House of Commons Public Bill Committee Proceedings

House of Commons

Session 2006 - 07
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Other Bills before Parliament

Public Bill Committee Proceedings: 2007
24

Sustainable Communities Bill, continued

(4)
The Secretary of State must, subject to subsection (5), cooperate with the advisor

in drawing up an action plan to promote the sustainability of local communities

which shall—

(a)
be based primarily on those proposals that have been identified by the

advisor as requiring the greatest priority and having cross-party support;

and

(b)
include such other recommendations made by principal councils as the

Secretary of State thinks fit.

(5)
The Secretary of State may determine which proposals are not appropriate to be

implemented immediately or at all, on the grounds that—

(a)
the direct or indirect costs likely to be involved in their implementation,

or

(b)
their implementation in whole or in part is likely to conflict, to a

significant extent, with a specific government objective.

(6)
The Secretary of State shall, no later than 18 months after the commencement of

the consultation pursuant to subsection (1), lay the action plan before each House

of Parliament for approval by each House.

(7)
The Secretary of State must—

(a)
implement the action plan and for that purpose shall keep under review

the progress made from time to time in the implementation of the action

plan; and

(b)
consider any opinions of the advisor on progress made.

(8)
The Secretary of State shall ensure that every regional office of government

cooperates with principal councils and panels established under section 3(1A) for

the relevant region in the promotion of the sustainability of local communities.

(9)
The Secretary of State shall in each Session of Parliament beginning after the

enactment of this act lay an annual report before each House of Parliament

containing the action plan, if completed, and detailing the progress made to the

date of the report in producing the action plan if not completed, and in

implementing the recommendations contained in the action plan in pursuance of

subsection (7).’.

Proposals by principal councils

Mr Phil Woolas

Not called  NC5

To move the following Clause:—

‘(1)
The Secretary of State must invite principal councils to make proposals which

they consider would contribute to promoting the sustainability of local

communities.

(2)
Before inviting proposals, the Secretary of State must appoint a person (the

“selector”) to consider the proposals and draw up a short-list of proposals for

consideration by the Secretary of State, in accordance with regulations under

section [Proposals by principal councils: regulations].

(3)
The selector must be a person who represents the interests of principal councils.

(4)
On receiving the short-list from the selector, the Secretary of State must—

(a)
decide which, if any, of the proposals on the short-list should be

implemented, and

Public Bill Committee Proceedings: 2007
25

Sustainable Communities Bill, continued

(b)
give reasons for the decision.

(5)
Before taking a decision under subsection (4) the Secretary of State must consult

the selector and try to reach agreement.’.

Short-listing of proposals: regulations

Mr Phil Woolas

Not called  NC6

To move the following Clause:—

‘(1)
The Secretary of State must make regulations about the procedure to be followed

in relation to proposals under section [Proposals by principal councils].

(2)
Before making regulations the Secretary of State must consult—

(a)
the selector, and

(b)
such other persons, who the Secretary of State thinks represent the

interests of principal councils, as the Secretary of State thinks fit.

(3)
Regulations may, in particular—

(a)
specify, or authorise the selector to specify, steps to be taken by a

principal council before making proposals (including, in particular, a

requirement for a principal council to have regard to the matters specified

in the Schedule);

(b)
specify steps to be taken by the selector in considering the proposals and

drawing up a short-list;

(c)
specify criteria to be applied by the selector in drawing up a short-list;

(d)
specify a maximum number of proposals to be included in a short-list;

(e)
require the selector to prepare, and give to the Secretary of State, a report

on the proposals;

(f)
specify the form of, and the information to be included in, a report under

paragraph (e).

(4)
Regulations must—

(a)
require a principal council, if it has not already done so, to consult

representatives of local persons before making any proposal under

section [Proposals by principal councils],

(b)
require a principal council to try to reach agreement with representatives

of local persons about proposals, and

(c)
require a principal council to have regard to any guidance issued under

subsection (5).

(5)
The Secretary of State may issue guidance to principal councils about making

proposals, which may in particular include guidance about consulting

representatives of local persons.

(6)
Before issuing or revising guidance under subsection (5) the Secretary of State

must consult—

(a)
principal councils, or

(b)
persons who the Secretary of State thinks represent the interests of

principal councils.

(7)
In this section—

Public Bill Committee Proceedings: 2007
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Sustainable Communities Bill, continued

“local person” means, in relation to a proposal by a principal council under

section [Proposals by principal councils], a person who is likely to be

affected by, or interested in, the proposal;

“representative” means, in relation to local persons, a person who appears

to the principal council to be representative of the local persons.

(8)
Regulations under this section—

(a)
must be made by statutory instrument, and

(b)
are subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of

Parliament.’.

Mr Phil Woolas

Not called  45

Title,  line  1,  leave out from ‘provision’ to ‘and’ in line 8 and insert ‘about promoting the

sustainability of local communities;’.

Mr Nick Hurd

Mr David Drew

Julia Goldsworthy

Agreed to  46

Title,  line  6,  leave out ‘upon request’.

Mr Nick Hurd

Mr David Drew

Julia Goldsworthy

Agreed to  47

Title,  line  6,  leave out ‘produce local spending plans’ and insert ‘make recommendations

regarding local spending reports’.

Mr Nick Hurd

Mr David Drew

Julia Goldsworthy

Agreed to  48

Title,  line  7,  leave out ‘approve and implement those plans’ and insert ‘publish reasons

for decisions relating to local spending reports’.

Bill, as amended, to be reported.