Amendments proposed to the Local Government Bill - continued	House of Commons
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Mr Bernard Jenkin
Mrs Caroline Spelman
Sir Paul Beresford
Mr David Curry
Mr John Hayes
Mr Owen Paterson

222

Clause     22, page 14, line 1, leave out '2(6)'.

   

Mr Bernard Jenkin
Mrs Caroline Spelman
Sir Paul Beresford
Mr David Curry
Mr John Hayes
Mr Owen Paterson

223

Clause     22, page 14, line 1, leave out '17(3)'.

   

Mr Bernard Jenkin
Mrs Caroline Spelman
Sir Paul Beresford
Mr David Curry
Mr John Hayes
Mr Owen Paterson

224

Clause     22, page 14, line 1, leave out 'and 21(2)'.

   

Mr Paul Burstow
Mr Adrian Sanders
Jackie Ballard

233

Clause     22,     page     14,     line     1,     leave out 'shall be omitted' and insert 'for each reference to either House of Parliament there shall be substituted a reference to the National Assembly for Wales.'.

   

Mr Paul Burstow
Mr Adrian Sanders
Jackie Ballard

234

Clause     22,     page     14,     line     3,     leave out from 'to' to 'section' in line 4.

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NEW CLAUSES RELATING TO PART I

Fees

   

Hilary Armstrong

NC5

To move the following Clause:—

    '.—(1) The Audit Commission shall prescribe a scale or scales of fees in respect of inspections carried out under section 10.

    (2) An authority inspected under section 10 shall, subject to subsection (3), pay to the Commission the fee applicable to the inspection in accordance with the appropriate scale.

    (3) If it appears to the Commission that the work involved in a particular inspection was substantially more or less than that envisaged by the appropriate scale, the Commission may charge a fee which is larger or smaller than that referred to in subsection (2).

    (4) Before prescribing a scale of fees under this section the Commission shall consult—

(a) the Secretary of State, and

(b) persons appearing to the Commission to represent best value authorities.'.

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Police Act 1996

   

Hilary Armstrong

NC6

To move the following Clause:—

    '.—(1) Section 8(2) of the Police Act 1996 (local policing plans) shall be amended by—

(a) the omission of the word "and" after paragraph (b), and

(b) the insertion of the following after paragraph (c)—

", and
(d) any action proposed for the purpose of complying with the requirements of Part I of the Local Government Act 1999 (best value)."

    (2) In section 54 of that Act (inspectors of constabulary) after subsection (2) there shall be inserted—

    "(2A) The inspectors of constabulary may inspect, and report to the Secretary of State on, a police authority's compliance with the requirements of Part I of the Local Government Act 1999 (best value)."

    (3) In section 55(1) of that Act (publication of reports) after "section 54(2)" there shall be inserted "or (2A)".'.

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Guidance

   

Hilary Armstrong

NC7

To move the following Clause:—

    '.—(1) This section has effect in relation to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State under this Part.

    (2) The Secretary of State—

(a) may issue guidance to best value authorities generally or to one or more particular authorities;

(b) may issue different guidance to different authorities;

(c) must, before he issues guidance, consult the authorities concerned or persons appearing to him to represent them;

(d) must arrange for guidance to be published.

    (3) Before issuing guidance under section 10 the Secretary of State shall, in addition to the consultation required by subsection (2)(c) above, consult the Commission.'.

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Publication of information

   

Hilary Armstrong

NC8

To move the following Clause:—

    '. At the end of section 2(1) of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 (duty of authorities to publish information) there shall be inserted—

    "; and any other authority which is a best value authority for the purposes of Part I of the Local Government Act 1999 (best value)."'.

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Publication by best value authorities

   

Mr Bernard Jenkin
Mrs Caroline Spelman
Sir Paul Beresford
Mr David Curry
Mr John Hayes
Mr Owen Paterson

NC1

To move the following Clause:—

    '—(1) A best value authority must make arrangements to publish all of the following—

(a) guidance,

(b) performance plans,

(c) decision criteria for the allocation of expenditure for service delivery,

(d) annual reviews,

(e) all representations arising out of the best value process received by the authority.

    (2) All public information must be made available at the public library and to all interested parties who apply in writing. Responses to requests for information must be dealt with within ten working days.'.

