Clause 63
Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill
9:45 am
Alistair Burt (Shadow Minister (Communities and Local Government), Communities and Local Government; North East Bedfordshire, Conservative)
It is welcome that powers to make decisions about new parishes, and decisions on their creation, have been devolved from the Secretary of State to principal authorities. Parish councils welcome that measure, and it has also been welcomed by the parish councils’ associations. However, there is one nagging doubt in the back of my mind.
To a certain extent, the fact that such matters used to be handled outside the local authority by the Secretary of State provided some form of third-party scrutiny and review, so local battles were not fought and decided locally. I am concerned about whether there is any appeal process. If a personality dispute were preoccupying a local area where a local parish had been awkward or difficult and consistently at odds with a principal council, perhaps because it represented two different parts of a local authority area, whether urban or rural, the local council may decide, under the terms of clause 63, that that was an ideal opportunity to conduct a community governance review. The result of that review may be—surprise, surprise—that the difficult parish council would be scheduled for termination. What power of appeal is possible?
Such matters used, of course, to go to the Secretary of State, thereby avoiding internecine strife, which is part of British public life. We have all had experience of that. The nods and smiles from Committee members tell me that I am mining a rich seam. We are all aware of this sort of thing. [Interruption.] Apart from Lichfield, where people handle such matters marvellously well. Certainly, nobody from Bedfordshire will take me up on this issue and complain.
When such matters arise, to a certain extent the Department and the Secretary of State can act as a stop-gap. What security is there in the Bill to prevent a most unfortunate decision from being taken if somebody tries to pursue a local agenda and a parish council is in the firing line? Is there any form of appeal? How can we ensure that a parish council will not be targeted unfairly? I should be grateful if the Under-Secretary could help me on that point.