| Local Government Finance (England) Special Grant Report (No. 107) (HC 60) on Special Grant for Activities Undertaken by Beacon Councils
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Mr. Leslie: The judgment on that council, as with all upper-tier authorities, will come in the comprehensive performance assessment announcements. I would not want to prejudice those announcements by selecting any one authority. We are discussing beacon councils. In so far as I have been able to play Cupid for the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar and my hon. Friend the Member for Kettering (Phil Sawford) in setting up their joint visit to Northamptonshire, I consider that a worthwhile achievement. The hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton asked about the involvement of the Improvement and Development Agency in the selection process. The agency is involved, as is the Local Government Association. The agency is involved in the advisory panel with other members, including some from the voluntary sector and the business community. A wide range of people advises on the relevant issues. The hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar mentioned individual malpractice and maladministration. Those matters are for ombudsmen, auditors, courts and the police, in the usual way. I believe that there is much good practice in local government. A great deal of the success of local government in general depends on the dissemination of good practice from one authority to the rest. The grant that we are discussing today concerns making beacon councils and the relevant schemes viable. Question put and agreed to. Resolved,
Committee rose at two minutes to Five o'clock. Column Number: 11
The following Members attended the Committee:
Column Number: 12 Murphy, Mr. Denis Pickles, Mr. Robertson, John Sawford, Phil Swayne, Mr. Woolas, Mr.
The following also attended, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118:
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| Prepared 2 December 2002 | |
