Amendment Paper as at
Wednesday 24th March 1999
CONSIDERATION OF BILL
LOCAL GOVERNMENT BILL, AS AMENDED
NEW CLAUSE
Endorsement of council tax by referendum
Mr David Curry
Sir Paul Beresford
NC6
To move the following Clause:—
'.—(1) Schedule 1 shall not apply when the council tax proposals of a relevant local authority have been endorsed in a referendum of electors registered within the local authority area.
(2) A proposal shall be deemed to have been endorsed if it is supported by a simple majority of voters where at least 50 per cent. of the electorate have voted.'.
Mrs Gillian Shephard
Mr Richard Ottaway
Mr Simon Burns
Mr Nigel Waterson
Mr Bernard Jenkin
Mrs Caroline Spelman
54
Page 1, line 8 [Clause 1], at beginning insert 'Subject to subsection (4A) below'.
Mr Eric Forth
26
Page 2, line 4 [Clause 1], leave out from 'Authority' to end of line 5.
Mrs Gillian Shephard
Mr Richard Ottaway
Mr Simon Burns
Mr Nigel Waterson
Mr Bernard Jenkin
Mrs Caroline Spelman
55
Page 2, line 12 [Clause 1], at end insert—
'(4A) This section shall not apply to police authorities in respect of their oversight of any of the following police functions:
(a) any issues relating to national security;
(b) any relating to any matter whose public disclosure might compromise current or future police operations;
(c) any which is a statutory duty of police forces;
(d) the provision of any support service that may be specified by order of the Secretary of State.'.
Mr Eric Forth
27
Page 2, line 44 [Clause 2], at end insert—
'(5A) The Secretary of State shall consult with—
(a) the authority or body concerned, and
(b) all other relevant bodies
before making an order within this provision.'.
Mrs Gillian Shephard
Mr Richard Ottaway
Mr Simon Burns
Mr Nigel Waterson
Mr Bernard Jenkin
Mrs Caroline Spelman
56
Page 3, line 4 [Clause 3], after 'secure', insert 'and measure'.
Mrs Gillian Shephard
Mr Richard Ottaway
Mr Simon Burns
Mr Nigel Waterson
Mr Bernard Jenkin
Mrs Caroline Spelman
50
Page 3, line 5 [Clause 3], leave out 'way in which its functions are exercised' and insert 'value for money of its provision of services,'.
Mrs Gillian Shephard
Mr Richard Ottaway
Mr Simon Burns
Mr Nigel Waterson
Mr Bernard Jenkin
Mrs Caroline Spelman
57
Page 3 [Clause 3], leave out line 6 and insert 'having equal regard to economy, efficiency and effectiveness.'.
Mr Eric Forth
28
Page 3, line 6 [Clause 3], after 'of', insert 'efficacy,'.
Mr Paul Burstow
Jackie Ballard
Mr Adrian Sanders
Mr Richard Livsey
39
Page 3, line 6 [Clause 3], after 'of', insert 'equity,'.
Sir Paul Beresford
Mrs Gillian Shephard
Mr Richard Ottaway
Mr Simon Burns
Mr Nigel Waterson
Mr Bernard Jenkin
89
Page 3, line 6 [Clause 3], after 'effectiveness', insert 'but in such a manner that the additional costs of these arrangements are no more than 1 per cent. of the directly attributable financial savings, which will be recorded and audited in a prescribed manner.'.
Mrs Gillian Shephard
Mr Richard Ottaway
Mr Simon Burns
Mr Nigel Waterson
Mr Bernard Jenkin
Mrs Caroline Spelman
58
Page 3, line 6 [Clause 3], at end insert—
'(1)(A) In the case of police authorities, the general duty in this section shall be without prejudice to section 10 of the Police Act 1996 ("General functions of chief constables").'.
Mrs Gillian Shephard
Mr Richard Ottaway
Mr Simon Burns
Mr Nigel Waterson
Mr Bernard Jenkin
Mrs Caroline Spelman
59
Page 3, line 8 [Clause 3], leave out 'consult' and insert 'have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State and consult the following on the application of any such guidance.'.
Mr Eric Forth
29
Page 3, line 9 [Clause 3], after '(a)', insert 'elected'.
Mr Eric Forth
30
Page 3, line 11, [Clause 3], after '(b)', insert 'elected'.
Mr Eric Forth
33
Page 3, [Clause 3], leave out lines 17 to 19.