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Compliance with legislation

   

Mr Bernard Jenkin
Mrs Caroline Spelman
Sir Paul Beresford
Mr David Curry
Mr John Hayes
Mr Owen Paterson

NC2

To move the following Clause:—

    '.—All best value authorities must ensure that all parties entrusted with a public sector contract comply with all existing legislation regarding equal opportunities and discrimination'.

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Statements concerning best value

   

Mr Bernard Jenkin
Mrs Caroline Spelman
Sir Paul Beresford
Mr David Curry
Mr John Hayes
Mr Owen Paterson

NC3

To move the following Clause:—

    '.—(1) The Secretary of State shall make a statement to Parliament whenever he exercises a power under this Act relating to best value.

    (2) Any such statement shall specify in particular—

(i) the power he has exercised,

(ii) the reason for its being exercised, and

(iii) the outcome he intends to achieve.'.

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Dr Alan Whitehead
Christine Butler

195

Clause     23,     page     14,     line     16,     at end insert 'but shall cease to apply on 1st April 2005'.

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Mr Paul Burstow
Mr Adrian Sanders
Jackie Ballard

158

Schedule     1,     page     17,     line     1,     leave out from beginning to end of line 19 on page 31.

   

Mr Bernard Jenkin
Mrs Caroline Spelman
Sir Paul Beresford
Mr David Curry
Mr John Hayes
Mr Owen Paterson

206

Schedule     1,     page     17,     line     22,     at end insert ', but no such amount shall be deemed excessive if the corresponding demand upon the relevant billing authorities' collection funds, expressed as a Council Tax amount at Band D, is less than the average for authorities of the same class, where the class comprises four or more authorities'.

   

Dr Alan Whitehead
Christine Butler

197

Schedule     1,     page     17,     line     24,     at end insert—

'(aa) may exempt certain categories of authority from budgetary controls, including—

    (i) those with budgets under a level specified by the Secretary of State, and

    (ii) those which only provide particular services, as specified by the Secretary of State.

(ab) may take into account other factors, including—

    (i) the authority's performance in delivery of best value;

    (ii) the support of the local electorate for the authority's proposed budget; and

    (iii) whether the council has Beacon status.'.

   

Mr Bernard Jenkin
Mrs Caroline Spelman
Sir Paul Beresford
Mr David Curry
Mr John Hayes
Mr Owen Paterson

207

Schedule     1,     page     17,     line     33,     at end insert—

    '(4A) the Secretary of State shall publish a statement of the set of principles for each financial year on or before 31st December in the preceding year'.

   

Mr Bernard Jenkin
Mrs Caroline Spelman
Sir Paul Beresford
Mr David Curry
Mr John Hayes
Mr Owen Paterson

208

Schedule     1,     page     17,     leave out lines 34 to 42 and insert—

    '(5) Any principles determined for the year must be such that the same set is determined for all authorities (if more than one) billing within the same class'.

   

Mr Bernard Jenkin
Mrs Caroline Spelman
Sir Paul Beresford
Mr David Curry
Mr John Hayes
Mr Owen Paterson

209

Schedule     1,     page     18,     leave out lines 1 and 2.

   

Mr Bernard Jenkin
Mrs Caroline Spelman
Sir Paul Beresford
Mr David Curry
Mr John Hayes
Mr Owen Paterson

42

Schedule     1,     page     18,     line     30,     after 'may', insert 'by order'.

   

Mr Bernard Jenkin
Mrs Caroline Spelman
Sir Paul Beresford
Mr David Curry
Mr John Hayes
Mr Owen Paterson

43

Schedule     1,     page     18,     line     34,     at end insert—

    '(4) No order shall be made under this section unless a draft has been laid before, and approved by resolution of, each House of Parliament.'.

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Mr Bernard Jenkin
Mrs Caroline Spelman
Sir Paul Beresford
Mr David Curry
Mr John Hayes
Mr Owen Paterson

201

Clause     24,     page     14,     line     24,     leave out from 'State' to end of line 32 and insert 'shall base his opinion on one or more principles which shall be the same for all authorities'.

   

Mr Paul Burstow
Mr Adrian Sanders
Jackie Ballard

99

Clause     24,     page     14,     line     25,     leave out 'thinks fit' in line 25 and insert 'has agreed with the Local Government Association'.

Prepared 16 Feb 1999