Schedule 4

Part of Policing and Crime Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 2:15 pm on 12 February 2009.

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Photo of Paul Holmes Paul Holmes Liberal Democrat, Chesterfield 2:15, 12 February 2009

Amendment 245 would tackle the same issue to which the hon. Member for Hornchurch just referred: permitted conditions and the restrictions that they impose on the flexibility—the democratic, local accountability—of a local authority. Why should the Bill state that the only conditions applicable are those permitted by the Government in London, rather than those that the local authority believes to be appropriate? In the vast majority of cases, local licensing authorities will work from the same hymn sheet, from good practice nationally and from guidelines produced by the Government; but local circumstances and views could well differ. By removing “permitted,” the amendment would give local authorities the flexibility to represent their communities and to do what they think is best for their local areas.