Clause 76
Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [Lords]
6:00 pm
Rosie Winterton (Minister of State (Yorkshire and the Humber), Department for Communities and Local Government; Doncaster Central, Labour)
Clause 76 sets out the Secretary of State’s reserve power to revise a regional strategy, in whole or in part, where the responsible regional authority has failed to do so at the time specified in regulations or directions. The clause also makes a saving provision for any steps already carried out in relation to a revision of an existing regional spatial or economic strategy at the time that the clause is commenced.
I know that the hon. Member for North Cornwall will probably not agree with what I am about to say, but we do not believe that the powers afforded to the Secretary of State are excessive. Indeed, the Secretary of State’s powers in this part of the Bill are broadly similar to those in the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998 and the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. The only wholly new powers are in relation to the leaders’ boards, but that is because the mechanism is a new one.