Clause 47
Crossrail Bill
12:00 pm
Stephen Hammond (Shadow Minister, Transport; Wimbledon, Conservative)
I beg to move amendment No. 56, in clause 47, page 30, line 10, at end add
‘, relevant London borough council leaders and chief executives, and those officials with the same standing in relevant borough councils and unitary authorities outside of London.’.
Clause 47 is important. It relates to the appointment of the nominated undertaker, the body that is to assume the task of building Crossrail. Subsection (4) requires the Secretary of State to consult the Mayor of London. Does the Minister think that it would be prudent to consult not only the Mayor of London, whoever that might be, but leaders of local authorities? The Secretary of State should look beyond consultation just with the Mayor of London, and should be required to consult representatives of local government when making the decision. After all, Crossrail is certain to have ramifications in several London boroughs in areas both east and west of the City.
Local councils will have to deal with several issues arising as a direct result of Crossrail, and I sense that they may be better minded to co-operate if they feel that they have been included in decision-making processes relating to the project from the outset. I have no doubt that some of the boroughs in question have already made representations to the Select Committees, and I am sure that those representations were taken very seriously. None the less, the amendment is non-controversial. Local government has a role to play in the success of the project. It would be a mistake to exclude it from the Bill.
My amendment is designed to ensure that the appropriate local government representatives—the amendment specifies them as the borough council leaders and chief executives, and officials of the same standing in borough councils outside Greater London—would be consulted on the appointment of the nominated undertaker, who will, after all, become such a presence in their area. I hope that the Minister will feel minded to accept the amendment.