Clause 23
Local Democracy, Economic Developmentand Construction Bill [Lords]
6:45 pm
Julia Goldsworthy (Falmouth and Camborne, Liberal Democrat)
I shall make some brief remarks on the clause. I cannot see it doing anything other than contradicting everything the Minister has said previously. The first clause that we debated gives the principal local authority a duty to promote an understanding of the functions and democratic arrangements of an authority and of how members of the public can take part in those arrangements. We had a long debate on why regional development agencies should not be part of the authorities that local authorities were trying to promote an understanding of. However, clause 23 specifies the regional development agencies, but under a kind of power that says, “You can do what you like, really: if you would like to engage with people, you may do so, but if you do not, then do not worry about it.” If some regional development agencies are coming forward to involve people in the exercise of that function, I still do not understand why they have been excluded from previous clauses. Why have they been included in this clause when they have been excluded in previous clauses? That just points to some wider flaws in the Bill. It seems that the clause is nothing more than legislative filler, so I will vote against it if I get the opportunity.