House of Commons Public Bill Committee Proceedings

Session 2010 - 11
Internet Publications
Other Bills before Parliament

73

House of Commons

Thursday 10 March 2011

Public Bill Committee Proceedings

Localism Bill

[twenty-third and twenty-fourth sittings]

Clauses 199 and 200 Agreed to.

New Clauses

Pay transparency statement by local authority contractors

Barbara Keeley

Alison Seabeck

Jack Dromey

Not called  NC1

To move the following Clause:—

‘(1)
It is the duty of every relevant authority when entering into a public supply or

works contract with a company or organistation (a “contractor”) for the supply of

services or for the execution of works to the value of more than £250,000 in any

financial year, to include a provision in that contract that the contractor prepare a

pay transparency statement relating to its highest and lowest paid workers within

three months of the contract being finalised.

(2)
The contracts which are public supply or works contracts for the purposes of this

section are contracts for the supply of goods or materials, for the supply of

services or for the execution of works; but this section does not apply in relation

to contracts entered into before the commencement of this section.

(3)
Where the individual value of contracts referred to in subsection (1) fall below

£250,000 but the aggregated value of contracts with a company or organisation (a

“contractor”) exceed £250,000, then that company or organisation (a

“contractor”) will be subject to the same conditions set out in subsection (1).

(4)
A pay transparency statement must include—

(a)
the highest gross pay any employee of the contractor, carrying out work

in relation to the contract or contracts referred to in subsections (1) and

(3), is currently being paid,

(b)
the lowest gross pay any employee of the contractor, carrying out work

in relation to the contract or contracts referred to in subsections (1) and

(3), is currently being paid, and

Public Bill Committee Proceedings: 10 March 2011
74

Localism Bill, continued

(c)
the pay multiple to be maintained between the lowest paid and the highest

paid employee of the contractor.

(5)
The contract referred to in subsections (1) or (3) must provide that the contractor

prepare a new pay transparency statement for each financial year by the date

specified in section 22(3).

(6)
A relevant authority must publish any pay transparency statement produced by its

contractors under subsection (1) or subsection (5) in the manner set out in section

22(5).

(7)
In this section—

(a)
“relevant authority” means a relevant authority within the meaning of

section 26(1),

(b)
“financial year” means a financial year within the meaning of section

26(6).

(8)
In Part 2 of the Local Government Act 1988 (public supply or works contracts),

after section 17(10)(b) insert—

“(c)
the duty imposed on it by section [Pay transparency statement by

local authority contractors] of the Localism Act 2011.”’.

Purpose of planning

Barbara Keeley

Alison Seabeck

Jack Dromey

Not called  NC3

To move the following Clause:—

‘(1)
The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 is amended as follows.

(2)
Before section 1 insert—

“A1
Purpose of Planning

(1)
The purpose of the planning system is to achieve sustainable

development.

(2)
Any person exercising functions and duties under the planning Acts must

do so with the objective of achieving sustainable development.

A2
Interpretation

(1)
In the planning Acts “sustainable development” means managing the use,

development, and protection of land and natural resources in a way, or at

a rate, which protects the long-term health of the environment, maintains

biodiversity and enables people and communities to provide for their

social, economic and cultural wellbeing while sustaining the potential of

future generations to meet their own needs.

(2)
The definition of “sustainable development” may be further refined

through guidance, strategies or frameworks that may be adopted in

England and Wales from time to time for the purpose of establishing

principles or criteria for practical application.

(3)
In achieving sustainable development, planning should:

Public Bill Committee Proceedings: 10 March 2011
75

Localism Bill, continued

(a)
promote the long term spatial organisation of land and natural

resources; and

(b)
apply the following principles:

(i)
living within environmental limits;

(ii)
ensuring a strong, healthy and just society;

(iii)
achieving a sustainable economy;

(iv)
promoting good governance; and

(v)
using sound science responsibly.

A3
In this Part ‘the planning Acts’ means:

(a)
the Planning Act 2008;

(b)
the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004;

(c)
the Town and Country Planning Act 1990;

(d)
the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act

1990;

(e)
the Planning (Hazardous Substances) Act 1990; and

(f)
the Planning (Consequential Provisions) Act 1990.”.’.

Sustainable development

Barbara Keeley

Alison Seabeck

Jack Dromey

Not called  NC4

To move the following Clause:—

‘(1)
The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 is amended as follows.