Sir Paul Beresford
Mrs Gillian Shephard
Mr Richard Ottaway
Mr Simon Burns
Mr Nigel Waterson
Mr Bernard Jenkin
90
Page 3, line 24 [Clause 3], after 'State', insert 'but ensure that consultation is carried out in such a way as to provide representative and statistically valid information and not a random mix of unrepresentative views.'.
Mrs Gillian Shephard
Mr Richard Ottaway
Mr Simon Burns
Mr Nigel Waterson
Mr Bernard Jenkin
Mrs Caroline Spelman
60
Page 3 [Clause 4], leave out lines 28 to 30.
Mrs Gillian Shephard
Mr Richard Ottaway
Mr Simon Burns
Mr Nigel Waterson
Mr Bernard Jenkin
Mrs Caroline Spelman
61
Page 3, line 31 [Clause 4], leave out 'or standards'.
Mr Secretary Prescott
6
Page 3, line 34 [Clause 4], at end insert—
'( ) Before specifying performance indicators or standards the Secretary of State shall consult such persons as he thinks fit.'.
Mrs Gillian Shephard
Mr Richard Ottaway
Mr Simon Burns
Mr Nigel Waterson
Mr Bernard Jenkin
Mrs Caroline Spelman
62
Page 3, line 35 [Clause 4], leave out 'and standards'.
Mrs Gillian Shephard
Mr Richard Ottaway
Mr Simon Burns
Mr Nigel Waterson
Mr Bernard Jenkin
Mrs Caroline Spelman
63
Page 3, line 38 [Clause 4], leave out 'having regard to a combination of' and insert 'having equal regard to'.
Mr Eric Forth
34
Page 3, line 39, [Clause 4], after 'of', insert 'efficacy,'.
Mr Paul Burstow
Jackie Ballard
Mr Adrian Sanders
Mr Richard Livsey
40
Page 3, line 39 [Clause 4], after 'of', insert 'equity,'.
Mrs Gillian Shephard
Mr Richard Ottaway
Mr Simon Burns
Mr Nigel Waterson
Mr Bernard Jenkin
Mrs Caroline Spelman
46
Page 3, line 39 [Clause 4], leave out from 'and' to end of line 41 and insert 'shall do so in the terms recommended to him by the Audit Commission.'.
Mrs Gillian Shephard
Mr Richard Ottaway
Mr Simon Burns
Mr Nigel Waterson
Mr Bernard Jenkin
Mrs Caroline Spelman
64
Page 3, line 41 [Clause 4], after 'Commission', insert 'and any other statutory body specified by order.'.
Mrs Gillian Shephard
Mr Richard Ottaway
Mr Simon Burns
Mr Nigel Waterson
Mr Bernard Jenkin
Mrs Caroline Spelman
47
Page 3, line 41 [Clause 4], at end insert—
'( ) in any instance when he specifies a performance indicator or standard in terms contrary to any recommendations made to him by the Audit Commission, shall publish with the order an explanation of his reasons for doing so.'.
Mr Eric Forth
35
Page 4, line 5 [Clause 5], after 'section', insert 'unless it can satisfy the Secretary of State that there is a reason why this should not be done.'.
Mrs Gillian Shephard
Mr Richard Ottaway
Mr Simon Burns
Mr Nigel Waterson
Mr Bernard Jenkin
Mrs Caroline Spelman
65
Page 4 [Clause 5], leave out line 10.
Mrs Gillian Shephard
Mr Richard Ottaway
Mr Simon Burns
Mr Nigel Waterson
Mr Bernard Jenkin
Mrs Caroline Spelman
51
Page 4, line 12 [Clause 5], leave out 'way in which its functions are exercised' and insert 'value for money of its provision of services,'.
Mrs Gillian Shephard
Mr Richard Ottaway
Mr Simon Burns
Mr Nigel Waterson
Mr Bernard Jenkin
Mrs Caroline Spelman
66
Page 4, line 13 [Clause 5], leave out 'having regard to a combination of' and insert 'having equal regard to'.
Mr Eric Forth
36
Page 4, line 13 [Clause 5], after 'of', insert 'efficacy,'.
Mr Paul Burstow
Jackie Ballard
Mr Adrian Sanders
Mr Richard Livsey
41
Page 4, line 13 [Clause 5], after 'of', insert 'equity,'.
Sir Paul Beresford
Mrs Gillian Shephard
Mr Richard Ottaway
Mr Simon Burns
Mr Nigel Waterson
Mr Bernard Jenkin
91
Page 4, line 16 [Clause 5], at end add—
'(c) shall ensure that all reviews are objectively based on the current specified performance indicators and targets, and exclude subjective opinions and other speculative matters.'.
