Clause 69
Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [Lords]
4:45 pm
Stewart Jackson (Shadow Minister, Communities and Local Government; Peterborough, Conservative)
I support the hon. Lady’s comments because this short clause seems to encapsulate a fundamental dichotomy between what the Minister says is its purpose, which is essentially to require the leaders’ boards and RDAs to act jointly, and its substance. Subsection (2) is effectively open-ended. It could give rise to an open-ended arrangement whereby a leaders’ board is unable to operate effectively for unspecified reasons, which may come to light and we may have more information about via regulation. We do not know on what basis that might happen—it might be a problem with a group on the board having an agenda over regional issues at variance with another group on the leaders’ board, or it might be a financial or organisational issue.