Select Committee on Office of the Deputy Prime Minister: Housing, Planning, Local Government and the Regions Minutes of Evidence


Examination of Witnesses (Questions 120-122)

JAMES PURNELL, MR STUART ROBERTS AND MR PHIL WOOLAS

31 OCTOBER 2005

  Q120  Mr Betts: If councillors actually live in their own ward and therefore they are a resident who could be affected—

  James Purnell: Then they can.

  Mr Woolas: As a member of the committee?

  Q121  Mr Betts: No; not on the committee.

  James Purnell: If they live within the vicinity, then they can make a representation as a resident. If they do not qualify as being within the vicinity, they can make a representation if they have representations from constituents and there is nothing to stop them going out and getting those representations.

  Mr Betts: That is not how it is being interpreted.

  Q122  Chair: We might need to clarify this with your Department in writing afterwards. There is a certain degree of disagreement amongst us. It might be better, rather than ploughing on, to sort it out in writing subsequently.

  Mr Woolas: May I add two other points? In addition to the question which has been raised, there is also of course the consideration of the code of conduct of the standards board and the findings of the Graham review of standards in public life. Key amongst our considerations in the response is the evidence from this Committee. There are issues around what is called the double-hatted issue where restrictions are placed on councillors and perhaps have a perverse, unintended consequence. I would want to look at the issue which has been raised in the round to ensure that there are not further unintended consequences and that is a very important piece of work. We would want to look at the evidence you present in your findings on this particular issue.

  Chair: May I thank you both very much? We shall certainly be making recommendations and we are relieved to hear that you are both going to consider them and that we may actually be able to work with you to improve the system the next time round. Thank you very much.





 
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