(2)
In section 39 (sustainable development)—

(a)
In subsection (1) after “function—”, insert—

“(aa)
under the planning Acts in relation to any national

policies, frameworks or guidance issued;”.

(b)
In subsection (1)(c) after ‘plan’, leave out “.” and insert—

“(d)
under sections 38A to 38C of this Act in relation to

neighbourhood development plans;

(e)
under Part III of the principal Act in relation to

development control;

(f)
under Schedule 4A of the principal Act in relation to

local development orders;

(g)
under Schedule 4B of the principal Act in relation to

neighbourhood development orders;

(h)
under Schedule 4C of the principal Act in relation to

community right to build orders.”.

(c)
In subsection (2) leave out “contributing to the achievement of” and

insert “achieving”.

(d)
Subsection (3) is amended as follows—

(i)
leave out “have regard to national” and insert “act in accordance

with”;

Public Bill Committee Proceedings: 10 March 2011
76

Localism Bill, continued

(ii)
leave out “guidance” and insert “any guidance strategies or

frameworks”;

(iii)
in subsection (3)(a) after “[subsection (1)(b)]”, insert “and

subsections (1)(d) to (h)”;

(iv)
in subsection (3)(b) after “subsection (1)(c)”, insert “and

subsections (1)(e) and (1)(f) as they relate to Wales”.

(3)
Section 10 of the Planning Act 2008 (sustainable development) is amended as

follows:

(a)
in subsection (1) after “sections 5 and 6”, insert “and Part 6”;

(b)
in subsection (2) leave out “contributing to the achievement of” and

insert “achieving”;

(c)
in subsection (3) leave out “have regard to the desirability of” and insert

“ensure that (taken as a whole) the development and use of land under

this Act contribute to”;

(d)
after subsection (3) insert—

“(4)
For the purposes of this section, the Secretary of State must act

under any guidance, strategies or frameworks relating to

sustainable development that may be adopted in the United

Kingdom from time to time”.

(4)
In this Part “the planning Acts” means—

(a)
the Planning Act 2008;

(b)
the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004;

(c)
the Town and Country Planning Act 1990;

(d)
the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990;

(e)
the Planning (Hazardous Substances) Act 1990; and

(f)
the Planning (Consequential Provisions) Act 1990.’.

Mitigation and adaption to climate change

Barbara Keeley

Alison Seabeck

Jack Dromey

Not called  NC5

To move the following Clause:—

‘(1)
In Part 3 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 insert—

“39A
Climate Change

(1)
This section applies to any person who or body which exercises any

function—

(a)
under Part 2 in relation to local development documents;

(b)
under Part 4 in relation to development control;

(c)
under Part 6 in relation to the Wales spatial plan or a local

development plan; and

(d)
under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 in relation to

neighbourhood development plans and neighbourhood

development orders.

Public Bill Committee Proceedings: 10 March 2011
77

Localism Bill, continued

(2)
The person or body must exercise the function to ensure that the

development and use of land in the local planning authority area

contributes to the mitigation of, and adaptation to, climate change.’.

Housing assessment report

Barbara Keeley

Alison Seabeck

Jack Dromey

Negatived on division  NC6

To move the following Clause:—

‘(1)
A local authority must carry out an assessment in accordance with this section

(a)
prior to the preparation of a development plan document; and

(b)
when required by the Secretary of State to do so.

(2)
The assessment referred to in subsection (1) must, in relation to any period

specified in the requirement, assess housing provision and the provision of related

services in the authority’s area, including in particular—

(a)
the nature and condition of the housing stock;

(b)
the needs of persons living in or wanting to live in the area for housing

accommodation including affordable housing;

(c)
the demand for, and availability of, housing accommodation;

(d)
the needs of persons in the area for, and the availability of, housing

accommodation designed or adapted for persons with special needs; and

(e)
any other matter specified in the requirement.

(3)
A requirement under subsection (1)—

(a)
must specify the period in relation to which the assessment is to be

carried out and the Housing Assessment Report prepared;

(b)
may make provision as to—

(i)
the procedure to be followed in carrying out the assessment and

preparing the Housing Assessment Report;

(ii)
the time in which the Housing Assessment Report is to be

prepared;

(iii)
the form of the Housing Assessment Report and the matters

which it is to include;

(iv)
the consultation to be carried out by the local authority on its

proposed Housing Assessment Report; and

(v)
the documents and information relating to the Housing

Assessment Report and its preparation which are to be available.

