Clause 7
Local Democracy, Economic Developmentand Construction Bill [Lords]
5:00 pm
Dan Rogerson (North Cornwall, Liberal Democrat)
I am sure that my hon. Friend the Member for St. Ives (Andrew George) would be delighted that we are taking a close interest in matters that affect the Isles of Scilly and the people of the Isles of Scilly. It strikes me that we are talking about potentially applying such duties as may be imposed through guidance to authorities as large as cities and, equally, to a council the size of that for the Isles of Scilly.
My hon. Friend has talked about the number of inspections of local authorities that need to be undertaken in line with statute, and I understand that although things may have been simplified a little, the very same inspections all had to be undertaken of the Isles of Scilly council. That may well have been a popular brief for the civil servants who were required to visit the Isles of Scilly to undertake in-depth evaluation of the council and its discharge of its responsibilities, but it highlights the problem with the provision.
Indeed, my hon. Friend the Member for Falmouth and Camborne and I were discussing earlier—while paying all due attention to the debate as it proceeded, of course—the fact that such an exercise might involve employing just about all the citizens of the Isles of Scilly to discharge such duties as may be imposed on the council by the provision. Although that might be a worthy attempt at job creation in the Isles of Scilly, I suspect it might not be very efficient.
Yet again, we consider the proposals—as set out in previous clauses, as they pertain to the Isles of Scilly—somewhat ill thought out.