to place on local authorities.

Councils are already under immense operational and financial...

My Lords, I will focus my remarks on the amendments standing in my name and that of my noble friend Lord Jamieson, which concern the proposed local audit office. Having read the statement of intent and the consultation on local audit reform, we recognise that the Government have identified three...

My Lords, I will focus my remarks on the amendments standing in my name and that of my noble friend Lord Jamieson, which concern the proposed local audit office. Having read the statement of intent and the consultation on local audit reform, we recognise that the Government have identified three...

My Lords, I shall speak to this final group of amendments, beginning with Amendment 251 in the name of my noble friend Lord Norton of Louth, which would require the Secretary of State to review the operation of the Act after five years and to report before Parliament. This report...

My Lords, I shall speak to this final group of amendments, beginning with Amendment 251 in the name of my noble friend Lord Norton of Louth, which would require the Secretary of State to review the operation of the Act after five years and to report before Parliament. This report...

Lords committee stage eighth day. Schedule 29 agreed to. Clauses 64 to 73 agreed to. Schedule 30 agreed to. Clause 74 agreed to. Schedule 31 agreed to. Clause 75 agreed to. Schedule 32 agreed to. Clauses 76 to 84 agreed to. Schedule 33 agreed to. Clause 85 agreed to. Schedule 34 agreed to. Clauses 86 to 91 agreed to. Clause 92, as amended, agreed to. Clause 93 agreed to. Title, as amended, agreed to. Bill reported with amendments (HL Bill 174).

Lords committee stage eighth day. Schedule 29 agreed to. Clauses 64 to 73 agreed to. Schedule 30 agreed to. Clause 74 agreed to. Schedule 31 agreed to. Clause 75 agreed to. Schedule 32 agreed to. Clauses 76 to 84 agreed to. Schedule 33 agreed to. Clause 85 agreed to. Schedule...