(4)
Without prejudice to subsection (3)(b), the Housing Assessment Report must

state how the local authority is to comply with its duty under the Equality Act

2010 so far as relating to the matters included in the Housing Assessment Report.

(5)
A local authority must provide a copy of its Housing Assessment Report to any

person who requests it.

(6)
Two or more local authorities subject to a requirement under subsection (1) may

exercise their functions under this section jointly in relation to their combined

areas.

Public Bill Committee Proceedings: 10 March 2011
78

Localism Bill, continued

(7)
The Secretary of State must exercise power under subsection (1) so as to ensure

that every local authority area is included in a Housing Assessment Report.

(8)
A local authority—

(a)
must provide the Secretary of State with or make public such information

as may be required, in such form and at such times as may be required,

about the authority’s implementation of its Housing Assessment Report;

(b)
must keep its Housing Assessment Report under review; and

(c)
may from time to time, after consultation with such persons as it thinks

fit, modify its Housing Assessment Report.’.

National planning policy framework

Barabara Keeley

Alison Seabeck

Jack Dromey

Not called  NC7

To move the following Clause:—

‘(1)
After Part 1 of the Planning Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 insert—

“1A
National Planning Policy Framework

(1)
There is to be a National Planning Policy Framework for England that is

to set out in broad terms how the Secretary of State considers that the

development and use of land could and should occur.

(2)
The National Planning Policy Framework must contain—

(a)
a statement of what the Secretary of State considers to be the

economic, enviromental and social priorities and objectives for

the development and use of land;

(b)
general policies for the implementation of those priorities and

objectives;

(c)
an account of such matters as the Secretary of State considers

affect, or may come to affect, the development and use of land;

(d)
any other matter which the Secretary of State considers

appropriate to include.

(3)
The National Planning Policy Framework may contain such maps,

diagrams, illustrations, descriptive matter (if any) or other matters as the

Secretary of State thinks appropriate.

(4)
The Secretary of State is to—

(a)
prepare and publish the framework, and

(b)
keep it under review.

(5)
At least every five years after publishing the framework under subsection

(4)(a), the Secretary of State is either—

(a)
to revise the framework, or

(b)
to publish an explanation of why the Secretary of State has

decided not to revise it.

Public Bill Committee Proceedings: 10 March 2011
79

Localism Bill, continued

(6)
If the Secretary of State revised the framwork, the Secretary of State is to

publish it as revised.

(7)
The National Planning Policy Framework, or a revised framework, may

be published only if the consultation and publicity requirement set out in

section 2, and the parliamentary requirements set out in section 3, have

been complied with in relation to it.

2
Consulation and Publicity

(1)
This section sets out the consultation and publicity requirements referred

to in section 1(7).

(2)
The Secretary of State must carry out such consultation, and arrange for

such publicity, as the Secretary of State thinks appropriate in relation to

the National Planning Policy Framework, or a revised framework. This

is subject to subsection (3).

(3)
Regulations may make provision in connection with additional

requirements for consultation and publicity that the Secretary of State

must comply with.

(4)
The Secretary of State must have regard to the responses to the

consultation and publicity in deciding whether to proceed with

publishing the National Planning Policy Framework, or a revised

framework.

3
Parliamentary requirements

(1)
This section sets out the parliamentary requirements referred to in section

1(7).

(2)
Before publication, the Secretary of State must lay the National Planning

Policy Framework, or a revised framework, or a revised framework,

before Parliament.

(3)
Section 9 of the Planning Act 2008, which makes provision about the

parliamentary requirements for national policy statements, is to apply in

relation to the National Planning Policy Framework, or a revised

framework.

4
Sustainable Development

(1)
The Secretary of State must exercise the functions of preparing and

revising the National Planning Policy Framework with the objective of

achieving sustainable development.

(2)
For the purposes of this section, the Secretary of State must act under any

guidance, strategies or frameworks relating to sustainable development

that may be adopted in England from time to time.

5
Status and Effect

(1)
For the purposes of a planning decision, where there exists any conflict

or inconsistency between the policies and objectives contained in the

National Planning Policy Framework and any other planning document,

the National Planning Policy Framework shall prevail.

(2)
In this section—

(a)
“planning decision” means—



© Parliamentary copyright	Revised 11 March 2011