Clause 6
Local Democracy, Economic Developmentand Construction Bill [Lords]
5:00 pm
Dan Rogerson (North Cornwall, Liberal Democrat)
I quite agree with the hon. Gentleman that guidance is what it should be all about. Therefore, we would be happy if not for the fact that the sensible proposition that Government might issue guidance to local authorities on how to promote public involvement in democracy in their areas is, sadly, nestling within a nest of other proposals imposing duties on local authorities.
For all the reasons that we have outlined in our discussions on previous clauses, which I will not revisit, we do not believe that imposing a duty is a sensible way to proceed. Therefore, regretfully, we disagree yet again with the measures proposed in the clause.