Clause 66
Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [Lords]
2:30 pm
Julia Goldsworthy (Falmouth and Camborne, Liberal Democrat)
On local authority economic assessments, in part 4 of the Bill, it is understandable that during difficult economic times the priority of the Government and local authorities is to focus on understanding the nature of the problem and how it may best be resolved. I share some of the concerns raised by the hon. Member for Wycombe, in particular the reason for framing this measure as a requirement on all local authorities. Most local authorities already have a sustainability strategy, and one would hope that some information might inform that. I wonder to what extent this provision will underline work that already takes place.
The key thing about assessments is that they should inform future actions; councils should not be allowed simply to tick a box stating that they have done one. My concern is about the next stage in the process. If the Government think that the economic assessment is important, surely the next stage is just as important, but the Bill does not really contain anything about that.
I also have some concerns—the Conservatives’ amendments highlight these—about the idea that economic assessments must stick rigidly to the boundaries of a local authority, even thought they might bear no relation to the boundaries of economic experience. Some principal authorities might find that their economic circumstances are very similar to those of a neighbouring authority, but within local authorities there might be very different circumstances. It might be difficult to reflect that in a single assessment. For example, I imagine that the economic assessment of the council of the Isles of Scilly would be very similar to that of west Cornwall, but the clause would make it impossible for the council to produce a joint economic assessment with west Cornwall. It requires the whole of Cornwall to conduct one assessment and the Isles of Scilly to conduct another. There is a danger of both duplication and of missing out some of the variations within a local authority, because the clause is so prescriptive in focusing on an economic assessment across a single local authority area.