Public Bill Committee Proceedings: 1 February 2011

15

Localism Bill, continued

9FH	Reference by a member of an authority to an overview and scrutiny

committee (councillor call for action)

(1)	The constitution of a local authority must include provision which enables any

member of an overview and scrutiny committee of the authority to refer to the

committee any matter which is relevant to the functions of the committee.

(2)	For the purposes of subsection (1), provision enables a person to refer a matter to

a committee or sub-committee if it enables the person to ensure that the matter is

included in the agenda for, and discussed at, a meeting of the committee or sub-

committee.

(3)	The scrutiny function must develop and have regard to procedures (“councillor

call for action procedures”), which should be applied by the relevant scrutiny

committee, and which ensure that such provision referred to in subsections (1)

and (2) operate in an effective way. Such provisions should ensure that—

(a)	reference to committee or sub-committee occurs where other avenues for

resolution have been exhausted,

(b)	the matter affects all or part of the electoral area for which the member is

elected or any person who lives or works in that area,

(c)	the matter relates to the authority or a designated person, and

(d)	such a reference is not vexatious, persistent or discriminatory.

(4)	In reaching its decision under subsection (3), the committee or sub-committee

should also have regard to—

(a)	any powers which the member may exercise in relation to the matter by

virtue of section 236 of the Local Government and Public Involvement

in Health Act 2007 (exercise of functions by local councillors in

England),

(b)	any representations made by the member as to why it would be

appropriate for the committee or sub-committee to exercise any of its

powers under section 9F(2) and 9FB in relation to the matter, and

(c)	the powers under sections 9F and 9FB.

(5)	Where the committee proposes to refer a matter for discussion under subsections

(1) and (2) it may have recourse to its powers under sections 9F and 9FB.

9FI	Publication of reports, recommendations and responses — confidential and

exempt information

(1)	Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 shall have effect with regard to

overview and scrutiny committees.

(2)	Where publication would involve making public any confidential or exempt

information, a summary of the document or report shall be produced which omits

the information.

(3)	Where a witness at an overview and scrutiny committee is asked a question, the

answer to which would require them to provide information which would, if

published, be confidential or exempt, they will not be obliged to do so if the

committee is meeting in public.

(4)	In this section:

(a)	“confidential information” has the meaning given by section 100A(3) of

the Local Government Act 1972 (admission to meetings of principal

councils),

(b)	“exempt information” has the meaning given by—

(i)	section 100I of that Act, or in relation to a report or

recommendations of an overview and scrutiny committee,

(ii)	a resolution of the overview and scrutiny committee under

section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 which

applies to the proceedings, or part of the proceedings, at any

Public Bill Committee Proceedings: 1 February 2011

16

Localism Bill, continued

meeting of the overview and scrutiny committee at which the

report is, or recommendations are, considered, and

(iii)

section 246 of the National Health Service Act 2006.’.

Barbara Keeley

Alison Seabeck

Jack Dromey

Withdrawn  2

Schedule  2,  page  191,  leave out lines 25 to 30 and insert—

‘(1)	There is a presumption that meetings of a local authority executive, or a

committee of such an executive, are to be open to the public.

(2)	A local authority executive, or a committee of such an executive, may decide to

hold a meeting in private if it thinks that in all the circumstances it would be

inappropriate to hold that meeting in public.’.

Barbara Keeley

Alison Seabeck

Jack Dromey

Not called  3

Schedule  2,  page  191,  line  31,  leave out ‘prescribed’.

Barbara Keeley

Alison Seabeck

Jack Dromey

Not called  4

Schedule  2,  page  191,  line  34,  leave out ‘prescribed’.

Barbara Keeley

Alison Seabeck

Jack Dromey

Not called  5

Schedule  2,  page  191,  leave out lines 38 and 39.

Barbara Keeley

Alison Seabeck

Jack Dromey

Not called  6

Schedule  2,  page  192,  leave out lines 23 to 28.

Barbara Keeley

Alison Seabeck

Jack Dromey

Withdrawn  7

Schedule  2,  page  194,  line  27,  leave out from beginning to end of line 39 on page

196.

Barbara Keeley

Alison Seabeck

Jack Dromey

Not called  42

Schedule  2,  page  195,  line  22,  leave out ‘may’ and insert ‘must’.

Public Bill Committee Proceedings: 1 February 2011

17

Localism Bill, continued

Barbara Keeley

Alison Seabeck

Jack Dromey

Withdrawn  8

Schedule  2,  page  196,  line  43,  leave out ‘or requiring’.

Barbara Keeley

Alison Seabeck

Jack Dromey

Not called  9

Schedule  2,  page  196,  line  43,  leave out ‘operating a mayor and cabinet executive’.

Mr David Ward

Not selected  66

Schedule  2,  page  196,  line  43,  leave out ‘operating a mayor and cabinet executive’

and insert ‘operating an executive form allowed under section 9C’.

Mr David Ward

Not selected  67

Schedule  2,  page  196,  line  45,  leave out ‘elected mayor’ and insert ‘executive’.

Barbara Keeley

Alison Seabeck

Jack Dromey

Not called  10

Schedule  2,  page  196,  line  45,  at end insert ‘or elected leader’.

Barbara Keeley

Alison Seabeck

Jack Dromey

Not called  11

Schedule  2,  page  197,  line  1,  leave out ‘operating a mayor and cabinet executive’.

Mr David Ward

Not selected  68

Schedule  2,  page  197,  line  1,  leave out ‘operating a mayor and cabinet executive’

and insert ‘operating an executive form allowed under section 9C’.

Mr David Ward

Not selected  69

Schedule  2,  page  197,  line  3,  leave out ‘elected mayor’ and insert ‘executive’.

Barbara Keeley

Alison Seabeck

Jack Dromey

Not called  12

Schedule  2,  page  197,  line  4,  at end insert ‘or elected leader’.

Mr David Ward

Not selected  70

Schedule  2,  page  197,  line  6,  leave out ‘elected mayors’ and insert ‘executives’.

Public Bill Committee Proceedings: 1 February 2011

18

Localism Bill, continued

Barbara Keeley

Alison Seabeck

Jack Dromey

Not called  13

Schedule  2,  page  197,  line  6,  after ‘mayors’, insert ‘or elected leaders’.

Mr David Ward

Not selected  71

Schedule  2,  page  197,  line  17,  leave out ‘elected mayor’ and insert ‘executive’.

Barbara Keeley

Alison Seabeck

Jack Dromey

Not called  14

Schedule  2,  page  197,  line  17,  after ‘mayor’, insert ‘or elected leader’.

Mr David Ward

Not selected  72

Schedule  2,  page  197,  line  23,  leave out ‘elected mayor’ and insert ‘executive’.

Barbara Keeley

Alison Seabeck

Jack Dromey

Not called  65

Schedule  2,  page  197,  line  23,  after ‘mayor’, insert ‘or elected leader’.

Mr David Ward

Not selected  73

Schedule  2,  page  198,  line  36,  leave out ‘elected mayor’ and insert ‘executive’.

Barbara Keeley

Alison Seabeck

Jack Dromey

Not called  15

Schedule  2,  page  198,  line  37,  after ‘mayor’, insert ‘or elected leader’.

Mr David Ward

Not selected  74

Schedule  2,  page  198,  line  39,  leave out ‘elected mayor’ and insert ‘executive’.

Barbara Keeley

Alison Seabeck

Jack Dromey

Not called  16

Schedule  2,  page  198,  line  39,  after ‘mayor’, insert ‘or elected leader’.

Mr David Ward

Not selected  75

Schedule  2,  page  198,  line  44,  leave out from ‘authority’ to ‘and’ in line 48.

Public Bill Committee Proceedings: 1 February 2011

19

Localism Bill, continued

Barbara Keeley

Alison Seabeck

Jack Dromey

Not called  17

Schedule  2,  page  198,  line  45,  after ‘mayor’, insert ‘or elected leader’.

Barbara Keeley

Alison Seabeck

Jack Dromey

Not called  64

Schedule  2,  page  198,  leave out lines 46 to 48.

Barbara Keeley

Alison Seabeck

Jack Dromey

Not called  18

Schedule  2,  page  198,  line  48,  after ‘mayor’, insert ‘or elected leader’.

Barbara Keeley

Alison Seabeck

Jack Dromey

Not called  43

Schedule  2,  page  199,  leave out lines 4 to 25.

Barbara Keeley

Alison Seabeck

Jack Dromey

Withdrawn  44

Schedule  2,  page  202,  leave out lines 19 and 20.

Barbara Keeley

Alison Seabeck

Jack Dromey

Not called  19

Schedule  2,  page  204,  line  17,  leave out ‘may’ and insert ‘must’.

Barbara Keeley

Alison Seabeck

Jack Dromey

Withdrawn  20

Schedule  2,  page  206,  leave out lines 29 to 31.

Barbara Keeley

Alison Seabeck

Jack Dromey

Not called  21

Schedule  2,  page  210,  leave out lines 3 to 25.

Barbara Keeley

Alison Seabeck

Jack Dromey

Not called  22

Schedule  2,  page  210,  leave out lines 26 to 47.

Public Bill Committee Proceedings: 1 February 2011

20

Localism Bill, continued

Barbara Keeley

Alison Seabeck

Jack Dromey

Not called  23

Schedule  2,  page  212,  line  18,  leave out from beginning to end of line 31 on page

214.

Barbara Keeley

Alison Seabeck

Jack Dromey

Not called  24

Schedule  2,  page  215,  leave out line 8.

Barbara Keeley

Alison Seabeck

Jack Dromey

Not called  25

Schedule  2,  page  215,  leave out line 12.

Schedule Agreed to.

Clause 11 Agreed to.

Schedule 3 Agreed to.

Clause 12 Agreed to.

[Adjourned until Thursday at 9.30 am

© Parliamentary copyright	Revised 2 February 2011